Voice of Experience: Pat David, Citi
Voice of Experience: women who have made it share their wisdom with TheGlassHammer: Patricia David, Head of Diversity, Citi Markets & Banking.
Why work in Finance, Pat?Money! But seriously, remuneration is a part of it. I have a degree in Finance and Economics, and I like numbers quite a bit. I’ve never been fearful of numbers, so it was natural for me to be in an industry that was numbers driven.
How long have you been at Citi?
Well, I actually joined Salomon Brothers in 1996, and was retained after the merger with Smith Barney and the subsequent mergers before we became Citi. Throughout the various mergers I was able to work on key projects, learn new skills, and expand my network and build stronger relationships.
I was good to the firm and in turn it was good to and for me. I am a strong believer that you get what you give. I was fortunate enough to work for a company that fits my style and brings out the best in me. This is another rule that I would recommend people follow – Work for a company that brings out the best in you all of the time.
Words of Wisdom?
- Be very confident in your abilities.
- Tell your story clearly and with confidence.
- Look back and be a mentor. Young people, at whatever level, need mentors.
- Always pull someone up faster than you were pulled up.
- You have to be your own motivator. It is not your boss’s job to motivate you.
What personality trait(s) do you believe is/are the most important for a woman in finance?
Integrity and fairness.
What gets you down in the workplace (if anything)?
I get down when I meet people who have not been able to find their stride and enjoy the work they do and who they do it for.
Please name an individual you admire and explain why:
My mother – she was not the most educated nor was she the most work traveled, but she taught me the basics of life that I keep with me till this day. Here is some of the advice she has given me through the years that I truly believe has formed me as a person for good or for bad:
1. It’s better to give than to get,
2. You get what you give – so always give your best.
3. Treat everyone with respect.
4. You can do anything as long as you put your mind to it.
5. Work hard and work smart.
What are your views on Millennials fitting into the financial world?
Any new generation needs to accept the generations in front of them and respect and appreciate how they achieved success. At the same time, older generations need to stay open-minded and willing to learn from the new people coming in.
Clashes can happen when different generations in the workplace expect different things. According to anthropologists, some characteristics of the younger generation are that they look for instant gratification and have trouble understanding why things such as promotions, access to key clients, or being put on key projects can take a long time.
They want to achieve their goals quickly and sometimes don’t yet understand the politics or dynamics of the situation they are in. I’d imagine this has been true for younger generations throughout time.
But they are also very accepting of technology in a way that the generation before them may not be. They can be great at multitasking. The downside is that can sometimes come at the expense of being able to focus more intensely.
On the other hand, the more senior generation needs to accept the new generation for who they are. Their expectations on how they work and where they work are very different. Managers in the more senior generation need to appreciate the differences and figure out ways to work them into the company so they help solve business problems.
Each generation should take responsibility for teaching the other about what makes their generation tick.
Books on Pat’s Bookshelf:
Necessary Dreams, Anna Fels
The New Success Rules for Women, Susan L Abrams
Building a House for Diversity, R. Roosevelt Thomas
Talking from 9 to 5, Deborah Tanner
