60 seconds with Malini Raj — CBA Head of Strategy — Multicultural Community Banking Australia
We've read your title, now tell us how you would describe to a friend at a BBQ what it is you ACTUALLY do?
I am responsible for developing CBA’s strategy of how we focus on engaging multicultural communities in an authentic and meaningful way. This involves proactively understanding the needs, opportunities and challenges of these communities by grassroots engagement and also seeking to leverage CBA’s internal resources, capability and brand to deliver a compelling offering to these important multicultural communities.
What's the biggest factor that's shaping your industry right now?
I think the biggest opportunity that is facing our industry is leveraging the benefits and opportunities associated with diversity, across all pillars — gender, culture, LGBTI, disability and age. Consciously focusing on increasing diversity in the workplace and creating an inclusive environment results in the consideration of different perspectives and experiences in making key critical decisions and results in better business outcomes to the benefit of organisations and Australian society.
What led you to pursue your career path in the first place and can you remember where and when the light bulb came on?
I had a passion for commerce, business and economics in high school which led me to pursue a finance-related degree. This has provided me with core skills and a solid foundation to pursue opportunities directly and indirectly related to my degree across all several areas of financial — retail, investment banking, strategy, not-for-profits etc.
To what extent have your career goals changed/remained the same?
My career goals have evolved to being focused on securing roles that I feel give me the opportunity to be able to directly contribute and make a difference to society and create positive change in people’s lives – and to be able to utilise my varied experience to do this and also and be able to align with my passion of gender and cultural diversity.
What is the one thing you would have done differently in hindsight getting to where you are now?
Looking back on my career journey to date, I don’t think I could say there is anything in particular I would have done differently. I have had some great experiences, and some not so good experiences, some great opportunities and fair share of challenges but I have learnt new skills, and taken something out of each situation which has helped me to get to where I am today — my philosophy is that no experience is a bad experience if you learn from it.
Who is your most influential or inspirational professional influence and why?
I don’t have one particular person that has had been the sole inspirational influence. I have been lucky to be exposed to a series of people who have acted formally or informally as mentors. They have advised, coached and motivated me in various ways. But the common qualities of all the people that I am referring to are that they are passionate, have a strong inspiring vision and are authentic, resilient and genuine leaders.