As the person in charge of the DBS Graduate Associate (GA) Programme – Technology & Operations, Samuelina has coached more than 100 candidates since its launch in 2011. The 24-month rotation provides graduates who are interested in a career at DBS with training and experience in a variety of positions, giving them the resources to become change-makers. Besides offering professional guidance, Samuelina also responds to the personal needs and goals of the trainees, which is why they often refer to her affectionately as their “Life Coach”.
Samuelina Suen spent more than a decade as a Scout Leader. During this time, she witnessed first-hand the transformative impact of a scout leader who could guide youngsters to unleash their potential. Although Samuelina’s scouting days are over, they still inspire how she has been coaching young associates now as Vice President of Technology & Operations at DBS Hong Kong.
“I can’t say I have a lot to teach the younger generation, who grew up with the internet and have a world of knowledge at their fingertips, but I can share my life experience,” she remarked. “I’m also a curator of opportunities. I help fresh graduates in our company to find positions where they can truly shine.”
From left: Jane (Global Transaction Services), Ceci (Technology & Operations), Samuelina (Vice President of Technology & Operations), Nicole (Technology & Operations), Keith (Global Transaction Services).
Step into your power
Over the two-year programme, graduate associates are assigned to three different departments. Under Samuelina’s guidance, these placements are meant to bring out each person’s strengths. “Thanks to many years of experience and careful observation, I’m adept at identifying candidates’ personalities and talents,” she noted. “It’s important to apply these insights to the cohort’s advantage. Associates are always passionate and enthusiastic at the start, but they can become sidetracked and lose confidence if they aren’t placed in roles where they can hone their strengths. Feeling demoralised by a job that isn’t right can turn into a vicious cycle, so I do my best to help them avoid this situation.”
Samuelina sees herself as a “living museum” of experiences, which she gladly shares with young associates.
Sometimes, candidates might not end up in their preferred position, but Samuelina believes this should not be taken as a disappointment or setback. “I always remind associates that each role serves a purpose,” she said, emphasising that the right attitude can change one’s destiny.
For Samuelina, the two-year rotation is the best time to learn from and connect with coworkers. “It’s important to build your network,” she added. “As you pursue your career, you’ll realise that everything is teamwork.”
Keith, a GA programme alumnus who now works in Global Transaction Services, shared how Samuelina helped him on this front early in his DBS career. As a new associate in 2014, he had trouble persuading more experienced coworkers to consider his ideas. “Samuelina reassured me, ‘If you do the right thing for the bank, people will be willing to listen to you’,” Keith recollected. It was a simple statement, but it gave him the confidence he needed to work with his team and earn their trust.
“I still remember a question Samuelina asked me during my interview,” he added. “‘Why do you think you’re right?’ I couldn’t answer at the time. From then onwards, I asked myself this question every day, making sure every step, every decision, was thorough.”
Today, Keith credits the programme for equipping him with not only the professional and interpersonal skills but also the right mindset to handle large-scale cross-department projects.
Ceci, an associate in Technology & Operations, also had a crisis of confidence when she first joined DBS under the GA programme. To overcome her phobia of public speaking, she decided to join a MC tryout for an internal event. Unfortunately, her nerves got to her and she was disheartened by her lacklustre performance. That night, Samuelina sent Ceci some words of encouragement and told her not to give up. Samuelina followed up by carefully selecting work opportunities that played to Ceci’s strengths, enabling her to gradually rebuild her confidence. With the guidance and support of Samuelina as well as her fellow graduate associates, Ceci was emboldened to face her fears and learn from her challenges.
Ceci gradually built up her confidence as a result of Samuelina’s constant encouragement.
A model coach
GA programme alumni Nicole and Jane believe that while Samuelina can appear demanding, her high expectations stem from a genuine desire to see her trainees succeed. “She seems tough on the outside, but she always has your back when you need help,” Jane said.
Samuelina also impressed the associates with the amount of time she spent getting to know everyone’s strengths and weaknesses, driving them to improve one step at a time. Jane recalled that even as early as the interview stage, Samuelina made her feel that DBS was an inclusive, supportive environment where she would be treated as a human being rather than a work machine. “Samuelina really knows how to approach you as an individual and give advice according to your personality and capabilities,” Jane elaborated. “She is a model coach.”
Jane believes that Samuelina’s understanding of different people’s talents drives continuous development.
For Jane, flexibility was an area for improvement. “Samuelina always says, ‘The only constant is change itself.’ This made me understand the importance of improving my Adaptability Quotient—the ability to work with others and respond to an ever-changing market.”
Nicole, the youngest DBS member in the group, also depended on Samuelina’s generous advice when she struggled at the beginning. “I had no experience. I ran into issues everywhere, especially regarding interpersonal matters,” she said. “Samuelina taught me how to communicate with people from different departments. If we cooperated based on mutual trust, we would be able to work more efficiently.”
Samuelina taught Nicole, a young associate at DBS, how to improve her communication and cooperate more effectively with people in different departments.
A dream fulfilled
Becoming a beloved “career curator” and life coach is no small feat, but Samuelina is quick to humbly defer praise. “I’m thankful to Yang Ping, former Managing Director of Technology & Operations, and Anna Yeung from Human Resources, who championed my work with the GA programme and gave me the chance to distinguish myself in this meaningful capacity,” she said. “I aspire to keep nurturing the younger generation and to instil a spirit of perseverance and open-mindedness.” At the end of the interview, Samuelina offered some words of wisdom for career starters: “Hold onto your aspiration and ambition. Be clear about the path you want to take. Share what you think with others. The world is your oyster.”