How is Nomura building strong teams to turn this diversity into strengths? In this second installment of our interview series with three Nomura team leaders, we speak with our Global Head of the Cost Management & Analytics, Angela Skandakumar.
Q. Please tell us about your role and responsibilities, and the makeup of your team.
I am the Global Head of the Cost Management & Analytics (CMA) team at Nomura. CMA has a total of more than 110 employees in four regions: EMEA, the Americas, Japan and Asia ex-Japan (including Powai). On a daily basis, we interact with various stakeholders within the company about global costs. We also support the structural reform committee, which is transforming the way the organization works using improved technologies.
Q. As a leader with team members across the globe, how do you provide an environment where they can thrive?
I recognize that different employees will have different needs to bring out the best in them. My key criteria is trust and commitment. I encourage employees to balance personal needs while being proud to work in CMA and wanting to achieve for the firm. The best way to create a happy environment with many diverse team members is to listen and support everyone so people feel valued as they rightly should. I feel this allows people to grow personally and they feel part of a broader objective if they know their voice is heard.
- 拡大
- Angela Skandakumar
Global Head of the Cost Management & Analytics
Nomura International plc
Q. Is there anything that stands out as an accomplishment in your team in terms of diversity?
A balanced team to me means people from a variety of backgrounds, experiences, skill sets and interests. Over time the team and I have recognized that a diverse community actually brings about the best outcomes and teaches you to respect different cultures. I feel that encouraging a global organization with many people from different backgrounds, experience and perspectives results in a more effective and innovative group of people as opposed to those that are all similar.
Q. How are teams like this built?
The important thing is to look for a broad group of qualified people who aren’t just a mirror of yourself. All teams need varied people to really come together and challenge each other. It is also essential to recognize that there are cultural differences based on the regions where people are physically located.
Q. What do you believe are the strengths in diversity?
I often quote the power of ‘brains’ to my leadership team. I genuinely believe that when a team has diverse members it enhances decision making as people consider different points of views and this results in more balanced and informed choices. When we have different perspectives and approaches, it can lead to more powerful and effective problem solving, which promotes adaptability and enables the organization to respond effectively to an ever-changing world.
Angela Skandakumar
Global Head of Cost Management & Analytics, Nomura International plc
Angela is a qualified accountant who joined Nomura in 2005. She has spent the last twenty years in the finance function of Nomura covering areas such as management accounting and product control, and specializing in financial planning and analysis and cost management. She is currently the Global Head of Cost Management & Analytics and a member of the Global Finance Operating Committee.
Aside from her core role, Angela is a proactive sponsor of diversity and inclusion across the firm and has taken the lead role as executive sponsor of EMEA finance.
