Markets Media spoke with Victoria Chen, Associate General Counsel for the Asia Pacific Region (APAC), DTCC who won Excellence in Legal & Compliance at the 2024 Women in Finance Asia Awards.
What was your reaction to winning the award?
I am very appreciative and thrilled that the DTCC team has nominated me for this award, in recognition of my contribution as legal counsel for DTCC’s operations in Asia Pacific. This nomination is a testament to DTCC’s ongoing commitment to building an inclusive workplace that provides equal career advancement opportunities for women.
I feel honored to have won this award and having been chosen among my peers in the legal community for this acknowledgement. This recognition encourages me to continue to push myself forward to achieve greater excellence in legal and compliance as well as contribute to belonging in the workplace to help others excel in their careers.
What keeps you motivated?
Fostering genuine connections and trusted, collaborative relationships is important to me. My colleagues look to me to provide advice and counsel on all legal matters, and I hope to continue to be that trusted advisor to them. I have three beautiful daughters whom I would like to lead by example. I have inculcated in them this motto: work hard, do what you believe, build strong, authentic and lasting relationships. The sky is the limit.
What are some of the pressing legal & compliance issues?
DTCC, like many of its industry peers, is operating in an increasingly complex and evolving regulatory environment. Some of the challenges in the future that we need to tackle would include regulations around artificial intelligence (AI) creation and AI use cases. The threat from sophisticated cyber actors provides added complication to this anticipated regulatory concern.
Who have been the main influences in your career?
I am very fortunate and blessed that throughout my career, I have been given many opportunities to take on new and challenging responsibilities as well as manage complex initiatives that stretch my expertise and potential. These experiences have helped shape my professional development as a lawyer and trusted legal advisor to my business partners. Further, I must thank my two mentors – who I met early in my career – for taking the time to mentor and guide me in order to become the lawyer I am today. I have also had two exceptional managers at DTCC who believe in me and empower me with making tough decisions. That said, they are always available to support me whenever I need their counsel. Their leadership and vision never fail to inspire me.
And last but not the least, I am extremely grateful to my mum, who is a huge influence on me. She has been working for almost five decades in portfolio management. Despite working full time, she always has time for me and my siblings. Under her influence, I have learned to embrace two qualities – resilience and a can-do attitude – to manage any challenge, big or small, knowing that there is a solution to every issue.
What’s your advice to the next generation of women in finance?
I believe it is important for one to be confident and not hesitate to take on new challenges or learn something new – to make a difference. I encourage young women to be outspoken and inquisitive, to actively seek out interesting work within their own organization, and more broadly, as often the best opportunities come unexpectedly. In my career, some of my biggest rewards have come from taking the biggest personal and professional risks and pushing my own limits. Sometimes our tenacity and drive to excel may surprise us.
Lastly, I would advocate for the next generation of young women to be part of a driving force to reshape the financial services landscape, a traditionally male dominated industry. By coming together to create opportunities, expanding our professional network, and supporting each other, we will continue to shatter glass ceilings and overcome glass cliffs, real or perceived.
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