It’s been 11 months since I finished the first draft of my upcoming book! Since then, I have shared “version 2” with a handful of close “critics” who provided me with invaluable feedback. Version 3 is now in the making and hopefully finished soon – when a writer block marries up with a good dose of procrastination Earlier this month, I signed on an exciting partnership with Risk.net to edit and publish my work, a milestone I'm incredibly thankful for. And I look forward to finalising the book with them. I must confess, that this was an unexpected development! Before I came across the book “Wr ..read more

“Keep falling in love with the problem, not the solution!”   I love art and design, and I am always on the lookout for unique pieces, like these espresso coffee cups in the photo – I am guilty of being an avid coffee drinker!   In 2012, I decided that I could fix a problem I was facing: it was difficult to find these unique pieces! And so, I thought I could create a platform that would promote artists and designers and their work online. At that time, remember, Etsy wasn't as developed as it is today; building a website was unaffordable and too complex for most creatives.   It w ..read more

“I am going through what you went through!” As I was listening to my colleague explaining he was bullied and morally harassed at work, my heart sank. This was many years ago and the world has changed. But not all of it and these situations keep happening, as humans remain humans! Over the years, I observed the same pattern: someone fragile and vulnerable falls prey of predatory behaviour in the workplace. The vulnerability does not matter. My colleague was a closeted gay man, but it did not fundamentally matter; like it did not matter when it happened to me (check my blog post Coming Out, or ..read more

Enron cost its shareholders reportedly $74 billion to its shareholders, making it the largest bankruptcy in U.S. history up to that point. Enron was a prime example of how a toxic risk culture, combined with unethical behaviour and a lack of transparency, can lead to catastrophic consequences for an organisation and its stakeholders. A positive risk culture promotes a proactive and vigilant approach to risk management, fostering an environment where employees understand their roles in managing risks and are empowered to contribute to the overall risk management strategy. On the other hand, a p ..read more

Are you risk averse? Personally, I am not risk-averse, but I certainly do my best to be risk-aware. This topic came up quite a lot in the past few weeks, especially during my interviews with senior female executives for the RiskMasters[1]Podcast. And this got me thinking about what risk perception and what this means in my daily life. According to Northwestern Mutual’s 2019 Planning & Progress Study, “the average American “financial risk tolerance” – defined as the comfort level with taking financial risks in order to seek financial returns – is a 4.9 out of 10 (with 1 being ‘very conserva ..read more

In the third episode of the RiskMasters series, Divya Eapen, a seasoned chief risk officer, consultant and advisor, shares her insights and experiences in the world of FinTech. Divya's journey into risk management was somewhat unexpected. She initially applied for an asset management role at Citi, only to discover during the interview that it was actually a credit risk portfolio management position. Despite the surprise, she persevered and ultimately found herself in the world of risk management. Divya's career has been marked by a transition from traditional banking to the dynamic realm of Fi ..read more

"It falls on all of us, as innovators, leaders and regulators of our financial systems, to ensure that we act as stewards to shape the role of AI in the financial services industry." - Jessica Rusu In this article, I am exploring the potential areas of focus and takeaways on risk and compliance management from a pivotal speech given on Artificial Intelligence (AI) in Finance by Jessica Rusu, FCA Chief Data, Information and Intelligence Officer, at the City and Financial Global AI Regulation Summit 2023. In her speech, she underscored the critical juncture we're at regarding the adoption of AI ..read more

In the second episode of RiskMasters, I had the privilege of sitting down with Britta Achmann, a seasoned Market Risk expert. Her journey from actuarial consultant to investment banking offers a unique perspective on the financial industry's evolution. Here are some key takeaways from this insightful conversation. Britta's career trajectory was marked by a willingness to adapt. Realising that the traditional path of an actuarial consultant wasn't for her, she pursued an MBA to open doors to new opportunities. Landing in investment banking at J.P. Morgan, she found herself in a dynamic and crea ..read more

"The ability to send and receive a greater amount of data opens up the opportunity to extract more information from payments and to achieve better outcomes, such as quicker, simpler and more automated reconciliation, or faster end-to-end payments." - Victoria Cleland In this article, I am exploring the 10 risk management takeaways from a pivotal speech given by Victoria Cleland, Chief Cashier and Director of Notes at the Bank of England, at the UK 20022 messaging in the payments industry. Her address underscored the critical role of this global messaging standard in reshaping not only the tech ..read more

In the first episode of the RiskMasters’ podcast, Julien Haye dives into a discussion with Terri Duhon, a seasoned professional in the finance industry, exploring various aspects of her career, personal life, and insights on risk management. Terri Duhon starts by addressing the common notion of ‘having it all’ in one's career and personal life. She emphasises the importance of making conscious choices and finding balance amidst the numerous responsibilities and joys that come with being a parent and pursuing a career. Being a parent significantly influenced Terri's career choices, prompting he ..read more