Cover ‘Horse’ by Kawayan de Guia (Photo: courtesy of Standard Chartered Bank Philippines)
‘Horse’ by Kawayan de Guia (Photo: courtesy of Standard Chartered Bank Philippines)
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Standard Chartered Bank Philippines
Standard Chartered Bank Philippines CEO Mike Samson shares how creative inclinations can be the key to successful banking
The biggest gift that his parents gave him was his 27-year international banking career. “I’m an only child,” Mike Samson shares, “but not once did they say ‘come home’.” Of those years abroad, he spent 23 of them in Singapore, two in the United States and two in Australia. When he took the reins as the CEO of Standard Chartered Bank (SCB) Philippines, it was also an opportunity to oversee a much larger franchise base—a career move he could not turn down.
Outside work, Samson cultivates a deep appreciation for the arts. He was active in the Singapore arts community and was on the Board of the Singapore Art Museum, and the Governing Council of the NTU Centre for Contemporary Art. He is especially fond of two pieces in his collection that resonate with him: Horse by Kawayan de Guia, a sculpture made entirely of wood and celluloid film strips, and Ghost of Beauty in Her Eyes by Geraldine Javier, a painting which depicts Samson’s daughter admiring encased butterflies that protrude from the canvas. “It shows the meditation on life—people age and people pass,” he muses. Javier often uses butterflies to represent the cycle of mortality, rebirth and change. This piece came to symbolise our friendship with the artist and also our daughter.”
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Above Standard Chartered Bank Philippines CEO Mike Samson in front of Ghost of Beauty in Her Eyes by Geraldine Javier (Photo: courtesy of Standard Chartered Bank Philippines)
Standard Chartered Bank Philippines CEO Mike Samson in front of Ghost of Beauty in Her Eyes by Geraldine Javier (Photo: courtesy of Standard Chartered Bank Philippines)
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Samson explains that art and banking are intrinsically intertwined. This dates back to the Medici family of Florence, who pioneered several advancements in the industry whilst patronising artists, sculptors and musicians. “It gave birth to one of the greatest movements in art, the Renaissance,” Samson adds. He believes that having a sense of aesthetics—not just in art but also in literature, philosophy, music and film—can help build trust and establish rapport with clients. This quality of being able to relate and empathise with another person is essential.
Samson applies this in leading Standard Chartered Bank Philippines. In its long, 153-year history, the institution has deeply embedded itself in people’s lives, from the man on the street to the national level. “Through our banking expertise and extensive network, we are able to support our clients’ growth and aspirations,” Samson says. “We have been doing our part in driving financial inclusion, digital innovation and infrastructure development,” he adds.
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Above Samson with 'Filipino Boy on Graduation Day' by Patricia Eustaquio
Above Samson in front of 'After Da Vinci and Vergil' by Ronald Ventura
Samson with 'Filipino Boy on Graduation Day' by Patricia Eustaquio
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“We won’t stop being an innovator,” Samson remarks. “We want to participate in nation-building. Whether it’s infrastructure, poverty upliftment, education, digital literacy and getting behind new technologies, that is something we want to be part of our mission.” Standard Chartered Bank is a longtime partner of the government in sustainable development and financial inclusion. As its credit rating adviser since 2010, the bank has also assisted the country in achieving positive rating upgrades and assessments.
He connects this to the bank’s brand promise, ‘Here for good’. “That idea of custodianship, of being here tomorrow and the next 153 years, is also one of our [goals.] Today, things seem to be changing every second, and success hinges on how one can quickly adapt and think outside the box. Your ability to keep the pace is more of an art than a science,” Samson affirms. His leadership at Standard Chartered Bank is proof that one must keep a creative and innovative mind to see things that others don’t, and to move before they do.
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About
Tobias wants to write things that make people think, laugh, and reflect. He’s especially proud when he can sneak in a cheeky pop-culture reference or a pun in his titles and articles.
He possesses a deep love of history, resulting from years of books, games, and museum visits. It was this fascination with the human endeavour that fostered his love of writing, spanning genres, tones, and moods. He one day hopes to write a novel—he just hasn't decided on a genre yet. A certified homebody, you'll often find him on the computer he built himself, binge-watching Seinfeld or House, playing his favourite gacha game, or reading a book.
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Tobias is a features writer that specialises in branded content. Reach out to him at tobias.tomas@tatlerasia.com.
