Post by Andrew Mai

💼 Two Firms. One Day. A Crash Course in Global Finance. What does it take to fully engage with two leading financial institutions, back-to-back, in a single day? This Wednesday, I had the opportunity to do exactly that. The morning began with SMBC Group, followed by an afternoon at J.P. Morgan’s Canary Wharf HQ. It was a demanding yet rewarding experience, filled with insights into workplace culture, career development, and the values that drive global finance. 🌐 SMBC Group – Rooted in Values, Operating on a Global Scale SMBC Group may not be a household name, but with 100,000 employees across 40+ countries, its influence spans infrastructure, energy, and financial markets. What stood out most was its culture, rooted in Japanese values and brought to life through curiosity, resilience, collaboration, and a willingness to learn. Helen Whitehead opened with a powerful keynote, followed by a panel with Laura Davies, Zurin Moses, Kevin Ha, Garry Zhiv, and Radhika Kalia. They shared reflections on building visibility in large organisations, earning trust, and thriving as team players in fast-paced environments. Later, Teresa Basquel Fahy (Assoc CIPD) led a growth mindset workshop that reframed challenge as opportunity. I also had a one-on-one with Cyrille Martin, who offered valuable advice on technical prep and early career steps. Whether in legal, leveraged finance, or trading, the message was clear: lead with adaptability, stay curious, and never stop learning. 🏙 J.P. Morgan – Anything is Possible In the afternoon, I joined the J.P. Morgan x Queen Mary Careers and Enterprise Insight Day, an engaging exploration of the firm’s inclusive culture and cross-functional opportunities. Emma Bussey opened with an inspiring talk about her journey from the Royal Navy to Managing Director, capturing the day’s theme: anything is possible. Anoushka Maini followed with practical tips on CVs, applications, and building confidence throughout the process. A panel led by Martin Zahariev featured Eleanor Watson-Black, John Alao, Rachna S., and Sandiep Khosa, who spoke candidly about their career paths and the collaborative mindset needed to thrive. We also heard from Emma Taylor from Queen Mary on the importance of mentorship and peer support in early careers. The day concluded with valuable networking conversations with Igor Tkachuk, Jack Chan, and Grant Fage, each offering personal insights that deepened my understanding of the firm’s diverse roles. Special thanks to Abdulkarim Jeylaani, Helen Whitehead, Issac Patterson-Ramsey, the SMBC Group & East London Business Alliance teams, and everyone at J.P. Morgan and Queen Mary Careers and Enterprise for curating these inspiring experiences. #SMBC #JPMorgan #ELBA #QMUL #InsightDay #FinanceCareers #InvestmentBanking #AssetManagement #GlobalBanking #CareerDevelopment #Networking #GrowthMindset #SocialMobility #EarlyCareers #TransferableSkills #StudentOpportunities