Gaurav Tholia

Two year career path
Analyst, Group Risk Strategy, London
Market Risk Analyst, Debt Capital Markets, Singapore
Before Standard Chartered
I graduated from Nanayang Technological University (Singapore) with a First Class Honors in Mechanical and Production Engineering and a Minor in Business. I was awarded the PEB Gold Medal and NTU Alumni Book Prize for Exceptional Academic and Extra Curricular Achievements and was a recipient of the SIA Youth Scholarship and SIA-NOL Undergraduate Scholarship.
Why Standard Chartered?
I liked the emphasis on all round development. Coming from a non-Finance background, my main fear was my ability to handle the knowledge challenge that I would be faced with. The Academic Program for Wholesale Bank Graduates along with the promise of rotations and fast-paced career growth were the deciding factors for me.
Academic training
I began my career in Risk Analysis. After six months as a Graduate Associate I took part in an Academic Program conducted for the Wholesale Bank Graduates in Singapore - a highlight of the Graduate Associate programme. It provided an excellent opportunity to meet fellow graduates from around the world as well as gain valuable knowledge about the Bank and get a feel for the structure and uniqueness of the Bank.

A steep learning curve
A six-month assignment led me to the role of Risk Analyst within Group Risk Strategy. Both roles I have had to date, in addition to the knowledge acquired during the academic training and on-the-job experiences, have provided me with challenges that I have found fulfilling. A steep learning curve is something that I had hoped for at this early stage in my career and my experiences so far have been able to deliver that.
Ask questions when you need to
My biggest achievement so far has been working on the Specific Risk Capital Approach within Market Risk team. Working with my manager and senior manager, we were able to reduce regulatory capital contributions substantially, resulting in capital savings for the bank. The Bank's culture encourages you to be courageous in all your conversations and dealings with colleagues as well as senior management, not faltering to question when you feel it necessary.
And my future?
My future career aspirations include a Front Office role in either Trading or Structuring so that I can get a better idea of the whole "Front-to-Back" view of Wholesale Bank. This, in addition to my experiences within Market Risk and Group Risk Strategy (a more central function), will equip me with the necessary set of experiences and skills to enable a move towards management positions in the years to come.