How does a multinational banking team adjust to working from home? Jaron Campbell, Head of US ISB, discusses how he is creating international client relationships without the plane tickets.
Wednesday, July 1, 2020
By Jaron Campbell, Head of HSBC ISB USA
“Stay safe, stay connected.”
As the coronavirus crisis escalated and our offices pivoted to a full-time work-from-home structure, I found these four words to be an anchor for myself and my team – a phrase to steer us through these new headwinds. We repeated it in Zoom meetings and introduced it across all of our email signatures to make sure that everyone – fellow ISB teammates, HSBC colleagues, clients – could be reminded to stay safe and stay connected during these challenging days.
Staying safe is straightforward: during a pandemic, it is critical that we put ourselves first and implement proper preventive measures. The safety of our families is and always will be the top priority.
Staying connected is more complicated.
A Multinational Network of Clients
As the HSBC U.S. Head of International Subsidiary Banking, the word ‘connections’ has always implied client relationships cultivated over time through in-person meetings and events. My second quarter calendar was stuffed with airplane tickets and week-long calendar blocks for on-site client roadshows – in eight weeks, I was to visit Dubai, Saudi Arabia, France and Mexico. This was nothing out of the ordinary; I take at least six international work trips per year and dozens of domestic trips in between.
This is the nature of my role. I get excited about the nuances behind each country and region, digging into the business customs and familiarizing myself with cultural differences. For example, when exchanging business cards in China, you must always remember to give and receive with both thumbs, review carefully and then make a comment related to the info on the card.