Meet Paul Stanley, Vice President of Corporate Sustainability for HSBC
Thursday, September 24, 2020
In 2017, HSBC announced its five sustainability commitments, which are underpinned by the goal of providing $100 billion in sustainability and investment to develop clean energy and lower-carbon technologies through 2025. It was around this time that Paul Stanley, now Vice President of Corporate Sustainability for the bank, was earning his Masters in Sustainable Finance from Columbia University. We asked him to tell us a bit about himself and what sustainability means to him – at work, at home and for the world. Here’s what he had to say.
The journey to corporate sustainability
I’ve always been interested in making an impact in whatever job I’m doing. It started in college when I was the Executive Director for Syracuse University’s Habitat for Humanity chapter. I worked with other Syracuse students to fully fund and build a new house each year in the local area and also recruited around 200 students for alternative spring break trips.
Shortly after I graduated, I joined HSBC on retail financing side of HSBC. I spent two years learning various aspects of the business – from media relations, to mergers and acquisitions, to product management, to branch sales. Then, in 2013, I applied and was given the opportunity to join the corporate sustainability team.
At first, I was responsible on supporting the bank’s nonprofit giving and employee volunteer programs, which I loved because I saw the immediate impact. Still, at some point, I also became interested in expanding my knowledge so I could contribute to a longer-term solution. So I went back to school to earn my Masters in Sustainability Management at Columbia. That’s what led me to the position I am in today, where I get to work with all lines of business within the bank to drive a sustainable finance agenda to help clients as they transition toward low carbon.