The Institute
Interview with Marina Bianchi Galanti: "Investing in skills is a key challenge for the banking sector".
February 27, 2025
We met Marina Bianchi Galanti, Human Resources Director at Piguet Galland & Cie SA, to discuss the challenges of skills development in the banking sector. In an ever-changing environment, she shares her vision of management, the importance of ongoing training and the key role played by managers in supporting their teams. She also talks about the partnership with ISFB and the Banking Management and Adaptability certificate, a program designed to meet the current challenges of the profession.
How important is skills development at your company?
To remain competitive, it is essential for the organization to adapt to changing circumstances, and skills development plays a crucial role in achieving high levels of performance and innovation.
By investing in the ongoing training of our employees, we ensure that they remain at the cutting edge of banking knowledge and practices. This also contributes to their professional development and loyalty.
Actively involving staff in the skills development process is fundamental. Employee empowerment, access to educational resources and opportunities for growth within our organization foster a sense of belonging and a culture of adaptation, which are essential for successfully facing change.
How would you describe the management philosophy at your bank?
The current market conditions and context clearly indicate that an effective managerial model must necessarily support short-, medium- and long-term objectives, and must do so by managing teams and activities with a view to strategic development, taking into account employees, their potential and their psychological well-being.
We promote transformative leadership capable of building an environment to which talent wants and chooses to belong. The reasons for doing so do not lie in excessive altruism, but in creating the conditions essential to improving the quality of our customer service, productivity, and the attraction and retention of talent.
Our management philosophy is based on transparency, collaboration and innovation. We encourage open and honest communication at all levels of the organization, and value everyone's ideas and contributions. We firmly believe that innovation emerges from a strong team spirit and, above all, from the collective intelligence of diverse perspectives.
What do you expect from your managers in terms of management, and how do you support them in their training?
We expect our managers to be inspirational leaders, to fully embody the values of our organization, and to act as role models and mentors to their teams.
They must have the ability to make informed decisions, manage resources effectively and foster a positive working environment, whatever the circumstances.
To support them, we offer dedicated training programs, workshops focusing on personal development, and coaching sessions tailored to individual and team needs.
We want our managers to be able to value work-life balance, diversity and inclusion, as well as the overall well-being of our employees.
Do you see a change in the skills sought by the job market over the past 20 years in the banking sector?
Yes, there has clearly been a great evolution. Technical skills, such as mastery of financial technologies and data analysis tools, are increasingly in demand. In addition, risk management skills, regulatory skills and a good understanding of responsible investment issues have become essential in our sector.
With the rapid and far-reaching changes in our industry, advanced human skills such as communication, change management, problem-solving, adaptability and resilience are also in high demand.
The ISFB Banking Management and Adaptability certificate will start very soon (March 2025). What major challenges do you see in this area, and how can this program offer concrete solutions?
Major challenges include the need to adapt to new regulations, technological advances and the expectations of demanding customers, while taking into account the employees of the teams we work with.
Understanding employees' expectations, developing agile leadership skills to guide teams through moments of uncertainty, promoting creativity and initiative-taking, and getting employees to adhere to common objectives are key issues for managers today.
The ISFB Banking Management and Adaptability program offers concrete solutions by providing participants with the tools and knowledge they need to navigate this complex and constantly changing environment. Several of our managers have already taken part in this program with great satisfaction.
Your bank works regularly with the ISFB. What benefits does your bank derive from its collaboration with the ISFB?
Our collaboration with the ISFB enables us to benefit from top-level academic and professional expertise and training programs tailored to the specific needs of our sector.
This contributes to our goal of maintaining a highly qualified workforce and helps us stay competitive in the market.
