I was intrigued by finance in high-school, largely due to the influence of my father, a chartered accountant himself and my mentor. The chance to offer solutions and aid in strategic decision-making is what I find most rewarding about this field. My fascination with finance led me to a rewarding eight-year tenure at PwC, followed by more than four years at the Financial Audit Authority (FAA), where I continue to apply my passion for the field.
Working for an organisation like the FAA offers numerous benefits. The opportunity to collaborate closely with government institutions and stakeholders directly involved in crafting financial and audit policies is one such advantage. While a corporate role may hone your sales skills and business acumen, serving as a regulator introduces you to a host of stimulating, different challenges – one of these is the chance to foster policies and workflows for the public sector that generate a positive wave towards financial transparency across government entities. Despite the shift in focus from sales to regulation, the skills gained in such a role are equally crucial for a professional’s development.
I am the proud founder of mymentorsquare, a passion project of mine that recognises our collective need for mentorship in various aspects of our lives. Mymentorsquare’s mission is to create a networking community where individuals can connect with the right mentors for their personal or professional pursuits. Its aim is to offer an array of resources designed to facilitate individual growth and development. The importance of mentorship is deeply ingrained in me, as I have always sought a mentor for each skillset I aim to hone. I believe mentorship is an essential first step on the pathway to success.
You could wake me in the middle of the night and I’d be ready to address a crowd
I have certainly ventured out of my comfort zone. An early mentor once told me, ‘Never get too comfortable’ – advice that has stuck with me. It is when we push ourselves that we truly grow and thrive. For instance, public speaking was once a challenge for me. I decided to confront it by seizing opportunities to speak about topics that I am passionate about. This pushed me far beyond my comfort zone, but it taught me the value of preparation, discipline and persistence. These days, I could be woken in the middle of the night and still be ready to address a crowd.
I have lots of favourite quotes. A particular favourite is by Satya Nadella, CEO of Microsoft: ‘Renew yourself every day. Sometimes you’re successful, sometimes you’re not, but it’s the average that counts.’ I also like: ‘Think great, not big’, and ‘Genius is 1% inspiration and 99% perspiration’.
If I was able to make laws, I would advocate for full transparency. I believe the world often revolves around superficial achievements and numbers, so having full transparency around data is something I would value. What I enjoy most about my job is coming in every day and working to solve the significant problems that we encounter in the field of financial transparency, and doing so in the most productive way.
Having the right mindset opens up opportunities
I think my biggest achievement is having an optimistic mindset. This might sound a little cringy, but I think it’s underrated. I believe having the right mindset opens up opportunities, and helps you to live a balanced and purposeful life.
If I wasn’t working in finance, I would aspire to be a professional athlete. I played badminton and cricket at university level and thoroughly enjoyed it. Alternatively, I believe I would have excelled as an engineer, either in the computer or mechanical field, potentially finding a career in sustainable automation.
In my spare time I love playing and watching sports, and I’ve developed a passion for reading books. I also have a fascination for productivity and enjoy teaching and working on building productivity systems, particularly Notion and personal finance management on Excel.
