Souad Benkredda
X
X
I am responsible for the sales of a large number of financial products. It’s all teamwork as I manage people across Asia, the Middle-East, Europe and North America. I’m also part of the Global Sales Management Team which means I am part of the team that defines client strategies, which is intellectually very stimulating and rewarding.
I get to use numbers and maths, which I have always loved, to work on financial products that have a direct impact on people’s lives. I also work with the bank on its diversity & inclusion initiatives which is very important to me. I am passionate about the topic and I am very proud to have won awards in recognition of the impact of my work on it.
It’s a cliché but there is no such thing as a typical day in my job, which is why I love it! On any given day, I might be hopping on a plane to attend a great industry event (pre-pandemic of course), attend a board meeting, meet with clients or hold meetings with my colleagues. Growth is at the heart of everything: helping others grow but also growing myself as I am a big believer in constant learning and development.
I knew very early on that I wanted to work with numbers. Coming from a working-class Algerian family, banking wasn’t an obvious choice, but I was hungry for the opportunities it offered. I first joined Deutsch Bank, working in markets from day one. I’ve often been the only Arab woman in the room but that never stopped me. I wanted to take on stereotypes and barriers and turn them on their head.
Paying it forward is very important to me – I want to keep helping talented young women and marginalised people interested in the finance and banking sector succeed there. Staying true to who I am has been key for me throughout my career and I want to show more people than you can succeed while remaining your authentic self, you never have to compromise on your values.
I love spending time with my kids!
Hard one to choose. My favourites are: “Seek knowledge from the cradle to the grave” and “There is no beauty better than the intellect”