"Not only am I applying what I know in the finance field, but I am also making a difference"
Ms. Serena Mak
Class of 2004
Hi, my name is Serena Mak. I am the first cohort of GBUS graduates. I graduated from HKUST in 2004 and went back to do my Masters in HKUST in 2008. I am currently working as Executive Director, Sustainable Finance, Institutional Banking Group of DBS Hong Kong.
While you were with Goldman Sachs, we saw you relocate to Singapore for some time. How’s the experience of working there?
My job functions expanded every year, so I went from an analyst to an associate to a VP who managed a team to handle the department’s first-ever relocation to Asia. During that time, a new team was built in Singapore, and my manager came to me and asked me if I could lead the team.
As a manager, what I learned during that time is to take a step back and not put what I think into other people’s mouths or minds. Instead, I would introduce them and encourage them to tell me what they think is the best solution because there are certain things that, even for me, I may not have thought of even when I am the technical expert.
What is the trigger point that makes you leave Goldman Sachs?
After a while in Singapore, I decided to come back, and during that time, I asked myself: I spent more than a decade in an investment bank; do I want to spend the rest of my career in it? Or do I want to do something different? I have always been looking for a purpose in my work. For me, finance is the knowledge you can make a career of; but you can also contribute to society with it.
Why did you decide to move to your current company and role?
My current company is a consumer finance company that focuses on providing responsible financing to people on consumer products; we also give them education on financial literacy. What I like the best about this role is that I see the value of what I do and how the company can help people achieve a better quality of life. It gives me one additional layer of purpose on top of my work.
What is sustainable finance? What have you contributed to its development?
Sustainable finance is finance with a purpose that will help society. As an NGO (Friends of the Earth (Hong Kong)), we are in a very good position to incubate green finance human capital in Hong Kong as we do not have any profit-making objective.
We also try to do mass education - publishing blogs and webinars to introduce the concept of sustainable finance to the general public. It is important that the general public understands that this is not something far away from us, but instead, as individuals and retail investors, we can all make a difference with our choices, not just in life but with our money.
How do you describe GBUS?
GBUS is a very talented cohort. And interacting with a talented group of people gives you a fresh perspective. Quoting a Chinese proverb, ‘if you are gathering with three people, you will surely learn something from one of them.’
What is your biggest takeaway from GBUS?
The most important thing that I take away is that I have to be true to myself. There are many smart and capable people out there, and you will be working with many of them throughout your career. If you try to become somebody you are not, it will not work in the long run. As long as you are making a positive impact, it doesn’t have to be so big or grand; remember not to overlook these small actions.
Do you have any words for all the GBUSers?
I would say two things to my fellow GBUSers: don’t be afraid to be your authentic self because that carries you to the farthest. And the other one is opportunity comes to people who are the best prepared, so no matter what you do, put your heart into it, put your mind to it, and eventually, the opportunity will come, and you will reap the benefit of it.
HKUST GBUS Alumni Series
Chapter 1 | Serena Mak
