Our female leaders – Sabashya’s story

Sabashya, Associate Vice President of Financial Market Security Operations at Standard Chartered, has been with the bank for over 15 years. During this time, Sabashya has made a significant contribution to the Bank’s growth and success.

What attracted you to join the Standard Chartered Technology Team?

My interest in working for Standard Chartered was sparked whilst I was still in school. I used to walk through Standard Chartered’s campus in Chennai on my journey to school every day and I was always in awe of the professionalism of the employees. Standard Chartered is a market leader in India, so it was a dream come true when I was given the opportunity to attend an interview with the Bank in 2008. I have since been with Standard Chartered for over 15 years and I am immensely proud to have been able to make such a significant contribution to how the Bank has progressed since I first joined.

Tell us a little bit about some of the projects you are involved in

I'm currently working on a few projects. The first one is called SEED (Securities Expertise Development), which is focused on providing internal and external training to upskill and reskill staff across all Standard Chartered locations. Another project I'm working on is the onboarding of Financial Markets Securities Trade Confirmations for new Standard Chartered entities in Australia, Brunei, and Egypt. Additionally, I'm working on the automation of trade confirmations for Exotic Repo, SBL products and invoice billing.

What is your proudest achievement since joining Standard Chartered?

Having spent over 15 years with Standard Chartered, there are countless accomplishments that I am proud of, but my proudest moment has to be leading a cost-saving initiative for the Bank. Through my team’s dedicated work, we were able to save over $500K year on year. Another achievement that I'm proud of is completing the Investment Operations Certification (IOC) from the Chartered Institute of Securities and Innovation (CISI) with distinction. Currently, I'm working on Project STRIDE, which involves re-platforming Standard Chartered’s Financial Markets Securities products from our legacy systems to an advanced GPTM/CDU system and successfully migrating 35+ Standard Chartered entities within a very short span of 2+ years.

What do you love the most about your role?

The versatility of the products that I work with is what I love the most about my role. My career with Standard Chartered has been nothing short of exciting - I have had the opportunity to work with FX products for six years, OTC Derivatives for four years, and currently, I am responsible for managing the development and rollout of the Bank’s security products. Switching between Standard Chartered’s wide range of products has been both challenging and stimulating and being kept on my toes has allowed me to continuously grow and learn. The complexities that come with some of the financial market products have taught me to problem-solve and think critically, which has helped me to innovatively deal with any potential issues that may arise.

How would you describe the culture of your team?

The culture on my team is something that I truly admire and take pride in. We are dynamic and committed to improving the efficiency and effectiveness of operations at the Bank. Taking care of one another is at the core of my team, which has helped us to foster a sense of trust and mutual respect. Working with my colleagues has profoundly impacted both my professional and personal growth and I am very proud to be a part of such a supportive team.

What would surprise people about working at Standard Chartered?

Standard Chartered is an organisation that genuinely values its employees and has proactively implemented policies to ensure the safety of women in the workplace. The Prevention of Sexual Harassment (POSH) committee was set up to address issues immediately and confidentially, demonstrating its commitment to creating a safe and inclusive work environment. Additionally, I believe that Standard Chartered’s understanding of the importance of a healthy work-life balance would surprise people. Employees are encouraged to prioritise their physical and mental health and there are numerous initiatives that support this. I’m proud to be a part of an organisation that puts its employees' well-being first and recognises that they are the backbone of its success.