Markets Media spoke with Payal Ray, Regional Human Resources Business Partner & Head of Diversity Equity Inclusion at BNP Paribas, who won Excellence in Commodities at the 2024 Women in Finance Asia Awards.
What was your reaction to winning the award?
Being nominated and recognized by the business teams I support is immensely rewarding. As I sat listening to the achievements and speeches of fellow winners at the Award Ceremony, I felt a profound sense of inspiration, energy, humility and gratitude. It is an honor to be acknowledged among such incredible women leaders who are shaping our industry.
What is your company culture?
The culture at BNP Paribas embodies a true sense of community. Colleagues respect and appreciate one another, generously sharing their knowledge, expertise and time. Most importantly, we work together as a collective, fostering a collaborative and supportive environment.
How your career has been enhanced by exposure to diverse people, places, or experiences?
Growing up in Mumbai, I was surrounded by a warm, supportive but fairly homogeneous community. The doors to a diverse and multicultural world opened up when I joined BNP Paribas as a Graduate- meeting and working with colleagues from all over the world, becoming financially independent and having the means to travel, experience different countries, their food, their people and thereby assimilating little pieces of culture into my own to create a beautiful mosaic. And now that I’m bringing up 2 children in Singapore, these diverse experiences are making me realise how powerful this cosmopolitan exposure from a young age can be. All of this has fuelled a respectful curiosity, the desire to listen, observe, understand and appreciate people for their uniqueness and the ability to find common ground and connect no matter how different we might seem to be. I approach my career with the same philosophy – the mindset for learning through experiences and using it to help others (be it the business or individuals) to achieve their goals.
How do you deal with pressure or stressful situations?
With 2 young kids and a dual career household, pressure and stress are constant. Over the years I have found a few effective ways of dealing with stress and pressure that work for me. For one, I find naming what I’m feeling is the first step in then ‘taming’ that feeling and identifying the source of the stress. Putting in place steps that address the source naturally follows. But there are certain stressful situations that cannot be immediately resolved – acknowledging that you have to ‘ride it out’ or very often ‘ask for help’ (something we know women find difficult to do) is definitely the reality. Of course, there will always be my go-to choices – prioritising things that bring me joy – spending time with my family, painting, speaking to a friend or a mentor. At the end of the day, I always remind myself of all the things I’m truly privileged and grateful for.. that helps me.
What’s your favorite workplace tradition?
That would be our annual BNP Paribas DEI festival called ‘Inclusion Days’, celebrated globally every October. This event is a true celebration of our organization’s rich diversity, and each year, our events and initiatives grow more innovative and creative. The highlight is undoubtedly the ‘Food and Culture Day’ – a delightful tapestry of global delicacies, with colleagues sharing the rich histories and traditions behind their cuisines. It fills me with immense pride and privilege to work in such a diverse and inclusive organization.
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