Meet Christina from Beijing

Hi Christina. Firstly, could you please introduce yourself?

Hi there. So, I’m a 2017 China Corporate Center graduate trainee based in Beijing. My program has a duration of two years, during which trainees will do three rotations among various departments. I joined the firm this July, and I’m currently having my first rotation in the UBS (China) Limited Chief Operating Officer (COO) Office. Prior to joining UBS, I obtained my bachelor’s degree in Finance at the City University of Hong Kong and a master’s degree in Financial Economics at the University of Oxford.

Can you tell us about your current role and what you enjoy about it?

I’m a business analyst in the COO team. My responsibilities include assisting with analyses for business strategies, refining internal business processes, and improving operational efficiency. Being part of the team is so great since I work closely with the Chief Operating Officer and Chief of Staff on a daily basis. I get invaluable career advice from them!

What’s the best part of working at UBS?

Definitely the people! Prior to joining UBS, I felt quite nervous. I didn’t know whether experienced colleagues would be too busy to teach me things. However, during the first week, I realized that it's exactly the environment for me. Senior colleagues always gave me the chance to get to know different business areas. When I encountered difficulties at work, they were always willing to provide advice and support. For me, they are not only my bosses, but also mentors and role models!

Which of your skills are most useful in your job?

I find my problem solving capability and communication skills matter the most in my daily work. As a business analyst, I need to analyze complex situations, find potential issues and provide solutions to enhance current practices. These require me to be a real problem solver and be able to facilitate the overall process. In addition, I often assist in cross-divisional projects with colleagues from different sides of the business. This makes communication skills crucial.

What’s the most common issue you face and how to you overcome it?

Being a fresh graduate and new joiner, I found it challenging to communicate with senior colleagues in a confident and effective way. Realizing this issue, I approached my mentor and the HR specialist in this area for advice. Following their suggestions, I started to think more carefully about my questions before raising them. This gave me more confidence in what I was asking. Moreover, I found it helpful to provide potential solutions to these colleagues for their quick reference.

What’s the best piece of career advice you have ever received?

"To excel is not about proving that you can do something you are not good at. To excel is to do something you are good at better than others. Focus on exploiting your strengths, not on proving you have no weaknesses." – My boss.

What is the best thing that happened to you recently?

Working with great people is definitely the best thing! I am so lucky to have my current team members who are not only capable, but also highly supportive. Whenever facing difficulties, I know my team is backing me up and I am never alone.