When UBS unveiled the “Banking is our craft” branding campaign in 2024, it quickly became part of the regular vocabulary – not only would banking be our craft, but so would technology. Much of what we have achieved and hope to achieve is only possible because of years of hard work and foresight of teams across the firm, especially in the technology space.
UBS strives to create an environment in which our technologists feel valued, empowered, and challenged. To do this, opportunities such as recognition programs, learning journeys complete with certifications, and fostering rising talent have become a paramount investment.
Our engineering culture sets us apart; what recognition programs are available?
At the heart of progressing in a technology role at UBS is the desire and willingness to learn, contribute, and improve. Our key initiative for recognizing the outstanding contributions of our top performing technologists is the Distinguished Engineers program, established in 2018. Its purpose is to recognize the importance of engineering careers, build a culture of continuous learning and improvement, and identify trusted advisors and ambassadors to help shape the future of technology at our firm.
Since then, engineers across UBS have undergone a rigorous selection process annually to join this accomplished and influential group valued for its technical expertise, history of delivery, and impact on our engineering culture. Our Distinguished Engineers (DEs) work together with our Technology Fellows to ensure the fulfilment of the program’s five core objectives:
- recognize, reward, and retain outstanding technologists
- share knowledge and best practices across the organization
- act as role models in both technical skill and cultural contribution for the Engineering community
- broaden the professional development and contribution of technical specialists
- model the importance of technical careers in powering positive, and impactful change across the firm through the delivery of digital initiatives across business divisions and group functions
While technical delivery is certainly important when selecting our Distinguished Engineers, what sets them apart [in the selection process] is their contribution to the firm at large and their commitment to building the engineering culture at UBS,
says Mitra Heravizadeh, WMPC Technology CTO and Technology Fellow.
Our DEs are selected annually beginning with a nomination by their respective functional Chief Technology Officer, a thorough application process, and an interview with a panel of our Technology Fellows and selected DE representatives from previous cohorts.
Learning is part of our DNA; what learning journeys and certifications are available?
There are five technical certification programs available for UBS employees. The longest-standing is our Certified Engineers program.
- Certified Engineers (CE) program: Our inaugural learning program currently enrolls over 16k colleagues and offers 200 badges to earn. Participants engage in four categories to achieve their certification: core engineering, engineering specialization, culture, and endorsement. Though we have surpassed the milestone of having over 3,000 Certified Engineers across the firm, many of our participants continue collecting badges to earn upgrades – Silver CE and Gold CE – or simply because they enjoy the learning journeys so much!
Additionally, UBS offers Certified Data Scientist and Analyst, Certified Initiative Manager, Certified Product Manager, and Certified Business Process Engineer opportunities.
All five of these certification programs offer robust learning journeys allowing a participant to follow a pathway that most interests them or best suits their individual goals. Programs are gamified by assigning learning topics to badges and setting minimum requirements for badges earned in a specific combination. Through regular enhancements, these programs offer the opportunity to become a more well-rounded engineer and to stay relevant in the technological landscape.
Learning – both effective and fun – is at the heart of the engineering culture at UBS. For engineers, lifelong learning is even more of a necessity than for everyone else – though most fully enjoy it and seek challenges,
says Rick Carey, Group CTO, Technology Fellow, and co-founder of the Distinguished Engineers program.
- Certified Data Scientists and Analysts (CDSA) program: Specifically designed for those working in a Data Science and/ or Analytics-related role, participants engage in one of two pathways (sometimes both!). In the Data Science pathway, learners delve deep into data exploration and machine learning to uncover patterns and develop AI models to enhance business processes. In the Data Analyst pathway, professionals engage in interpreting data, creating meaningful visualizations, and enabling businesses to make informed data-driven decisions.
- Certified Initiative Managers (CIM) program: To earn this certification, participants are presented with Core Badges that focus on the key areas of the Initiative Managers Skills Framework: Initiative, Clients & Business, Process & Techniques, People Skills, Mindset & Approach.
- Certified Product Managers (CPM) program: To earn this certification, participants are presented with Core Badges that focus on the key areas of the Product Managers Skills Framework: Mindset & approach, Process & techniques, People skills, and Product & Client.
- Certified Business Process Engineers (CBPE) program: Specifically designed for those working in an operations role adjacent to technology, participants engage in one of two pathways – Business Process Management and Continuous Improvement or Business Process Re-Engineering and Digital Transformation.
A community built by engineers for engineers
Beyond recognizing achievements, UBS provides engineers with opportunities to develop their skills, expand their network, share knowledge, contribute to strategic projects, and more. And with learning being so critical for all technologists, the possibilities don’t end there.
Not only do we offer access to top-end technology learning platforms, internal events such as hackathons, digital summits, and tech conferences are coordinated annually to encourage hands-on experimentation and knowledge-sharing from both internal and external expert technologists. Our employees also benefit from access to our communities of practice, subject matter experts, and special interest groups.
Some of our biggest and most impactful events include:
- UBS Hackathon: Started by our technologists, the annual event was quickly recognized as an incredible opportunity to harness the organic interest and momentum it created. Today, the UBS Hackathon is one of our flagship technology events, organized at a global level as part of our commitment to building a culture of continuous learning and improvement. Read a full history here.
Together, these offerings are just some of the many ways we bring our engineering culture to life, and engaging and empowering everyone in a technology role at UBS.