Gone are the days when professional growth meant staying in the same role for years on end. With working lives becoming more dynamic, many employees are reassessing their skills, strengths, and ambitions to explore new pathways towards a fulfilling career.

Mona, 16 years into her career in HR with Julius Baer was a HR Consultant in the UK office, found herself at just such a crossroads. “My career up to that point had been very linear,” says Mona. “I’d studied Human Resources at university and worked in various roles in HR and the same role as a HR Consultant since 2013. I was the longest-serving member of the team and I felt like I knew everybody and everything about the role. I needed a new challenge.” Mona confided in her line manager, the Head of Julius Baer’s UK HR team, who encouraged her to throw her hat into the ring when a vacancy came up as Head of HR at Julius Baer’s Guernsey branch. “She was interviewing candidates and thought I’d be ideal for the role,” says Mona. “After thoughtful discussions with key stakeholders and careful consideration, I realised that the opportunity was the stretch I was looking for.” 

The change of location was another motivating factor for the mum of three. “I did my research and realised that Guernsey was a great place to bring up children. I was particularly impressed by the island’s strong sense of community, safe environment, and natural beauty.” With the support of her family, they upped sticks and made the move across the Channel. Now a year into her new role, she’s taken to her new life on the island well, inside and outside the office. “I feel like I’ve landed in an even better position than if I’d looked for a new job outside the organisation, and the branch has been very welcoming.”

From hedge fund trades to front office

Like Mona, Assistant Relationship Manager Fabio received encouragement from a colleague to seek pastures new. Previously a hedge fund execution specialist, Fabio’s job had involved working closely with Julius Baer’s relationship managers to recommend and implement solutions for clients. 

“Colleagues would approach me for ideas and advice because I was a specialist in quite a niche area,” says Fabio. “One of my internal clients at that time, a senior relationship manager who appreciated my knowledge, suggested that if I came to the Front to join his team, we could serve the best interests of our clients even more effectively by working together on the same team.”

Although Fabio wasn’t actively seeking a new role at the time, he knew from previous experience that career shifts harboured opportunities for personal growth. “Before joining the bank, I’d spent six years as a mechanical engineer before moving into a project management role with the same company.” His interest in banking arose out of a personal interest in trading. “I was a hobby trader at that time, and I was curious to learn more about how markets worked so that I could avoid making mistakes with my own investments!”

Having made the move from the trading floor to the Front, Fabio has recently made a further internal move by joining Julius Baer’s location in St. Gallen. He says the camaraderie with colleagues and supporting each other is one of his main sources of inspiration in a job. “We’re building up a new team,” he explains. “Because the team here is smaller than in Zurich, I can be even more hands-on and have more direct contact with clients. Everybody is expected to pull their weight.”

Successful team integration through building trust

Arundhuti’s journey from one internal role to another was slightly longer than Fabio’s short trip to St. Gallen, at least in terms of geography. In late 2023, she moved from Dubai to Zurich to take over a team leader role within Julius Baer’s Chief Risk Office (CRO).

An expert in evaluating risk as part of her daily activities, Arundhuti says that the internal move didn’t feel like too big a chance to take. “Of course, you feel the nerves and excitement of starting a new job, but you have the comfort of knowing you’re still with the same company. Potentially, you already know some of your colleagues, and you’re familiar with the organisation’s values, which gives you added reassurance.”

The reorientation for Arundhuti was less about any cultural differences between Dubai and Switzerland, and more about getting used to the size of the local organisation. “We had around 200 employees in Dubai and, after spending a number of years there, I knew everybody,” she says. “Then, when I moved to Zurich, I barely knew anybody. I made it a priority to start building trusting relationships with my new colleagues.” 

She says she’s been very lucky in that respect. “My team was very open and accepting towards me.

The advantages of developing from within

As Arundhuti points out, one of the pluses of moving internally within Julius Baer is that you’re already immersed in the bank’s values and processes. For the company, too, internal mobility brings advantages. Long-term employees usually have a deep understanding of the organisation’s clients, systems and history – knowledge that would take years for outsiders to gain. 

In line with its employer value proposition of looking ‘beyond the now’ and supporting employees on their journey, Julius Baer runs a number of initiatives to prioritise internal development, including an ‘internal-first’ hiring focus as well as internal development programmes to promote employee growth and lifelong learning – all with the aim of empowering employees to drive their own career. 

Both Mona and Arundhuti participated in Julius Baer’s Team Leader Programme, which the company runs in partnership with IMD business school to support team members making the transition to team lead. “There’s a sweet spot during the programme when you start opening up and building a circle of support and trust,” says Arundhuti. “You realise that, as team leaders, we all face similar issues.” 

As well as creating a strong bench of ready-to-go leadership talent, the cross-training and network-building enable Julius Baer to build more flexible teams, which in turn bolsters its agility as an organisation. “It’s fascinating because you’re put into smaller groups with colleagues from different parts of the bank,” says Mona. “It’s a chance to learn about the work of other units and hear about their roles and challenges. Ultimately, it’s about the shared experience.”

Fabio has benefited from the bank’s Assistant Relationship Manager and Account Manager Programme, an internal certification programme aimed at developing front talent and creating career pathways that support internal mobility. “I’m somebody who’s always trying to develop my skills and broaden my career horizons, and I feel that Julius Baer is very supportive of those who’re eager to further their own development. All doors are open to you.”

Overcoming career inertia through bravery and persistence

What have been the biggest challenges for Fabio as he’s moved from a career in alternative investments to a client-facing role? “Previously, I was the one the front would come to for support, whereas now I’m in a position where I can tap into the knowledge of Julius Baer’s different experts for support. It’s a nice position to be in, but it’s taken me some time to get used to!”

Arundhuti advises those looking for a career switch to be brave. “If you don’t, there’s a danger you’ll get stuck in a rut.” She says that a pep-talk from her father helped her to take the leap of faith. “He’s always encouraged me to follow my interests and try out new roles. After all, what’s the worst thing that can happen? It’s important to remember that you had the endorsement of your trusted stakeholders when you made the move, and if you don’t like it, you still have their safety and support to fall back on.”

Perhaps surprisingly for somebody who has made a major change in her career after more than ten years in the same role, Mona says that when she looks back at her internal move, it’s her ‘staying power’ that she’s most proud of. “If you’d like to move ahead in your career, but you’re happy with your employer, put the feelers out within the organisation. I’m proud of my persistence. Now I have the best of both worlds – a fresh challenge and familiar surroundings.”