A Career Away From Home: Shreya Ghorawat Talks Life and Work in Hong Kong and Shares Her Experience as a Woman in Finance.
"Don’t pursue an opportunity just because everyone is doing it and it is the sector to be in, see what interests and motivates you” Today’s woman dreamer, Shreya Ghorawat, shares her story as a woman in investment banking in Hong Kong. With over nine years of industry experience, Shreya shares the challenging and thrilling experience of building her career away from home, her life in Hong Kong, and her experience as woman in the world of finance and banking, along with her three essential tips to adapting to new cultures and building your career.
Check out her exciting story below!
How did you plan your career in investment banking?
Coming from a business family and having studied economics as a major during my bachelors, I was always interested in the field of Finance. I was first introduced to the world of investment banking (IB) during my MBA and was instantly fascinated by it. IB seemed dynamic, fast-paced and a great career opportunity for a new professional like me. A job in IB provides you with comprehensive experience into businesses from a financial / management perspective; right from the big picture strategy of how companies, large or small, operate to the smallest details regarding financials, day to day operations and interactions within departments & teams.
While thinking about how to get into IB post my MBA, I started reading up on business news to stay on top of current events in the financial and general global environment and researched on the different companies offering an IB profile. I also reached out to professionals from IB in my network to get a better understanding of the day-to-day activities in the job so that I was better equipped for interviews. The outreach also helped me to understand the difference between the theoretical outside view of IB vs. what professionals can actually expect in their first few years.
So when we had Investment Banks visiting our campus, I was prepared and was fortunate enough to be hired by one of the leading banks as an analyst in their Consumer Retail team…and so began my journey.
What was the most exciting project you worked on?
One of the big advantages of working in IB is that you get exposed to projects from different sectors, covering a vast range of companies. This means that no two projects are very similar, which enhances your overall learning. One advice I would have for any professional would be to try and work in different sectors so that their practical experience is vast and deep at the same time.
If I were to pick one project as a favorite, it would be the one where I worked with one of the leading e-commerce players in Southeast Asia advising them on partial equity sale for their business. The project involved coverage of 6 different markets with very different operational and consumer dynamics. Moreover, I was able to assume leadership position for several aspects of this project such as facilitating diligence sessions, leading calls, managing data room activities and working closely with management team to build financial models.
What was your biggest accomplishment in the workplace?
One of my most cherished memories was receiving a special token of appreciation from one of our clients for exceptional individual contributions during the deal – to me this reiterated the fact that when one works hard and goes above and beyond to ensure the deal is successfully executed, rewards follow along with professional growth opportunities. It also taught me to always give my best, as it felt good to be able to influence successful outcomes for our clients.
Tell us about being a woman in the industry, how do you think the paradigm is changing?
I think the glass ceiling is getting easier to break through - this is a great time for younger women to strive for their career goals and to try to climb the corporate ladder. I think one of the best ways to help women professionals entering the industry is through mentorship: more experienced women sharing advice and tips on how to navigate some of the challenges at work. Interacting with women in senior roles and who have already made it far also makes the dream more realistic and attainable.
You launched your career in Hong Kong, but grew up in India. What is your advice to young women launching their careers away from home?
Be adaptable, flexible and open-minded – in a new country, only through exploration and experience you will understand the culture and make new connections in and outside of work.
Be proactive – Grab every learning opportunity that comes your way, interact and network across the organization with peers, seniors and leadership team as much as possible.
Don’t be afraid to speak up – especially when you are around seniors and peers from different cultures & countries. Someone told me once that even if you are the youngest in the team, chances are you will most likely be the one who has done maximum research, hence if there is something that you think needs to be highlighted do not hesitate.
Keep a positive attitude, especially given the current environment, wherein people are working from home and longer hours to ensure the business is running smoothly.
Lastly, don’t pursue a career opportunity just because everyone is doing it and it is the sector to be in, see what interests and motivates you internally – that way you will enjoy the work and be happy to go that extra mile
Bio: An economics and finance major, with 9+ years of extensive experience in corporate strategy, business development and investment banking. I currently work as the Business Development manager in the Strategy & Program Delivery team for South & Southeast region under Philip Morris in Hong Kong. Prior to Philip Morris, I was working with the Hong Kong Consumer Retail / TMT team in the Investment Banking Division of Goldman Sachs.