Page 33 - Forbes - Asia (October 2019)

PROMOTION

What are you and HSBC manage- at big fund houses—to speak and share development of these future leaders.
ment doing to promote gender their experiences and insights with our One of the challenges aspiring entre-
diversity in the company? clients. The audience was a mix of women preneurs face is funding. This is where
and men whom we feel are important to we come in with guidance on how to bet-
As a group, we have given ourselves a include in the conversation so that they ter attract investors. Same goes for the
target of 30% in terms of female leadership may be more supportive of their children, younger generation of family business
where it currently stands at 28%. However, siblings and spouses. leaders who might want to step out and
in our private banking division, women We also hosted our thought-leadership set up a new venture, or need advice to
account for 45% of the leadership posts at Women’s Forum earlier this year where better manage their family business and
the moment. It is a good position to be in we invited successful women leaders to family wealth.
but ideally we’d like to set to 50-50. share their insights and inspiring stories
What advice would you share with
other young female managers and
entrepreneurs today?
“We’re also looking at providing the younger female

talents more opportunities through programs where My advice is that if you want to be
they have mentors or sponsors, to make sure they get successful it has to be a continuous
learning process. I personally continue
any support they may need to progress their career.” to learn and draw inspiration from suc-

— SIEW MENG TAN, REGIONAL HEAD OF HSBC PRIVATE BANKING cessful women, who have made remark-
IN ASIA-PACIFIC able achievements in driving change and
transformation on an individual, business
and community level as well as striking
the work-family balance. Speaking with
It all starts with hiring where we are in driving transformation across various them, you’ll be amazed at how each
making a conscious effort to ensure that industries. We found that creating this one has a different formula to success
every time we create a shortlist of can- kind of platform to share not just suc- and ways to overcome challenges that
didates to interview, it is balanced and cesses but also challenges resonates they face.
well-represented. Same goes for when really well with clients. I also believe that another key to suc-
we’re considering promotions within the This year HSBC Private Banking has cess for everyone, regardless of their
company as we don’t want to just leave it also put its support behind AllBright, gender, is to be driven by passion for
to chance. a networking club for women, with the what they’re doing, which will eventually
We’re also looking at providing the aim of connecting and supporting entre- turn challenges into opportunities.
younger female talents more opportuni- preneurial women. While they started For me personally, what keeps me
ties through programs where they have in London, they are quickly expanding happy is the fact that I enjoy the role I can
mentors or sponsors, to make sure they across the US and now looking at Asia. play in the banking industry, whether it is
get any support they may need to prog- And HSBC is well-placed given our seeing development opportunities for my
ress their career. global footprint, our in-house expertise team or working with clients to support
and our connectivity to contribute to the their ambitions.
In what ways does HSBC Private
Banking support women entrepre-
neurs and business leaders?
The information contained in this article has not been reviewed in the light of your
I believe we’re in a very fortunate place individual circumstances and is for information purposes only. It does not purport
to support women entrepreneurs and to provide legal, taxation or other advice and should not be taken as such. No cli-
we do that through programs that aim to ent or other reader should act or refrain from acting on the basis of the content of
engage and educate our clients. this article without seeking specific professional advice.
Last year we hosted a forum called
‘Invest Like A Woman’ where we invited Issued by The Hongkong and Shanghai Banking Corporation Limited.
successful female leaders in the invest-
ment space—CIO’s, portfolio managers

Planning for your today
and your family’s tomorrow

Connect with us today to find out more.

www.hsbcprivatebank.com

Issued by HSBC Holdings plc on behalf of HSBC group members. Private banking is carried out internationally by different HSBC group members in accordance with local regulatory requirements, and in the US by HSBC Bank USA N.A. – Member FDIC. See website for further details.