I am a corporate banker with 10+ years of experience across commodities and corporates in the Asia Pacific region having worked with banks across cultures - European, Middle - East and Japanese. This has allowed me to understand different perspectives on how culture can have an impact on thought processes.
During my study of the Diploma in Commodity Trading, we studied UNSDG’s 17 goals and I got an insight on how commodity companies perceive Corporate Social Responsibility, which has now transversed into ESG. I started to have keen interest in how ESG factors impact companies and businesses and the financial impact it can have.
I also came about the realization of how fragile our earth is after having my daughters and the kind of world we may be leaving behind for the future generation.
I strongly believe it is our duty to bring about change, one at a time and collectively to rebuild the earth and the best way forward is to collaborate with like minded people and share the knowledge with one another to create awareness and bring about this change.
As a banker, the one resource we use abundantly and without thinking is paper. Whilst we can’t get rid of it overnight, I have been advocating towards a paperless office. I have been implementing circulation of documents via email and e-approvals.
Being in a Japanese setup, the preferred method of sharing documents is via printing and physical rotation. I have had to put in labeling systems in place for others to follow so that documents circulate clearly and without confusion and are easy to navigate in online files vs being printed and marked.
Being a mother and teaching my kids to be sustainable each step of the way.
Connecting with other like minded persons. I would be keen to discuss sustainable finance and how that is being perceived and incorporated by companies.
Sustainable Finance / Impact investing
Shaffalika kindly accepts to answer your questions.
If you need additional insights, you can send her a message.
Sustainability Accounting & Sustainable Corporate Finance > Environmental and social impact identification, Alignment of teams with the sustainability strategy, How to Secure external funding