Changing priorities: Tanveer’s story
Tanveer has reinvented herself, but her values have always remained at her core
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I’ve worked at Standard Chartered for over 13 years, after joining as an International Graduate (IG) in London after completing my undergraduate degree with Cass Business School, City University. I moved to Kenya to complete my IG rotation because I wanted to go back to where I grew up. In 2007, I moved to Dubai to join the global commodity derivatives team, and after three years spent developing a pipeline of opportunities between Middle East and Africa, I took on a financial markets (FM) sales role in Kenya.
During this period I was responsible for the local corporates portfolio before taking on the role in structured sales in Kenya. In 2014, I got the opportunity to work in Zambia as part of a short-term assignment; in 2015, I took the role of leading the FM team in Kenya. It has been a very interesting journey to build the business and work to meet client needs. My experience at the Bank has been exciting – I’ve been pushed to move out of my comfort zone. I’ve also learned to truly appreciate cultural diversity, which has resulted in some great friendships.
My childhood has played a massive role in shaping the person I am today. I was born into a third-generation family originally from India. We lost my dad when I was only six years old, so it fell on my mother to raise me and my younger brother single-handed. I watched her resilience as she dealt with the emotional and financial realities of our lives, and this left a mark on me. When I reflect on the mental strength within me, I realise it comes from the journey we had growing up. My mother sacrificed so much to ensure I could maximise the opportunities that came my way, especially when she had very limited support from the wider family. I owe everything to her. Culturally, she’s very progressive in her thinking, and she strongly feels opportunities are to be taken up without conceding a thought to social norms. She just wanted the best for me. She’s my best friend and my pillar of strength.
I realise it's about the team, and not just my individual contribution.
Tanveer Nandhra Executive Principle, Head Financial Markets Sales
As I’ve got older, I think I’ve matured quite a lot. As your journey evolves, so do you. I’ve noticed a shift in how I work, which is down to my manager, David Luusa. It’s fair to say he’s believed in me more than I’ve believed in myself at times. He champions gender equality and is a remarkable role model. Now I realise it’s about the team, and not just my individual contribution. It’s time for me to give back, and use my skills and influence to help the next generation.
I am part of the working group for the Africa Financial Markets Women Agenda and have also been included in the Corporate & Institutional Banking Diversity & Inclusion Africa team. The agenda is to develop a mentorship framework for talent, and to promote career development and build a leadership base via short- and long-term assignments across our footprint. I also coached a female graduate who wants to join the global foreign exchange trading team in 2018. I’ve had the privilege to work with a number of IG’s over the last seven years, and where needed provided support through non-formal mentorship.
Outside of work, I volunteer at the Ramgharia Youth Association social and welfare programmes, and joined the mentorship programme at Kibera School for Girls under the Shining Hope for Communities (SHOFCO). It’s been a real eye-opener and I’ve learned a lot. It’s shown me that we need to listen to the younger generation, and provide them with a platform to tell us what we should be doing.
The opportunities I’ve had, as well as belief from various individuals, culminated for me in 2018, when I was recognised in the Top 50 Emerging Female Leaders Globally by the UK Financial Times.