Women now account for 18% [1] of all C-suite positions in financial services industries globally. The study further highlights the multiplier effect impact showing that for each woman added to the C-suite, there is a positive and quantifiable impact [2] on the number of women in senior leadership positions just below the C-suite across regions. This underscores the importance of dismantling the glass ceiling and paving the way for greater gender inclusivity.
The financial services industry has made several strides to fast-track inclusion, champion women and remains committed to being a driver of change. 2025’s International Women’s Day theme #AcclerateAction is a call to emphasise the importance of taking swift and decisive steps to achieve gender equality and address systemic barriers and biases that women face.
As part of this IWD 2025 spotlight, The Digital Banker and Global Private Banker aim to recognize senior women leaders from across the world who are accelerating action and making significant contributions toward a more gender-inclusive world.
Today we put the spotlight on Rosalind Ng, Chief Operating Officer of Wealth and Retail Banking (WRB) at Standard Chartered Bank. She joined the Bank in September 2007 and is based in Singapore. Rosalind manages the Operations teams globally in the areas of onboarding, servicing, wealth processes, fraud risk and collections. She also leads business risk management and governance aiming at continuously improving the risk control environment of the WRB business. Prior to this, she served as the Global Head of Transformation and Strategic Initiatives for WRB where she led the programme to simplify, standardise and digitise the business for future growth. Further, she spent 4 years as the Regional Chief Operating Officer for ASEAN and South Asia. With a background in law, Ros held various senior roles in the Bank’s Legal function since joining the bank. Rosalind is married with three children. She holds a Bachelor of Laws from the National University of Singapore and is a qualified lawyer.
What are some of the milestone and highlights of your journey that have defined your career and helped you become the leader you are today?
One of my career highlights was certainly when I transitioned from a legal role to COO in 2016. The learning curve in my first six months was steep as I switched from being a specialist in one area to managing a broader scope including client experience, productivity, operations, change and transformation, regulatory engagement.
The experience showed me that it was primarily a mindset change to overcome, as the underlying leadership skills required in both roles are similar. Since then, I have kept an open mind and not limited myself from pursuing career opportunities. Applying this to my own teams, I help my colleagues build a broad range of future-focused skills and support them to test these skills in a psychologically safe environment, enabling them to grow beyond their roles and enhance their capabilities.
Can you share some of the biggest challenges you faced in your journey and how you overcame them?
As a mother of three teenaged children, one of my biggest challenges is integrating my family and work lives. I am fortunate that my children understand how my work gives me fulfilment in life, so rather than having to choose between the two, or prioritise one over the other, both aspects are accepted and respected as part of our ‘ecosystem’ that works for us as a family.
I am also fortunate to work at Standard Chartered where we trust our colleagues to work flexibly and have rolled out our flexible working model in 44 countries to 75% of our workforce, so that they can appropriately balance work priorities with individual choices. This holistic approach to wellbeing, including market-leading benefits like equalising 20 weeks parental leave for expectant parents and menopause-friendly policies, continues to be one of our key differentiators and helps us stand out as an employer of choice.
What are some of the projects and initiatives you have championed to #AccelerateAction for your women colleagues while also driving inclusion and innovation across the bank?
Supported by policies and programmes, and senior leader sponsorship, we have seen a positive trend in women taking up senior leadership roles globally in Standard Chartered, increasing from 25% in December 2016 to 33.1% in December 2024.
One of the most fulfilling initiatives I championed was being an executive sponsor for a Bank-led programme that matched sponsors to groups or ‘circles’ of female talents. Nurturing an inclusive culture, the sponsors would support their circles in strategising career progression and using their influence to advocate for development opportunities. We received overwhelming feedback on the positive impact of this initiative. As a Bank, we are embedding sponsorship as part of differentiated career experiences, strengthening our succession and leadership pipeline.
Speaking of #AccelerateAction and innovating for the future, how do you see women playing a key role in these areas?
Women play such a critical role in innovation as they bring valuable insights on client needs and design of products and services. In years to come, we will see more and more women-led businesses across our dynamic markets.
Our Standard Chartered Women’s International Network (SC WIN) acts as the single point of entry for women-led businesses and we have extended over USD296M of financing women-led businesses to help women entrepreneurs achieve their business aspirations through access to funding, building business skills and access to mentors, clients and suppliers.
Through our Futuremakers Women in Tech accelerator, we have enabled women microentrepreneurs in Africa, the Middle East, and the US to acquire the funding, skills, resources, and networks they need to start and grow their businesses.
Talk to us about the about how technology can play a pivotal role in driving inclusion, driving broader organisational and societal shifts? What role will emerging technologies play in these shifts?
We want to be a disability-confident organisation with a focus on removing barriers and increasing accessibility. We have leveraged technology and digital banking services to open several channels for clients to communicate more easily with us, such as:
- Online banking services allowing clients to bank without having to visit a branch or calling on the phone.
- Mobile banking includes voice-activated controls and app features that are simple to use for those with sight or cognitive impairments.
- Our talking or Voice Navigation ATMs are designed for clients with visual impairments to safely and independently withdraw cash, change their PIN and check their balance through a voice activated system.
- Our Voice ID on interactive voice response (IVR) makes authentication easier for the hearing-impaired customers as they do not have to use trading partner identification number (TPIN) or one-time password (OTP).
- Clients with mobility impairments can now contact our agents or relationship managers by Click2Chat/Click2RM to get instant answers in real time.
What are your predictions for women in banking three years from now?
Perhaps more of a hope than a prediction – in three years, I hope that women in senior leadership roles become more of a norm in the banking sector, as we continue improving senior leadership representation and building an inclusive culture.
Finally, what advice would you give to your colleagues – especially women – and other women who dream of reaching the pinnacle of the banking industry?
Some lessons I have learned along the way:
First, have credibility. Substance matters – there is no substitute for working very hard to be very good at what you do. This is the only way to stand on your own feet and earn the respect of others. With credibility, your reputation will precede you.
Second, find good mentors and sponsors. Banking is a people-oriented business, and relationships do matter. Take the time to cultivate valuable networks as mentors can guide and advise while sponsors can open doors.
Third, act with integrity. Trust goes a long way – you will be a trusted advisor if time and again you strive to do the right thing, even when no one is watching.
Finally, have fun along the way. Love what you do – there is nothing more inspiring than someone who works with passion. Do not be too rigid with your plans – take some risk, be flexible and willing to innovate so you can lead rather than react to change.
Footnotes:
1 & 2 Women in financial services leadership, 2023 global update
