Employee stories

“Be curious,” my father said – and that sentence has stayed with me to this day.

That same curiosity first led me to study biochemistry, with the aim of contributing to medical research. During my studies, though, I discovered my true passion was chemistry. I explored many different aspects of chemistry and biochemistry – and eventually I got hooked on the king’s discipline: organic chemistry. For several years, I synthesised and analysed small molecules. I began my career as a laboratory manager at BASF. What shaped me most there was working with my team – and, above all, developing people, setting goals together, building capabilities, handing over responsibility, and making successes visible. At some point I realised I wanted more. I wanted to see something new – more agile projects, faster cycles, and more change in a shorter time. So, I applied specifically for transformation roles and ultimately found myself in the transformation area at HSBC.

At HSBC, my curiosity has helped me, and it makes it easy for me to learn new things and get up to speed quickly in unfamiliar topics. I need that too – because my day-to-day work often turns out very differently from what I planned. When I close my laptop in the evening, the next day is, in most cases, completely different from what I expected. And that’s exactly what I like about my job, the variety, the dynamism, and the feeling of working on things that really matter.

In recent years, I’ve supported, delivered, and successfully embedded many regional and local transformation projects in the payments area – always with a focus on what change really looks like for colleagues in their everyday work. I particularly value the collaboration with a great team who give their all, every day, to create the best solution for our customers.

And now for me, the circle is closing, returning to leadership, from 1 August, I’ll be taking on the Team Leader role for the Payments Transformation team. I’m looking forward to not only planning change together with the team, but also implementing it effectively – curiously, structured, and at pace.

In the end, that’s the most important insight for me, with curiosity and a genuine will to change things, an incredible amount can be achieved – even if, at first glance, you don’t fit the “classic” profile. Yes, I’m a biochemist in a bank and that’s exactly what helps me look at things differently, ask new questions, and drive transformation forward pragmatically.

When I moved to HSBC Germany in April 2025, I had a clear goal, I wanted to be part of an international environment and help shape the major transformations taking place across the banking industry. I brought to HSBC my experience from strategic and operational roles at a regional development bank, as well as from management consulting. Joining HSBC came with the ambition and expectation to actively shape transformation from within a leading international bank. Looking back, the move was exactly the right decision.

In my very first project, I was able to experience what makes working at HSBC special. As part of a major centralisation programme, I worked closely with colleagues from Germany, France, and India. Today, international alignment with teams in the UK, France, India, and Poland is a natural part of my day-to-day work. This international collaboration opens up different perspectives, strengthens professional exchange, and makes every project a unique experience.

I currently work as a Value Stream Migration Lead in one of the Bank’s largest transformation programmes — the implementation of a new core banking system. Together with a committed programme and project team, we are shaping the migration of business-critical processes, laying an important foundation for the Bank’s future. Programmes like these not only offer exceptionally exciting professional challenges, but also the opportunity to take on responsibility, help shape decisions, and create visible value. In addition, I was able to contribute my project management expertise to a further project introducing a new HR system, supporting different transformation initiatives across the Bank.

What makes Transformation stand out for me most are the people. Motivated, highly qualified colleagues with a wide range of professional backgrounds work together here. What unites us is the enjoyment of solving complex challenges, actively driving change, and successfully delivering the Bank’s strategy together. Our collaboration is characterised by openness, mutual trust, and the ambition to learn from one another and continuously develop.

Anyone who enjoys taking responsibility, solving complex questions, and actively shaping change in an international environment will find an exceptionally exciting place to work at HSBC. Transformation here means far more than introducing new systems – it means actively helping to shape the future of a global bank. That’s exactly what makes my work so varied, challenging, and fulfilling every single day.

I joined HSBC in 2022 after completing a Master of Letters in International Business at the great University of St Andrews. My career began as a Corporate Associate in Munich, supporting large corporate clients across Bavaria and Austria. Two months ago, I transitioned into the role of Client Manager within GTS, while continuing to support clients across the same region.

Working closely with clients to understand their international trade priorities is at the heart of the role. As a result, my day-to-day work focuses on HSBC’s core trade products, including letters of credit, collections and guarantees. Alongside managing a portfolio of GTS clients, my responsibilities also include service activities across the trade finance value chain such as proactive client outreach, satisfaction reviews, and overall revenue growth. Therefore, we identify cross-selling opportunities and collaborate with colleagues globally to deliver the right solutions for clients. To further support, we regularly deliver workshops for clients and internal teams, helping to build a deeper understanding of our trade finance solutions.

One of the most rewarding aspects of GTS is the variety it offers. Every client and transaction presents different challenges, creating continuous opportunities to learn and develop. As someone still relatively new to the role, the steep learning curve has been particularly motivating. I have especially appreciated the collaborative team culture from day one, where knowledge is shared openly and colleagues are always willing to support one another.

This close collaboration extends across the entire HSBC network thanks to our international client base, enabling us to build valuable connections worldwide.

If you’re looking for a role that combines client interaction, international trade and continuous learning in a collaborative global environment, GTS offers an excellent opportunity to build your expertise and develop your career.

Early on, I developed a strong interest in finance – particularly in how to deliver tailored client solutions that combine technical accuracy with a broader, strategic perspective. After completing my apprenticeship as a bank clerk and gaining initial experience in client advisory, I was keen to deepen my expertise and take on greater responsibility in an international environment.

From October 2023 to July 2026, I worked at HSBC INKA in Düsseldorf as an Analyst, Distributions within Tax and Accounting Services (Income Distributions). In this role, I supported the tax and operational processing of income distributions, ensured robust quality controls, and collaborated closely with internal stakeholders. I particularly valued the opportunity to take ownership early on, independently co-manage client-related topics, and contribute to internal initiatives – experiences that strengthened both my professional capabilities and personal development.

A key milestone was my move in July 2026 into the role of Sales Manager within Global Payment Solutions (GPS). For me, this represents a natural progression into a more client- and solution-focused position, working closer to the market and directly addressing clients’ needs. Within GPS, the focus is on helping corporates optimise their payments and cash management – making processes more efficient, transparent, and scalable across borders. I’m especially motivated by the combination of advisory work, structured problem-solving, and execution, as well as the opportunity to collaborate with colleagues across different functions to deliver solutions that create tangible value in clients’ day-to-day operations. At the same time, I bring experience from a highly precise and demanding environment, which supports me in roles where strong judgement, clear prioritisation, and effective communication is essential.

I experienced the recruitment process for the Sales Manager position as professional, transparent, and respectful. The discussions were well structured, expectations were clearly communicated, and there was genuine space for open dialogue about motivation, development opportunities, and the contribution expected in the role. I particularly appreciated that the process considered not only technical fit, but also my longer-term development and how HSBC can support that journey.

Alongside my professional development, I have been pursuing an MBA in General Management at Hochschule Fresenius since March 2025, with expected completion in March 2027. It’s important to me to develop not only through day-to-day work, but also strategically and methodologically – and I value HSBC’s support for continuous learning as an integral part of career development.

During my International Business studies at Maastricht University, I wanted to deepen my interest in financial markets through hands-on experience. After gaining an initial insight into institutional asset management, I was keen to get to know the day-to-day market environment within an internationally positioned bank and to better understand how institutional clients are supported. That’s why I chose an internship in Global Markets – Institutional Sales at HSBC.

My first placement was for six months with FX & Emerging Markets Rates Sales. There, I gained direct exposure to foreign exchange and interest rate markets, as well as the unique dynamics of emerging markets. I then had the opportunity to spend a further four months with the G10 Rates Sales team. Each of these rotations opened up new perspectives for me on products, markets, and the needs of institutional clients.

What was particularly valuable for me was that from the very beginning, I didn’t just take on individual tasks – I was embedded in the teams’ daily workflow. This taught me to classify information quickly, prepare it in a structured way, and work carefully and reliably even in a fast-moving market environment.

Through the different desks, I was able to get to know a broad range of products and market segments. From currencies and rates markets to G10 rates, and on to credit and financing solutions, I gained a more comprehensive understanding of how the different areas within Global Markets are connected. It was precisely this variety that made my time at HSBC especially exciting and further strengthened my interest in the markets.

Another aspect I really valued was HSBC’s international set-up. In day-to-day work, there were regular exchanges with colleagues in other countries and time zones. This allowed me to see how local client needs are linked with a global market and product perspective. Working with international teams and people from diverse professional and cultural backgrounds broadened my view of the markets even further.

What shaped my time at HSBC most, however, was collaborating with colleagues. I was welcomed very openly from the start and experienced the teams as extremely helpful and supportive. Especially at the beginning – when many products, abbreviations, and market mechanisms are new – it was incredibly helpful to be able to ask questions at any time and have connections explained clearly. Colleagues took the time to share their experience and actively involve me in the day-to-day work.

This open and appreciative way of working was also a key reason why I was given the opportunity to get to know different desks within Institutional Sales. The teams supported my development and trusted me to gain further experience beyond my original assignment. This turned my internship into a varied learning experience that helped me develop a much clearer picture for my future career path.

The professional insights, the responsibility in day-to-day business, the international collaboration, and especially the support from my colleagues strengthened my desire to continue my career in this environment. I’m therefore even more pleased that I have now started on HSBC’s Global Graduate Programme and I’m currently gaining further experience in Loans & Private Credit. For me, this has been an exciting first step into my professional career – one that wouldn’t have been possible in the same way without the experience and network from my internships.