Being a part of an award-winning Technology team – Balaji’s story

Standard Chartered Singapore’s Principal Architect, Balaji Ranganathan has been a member of the Bank since 2016. Since joining almost seven years ago, Balaji has worked closely with industry-leading architects in the Technology team, allowing him to gain a unique and well-rounded experience of how technology is utilised in the financial industry to drive innovation.

What attracted you to join the Standard Chartered Technology team?

I was initially attracted to joining the Standard Chartered Technology team as the Bank understands the importance of integrating new technology into daily operations. After going through the interview process, I was able to understand more about the team and I was very impressed by the visionary leadership. Their vision to transform the Bank’s digital future was inspiring and I comprehensively understood how their work directly contributes to Standard Chartered’s strategic direction.

Tell us about a notable project that you have worked on since joining Standard Chartered.

As a Principal Architect, I work on multiple ongoing projects and have the opportunity to learn something new daily. The most notable project that I am currently working on is implementing a new cloud strategy and architecture that will be used across the Bank.

What do you love the most about your job?

Prior to joining the Bank, I worked within organisations that were solely focused on technology and development and because of this, I was only involved in certain stages of projects. I love my role at Standard Chartered as I am involved in projects from their inception to their completion. The end-to-end perspective that I have gained from my job has helped me to develop a well-rounded understanding of the strategy behind our technological initiatives and I benefit from a greater sense of achievement because of this.

Another aspect of my job that I especially love is having the opportunity to work with senior leaders within the Bank who are industry experts. I have learned a great deal from them sharing their experiences and they help me to understand the larger purpose of my work and how it is tied to Standard Chartered Technology priorities as a whole.

The Technology team at Standard Chartered is like one big family! There is a real sense of belonging and we truly want one another to succeed. My colleagues and management are always willing to help and despite us all aiming for greatness, they are willing to accept mistakes as they are viewed as opportunities to better ourselves.

Balaji Principal Architect, Standard Chartered

How has Standard Chartered recognised your achievements since joining the Bank?

Standard Chartered recognises the importance of rewarding its employees and since joining the Bank, I have been presented with the Intrapreneur of the Year award for my work on developing Standard Chartered’s new cloud-based platform. I am very proud to have been awarded this and it is refreshing to be a part of an organisation that recognises my achievements. Our cloud-based solution also won external industry awards and I am honoured to be a part of such a talented team.

What would you say to someone thinking about making the move from a technology-focused organisation to Standard Chartered?

Working at Standard Chartered provides a unique opportunity to work with the latest FinTech whilst learning from inspirational leaders specialising in technology. The Bank’s international reputation attracts the best talent, so embarking on a career with Standard Chartered means that you can absorb the knowledge of industry leaders whom you can look up to for years to come.