Leaders List interview: 60 seconds with Mo Baluchi, Standard Bank

Date: 01 Nov 2023

Ashleigh John

This week’s 60-second piece is dedicated to Mo Baluchi, Senior Manager at Standard Bank.

Tell Citywealth readers a bit about your role.

My role involves working in Business Development and Strategy across multiple business units within Standard Bank Offshore and our offices globally.

What does a typical day look like for you?

The cliché of ‘no two days are the same’ is apt however a typical day involves external/internal meetings and events, e-mails, presenting and travelling to other jurisdictions. Business Development also involves ensuring your availability for key relationships at suitable times so my diary must be somewhat flexible.

Tell us about some recent, interesting client instructions.

A well-known international advisor and industry luminary recently referred us to an (U)HNW individual and their Family Office who require a ‘one stop shop’ solution. They are initially seeking our private/corporate banking services from Jersey and this will widen out from there.

What challenges do your clients face and how are you helping your clients to overcome them?

We live in a complex, fast-moving world. Navigating through all the choice and noise that is out there is difficult for clients and intermediaries alike. The main challenge in life generally is consistently playing the most optimal hand with the cards you are dealt i.e. making the best decisions possible with the resources you have at your disposal.

What is your proudest professional achievement?

Probably the professional qualifications that I have achieved and/or career I’ve built since my family and I moved to Jersey. I am also proud to have been on the Citywealth Leaders List for the past decade.

What do you consider to be the most important attributes for a leader?

Humility, bravery, speed of thought, humour, trustworthiness, integrity, compassion, and a steely core.

Who do you most admire and why?

I admire an eclectic mix of inspirational individuals including emergency service and social workers, top-level entrepreneurs, professional stand-up comedians and entertainers etc. A specific person who also immediately springs to mind was Madiba – Nelson Mandela.

Where was the last place you travelled to for work or pleasure?

Business – the beautiful country of Kenya (Nairobi).

Pleasure – the equally stunning Greece (Athens and the Peloponnese) to see family.

If you weren’t in this industry, what else might you be doing?

Something more aligned with my Myers-Briggs ‘type’ which is INFJ.

How do you relax after a long day?

Apart from family time which I cherish, either at Boxinbusiness when I’ve got the energy or endlessly scrolling through rubbish on my Iphone. Whoever first thought of infinite scrolling is an evil genius.

You can view Mo’s profile on the Leaders List here.