How do women change banking and technology? Interview with Monika Szlosek, Director of Investment Products & Private Banking Department, VeloBank S.A.

Have you encountered a business mentor during your career – someone who helped you grow?

Yes, I was fortunate enough to meet an exceptional mentor in my career path. He is one of my former bosses who often threw me in at the deep end. He was demanding, but at the same time, he gave me enormous opportunities for growth. He shared his knowledge, experience, and life wisdom with me. I was also able to observe him daily in various situations and when he faced challenges, which built me up as a manager and had a particular impact on my approach to business and people. His advice and support are invaluable. This relationship is proof of how important it is to have someone you can call almost at any moment for advice, and how someone like that can guide us through various professional challenges. I am convinced that this relationship shaped me as a person and a leader and also significantly influenced the shape of my career.

Are women open to new technologies? How do they handle learning and using innovations?

Women are incredibly open to new technologies and often demonstrate an immense ability to quickly absorb and adapt to new tools. From my observations, many women successfully integrate new technologies into their work, allowing them to increase efficiency and innovation. There are numerous examples where women excel in the field of technology and have a significant impact on the development of innovations. To name a few, user experience (UX) and user interface (UI) design, technological project management, data analysis and big data, software development, and engineering. At VeloBank, we have many excellent female experts who develop our digital solutions every day. Women bring valuable soft skills such as empathy, collaboration, and communication, which are crucial in developing user-oriented technologies. Moreover, diverse project teams lead to better solutions. Hence, the increase in the number of women in digital professions is definitely a positive trend.

AI is good at calculations and statistical analysis, but it lacks emotional intelligence. Does this mean the future of leadership belongs to women, who often have this trait well developed?

Emotional intelligence is a key element of effective leadership, and women often excel in this area. However, the future of leadership does not depend on a single trait. AI can support leaders in making data-driven decisions, but it is emotional intelligence that enables the building of strong relationships and empathetic team management. I believe that the future of leadership will involve skillfully combining analytical capabilities with emotional intelligence.

What was the most challenging professional challenge you faced? How did you handle it?

I have been fortunate in my career to have twice had the opportunity to participate in a unique banking sector project. On August 2nd, VeloBank successfully secured investors in the form of Cerberus Capital Management, the EBRD, and the IFC. It was a complex but very rewarding process. Previously, I was involved in the acquisition of Deutsche Bank by Santander Bank Polska. I was engaged in both processes on multiple levels, and maintaining employee motivation and engagement at every stage was always most important to me. Transparent communication, showing support and understanding for the team’s concerns, and personal involvement in processes that were particularly complex and new for everyone proved to be key to success. Such challenges allow us to gain unique experiences, provide enormous opportunities for growth, and build strong relationships with people, often for life.

Do young women starting their careers today have an easier path to making a career than when you started your business journey?

I believe that today, young women have more opportunities than ever before. However, each era comes with its own challenges. On one hand, there is greater support for diversity and inclusion, and technologies open up new career paths. On the other hand, pressure and competition can be greater. Nevertheless, I believe that with the right support, mentor, and access to resources, young women can achieve great success in their professional paths. A good example of an organization that values women developing in the IT sector is VeloBank. We strive to attract young talent and showcase the growth prospects within an inclusive organization that focuses on technology.

Monika Szlosek, Director of Investment Products & Private Banking Department, VeloBank S.A.

Monika Szlosek has nearly 30 years of experience in the financial industry. She joined VeloBank in January 2024 as the Director responsible for the development of the investment product offering and the Private Banking segment. She began her career in 1995 at Citibank (Poland) S.A. as a Customer Service Officer for Corporate Clients. From 2002 to 2006, she worked at Raiffeisen Bank Polska S.A. as Deputy Director of the Customer Service and Cooperation Department, where she was responsible for the service and sales area in the individual clients segment. From 2006 to 2018, she was associated with Deutsche Bank Polska S.A., initially as Director of Retail Banking, and later as Managing Director of Retail Banking and Investment Offer, where she was responsible for the development of savings-investment products and also managed the retail part of the Brokerage Office. From 2018 to 2021, she worked at Santander Bank Polska S.A. as Tribe Leader of Savings & Investments, responsible for the development of the offer and omnichannel platforms in the investment-savings area and part of the Wealth Management offer. From 2021 to 2023, she served as Deputy Director of the Brokerage Office at Bank Pekao S.A., responsible for the area of digital transformation.

She is a graduate of the Faculty of Economic Sciences and the Faculty of Management at the University of Warsaw. She also completed the Women Global Leaders Programme at INSEAD Business School in France. In 2024, she obtained an Executive MBA degree at the Faculty of Management, University of Warsaw.

Last Updated on August 19, 2024 by Anastazja Lach