My first role model/guru
My father. Despite his humble background and limited family support - he lost both parents by the age of five - he was able to get into the IAS. His life taught me the value of self belief, hard work and tenacity
My first job
As Officer-in-Charge (Remittances), HSBC, Delhi
My first boss
Pranam Wahi, who is currently with DBS Bank. I remember the advice he gave me about managing some difficult senior representatives in my department. They were my father's age and he said if I showed them the kind of respect I gave my father, I would build a good working relationship. And he was absolutely right
My first promotion
Within about 18 months of joining HSBC, I was made financial controller for northern India. My new designation, Officer-in-Charge (Books), led to a number of friends believing I was running the godown of a library
My first disappointment
I joined HSBC in 1989 and the normal expectation was that after doing operations and retail banking, I would be moved to the much more 'glamorous' world of corporate banking. I was promised such a move but in the end I was moved to the treasury department.
Photo and text by Vivan Mehra