Amélie has long been a strong advocate of internal mobility and experienced its benefits first-hand throughout her career. After working at Julius Baer’s Zurich offices as an external consultant in 2019, she was soon hired to lead Compliance Transformation and Business Management. In 2021, she took over the role of Global Head Monitoring and Risk Control, then made an international move to Singapore, where she now focuses on global and local Compliance change initiatives and manages the product governance for Asia.
After some time in this role, Amélie was keen to deepen her understanding of the bank’s products. To gain this knowledge and with support from her manager, she proactively reached out to the Global Products & Solutions (GPS) unit in Singapore and discussed the prospect of a six-week rotation.
Soon enough, she was sitting with one of their teams, working on a key initiative that culminated in a successful product launch. Through this experience, she gained a direct view of product ideation and development through distribution and how her own Compliance function fit into the lifecycle.
“The broadening of perspective has benefited our projects and stakeholders,” Amélie says. “We’re able to come up with better solutions, and our overall collaboration is on a whole new level.”
During the rotation, she also connected with Nam, Head GPS Strategy & Business Development, who, like her, moved from Julius Baer’s headquarters in Zurich to its second home market in Asia. “Amélie’s presence enabled a deeper mutual understanding of the challenges and friction points across functions,” he says.
Amélie still works closely with his team, especially during new product launches. “I now approach discussions with a greater awareness of the product perspective, which helps us tackle complex topics faster.”
A winding route
Nam began his career in 2007 with an international move. Born in Korea and raised in Germany, he studied in the United States and thought he might continue to Asia. “I was interviewing for a position at Julius Baer in Hong Kong, when an opportunity came up in Zurich for a Junior Relationship Manager. Switzerland wasn’t on my radar, but it was close to Frankfurt where my family and friends were based, I knew the language, and I had a few friends there. So I said, ‘sure, where do I sign?’”
After about three years in Zurich, he wanted to immerse himself in a new place, engage with diverse markets, and contribute meaningfully to another of the bank’s strategic centres of growth. He spoke openly with his manager about his desire to move to Asia.
Nam made a move from Switzerland to Hong Kong in 2014, and then three years later to Singapore. “At Julius Baer, our culture is defined by approachable leadership, a genuine commitment to developing talent, and colleagues who truly care. It’s a feeling you notice right away.”
A family ride
Both Amélie’s family and Nam’s family have benefited from their growth experiences. For Nam, moving to Singapore was the right choice for his family, considering its world-class education and vibrant multicultural environment. He is a passionate cook and takes what he learns from the local culture and his travels straight to the family dinner table.
At home, Amélie’s family speaks mainly German, but her son is learning Mandarin and English at school. “Despite being far from home, Singapore is an amazing place for children,” she says. “The local team here helped my family adjust. They supported us when we searched for housing and provided a community quickly when we first arrived.”
Taking the wheel
Through internal mobility, Julius Baer retains and develops top talent. “I admire our brand for its integrity, excellence, and client-centricity. When I was ready for the next step, through internal mobility, I had the chance to take on new roles and geographies without leaving the organisation that had supported me from the start,” Nam says.
Both Nam and Amélie highlight the importance of being open and transparent with managers when you want to explore internal mobility.
“If you want to broaden your perspective or learn how another team functions, consider speaking to your manager about a rotation.” Amélie says. “Keep an ear open for opportunities.” That value extends to what to do if you’ve made a longer-term move to a new role. “In the first 90 days, listen. Take time to understand the context, the existing processes, and how the team works.”
“Stay curious and communicate openly about your ambition to take on new challenges. Above all, keep connecting and knocking on doors,” advises Nam. "Don’t wait for permission. Speak up about your goals, remain eager to learn, and trust in the possibility.”