For years, Credit Suisse has partnered with Foundation for Shared Impact (FSI) to offer high-quality skills-based volunteering opportunities to its employees in Hong Kong and Singapore. We spoke with Usha Pillai, Vice President of Corporate Citizenship & Foundations APAC at Credit Suisse, to discuss the Corporate Citizenship & Foundations (CCF) APAC grant that has led to a fruitful engagement with one of our Community Partners, and why she thinks our Community Connections Program is a win-win for Credit Suisse, its employees, and the community.
We understand that it was with Credit Suisse Corporate Citizenship & Foundations (CCF) APAC grant that Halogen Foundation Singapore was able to conduct a leadership and engagement workshop connecting Credit Suisse employees and the young beneficiaries of Halogen Foundation. Can you share your thoughts with us on the reason behind this corporate philanthropic act?
At Credit Suisse, we strive to enable a more inclusive future by focusing on three themes – financial inclusion, financial education and future skills – which we regard as critical to empowering individuals to succeed. In addition, we strongly believe that tapping the skills and expertise of our employees via volunteering programs is key to accelerating change and achieving our vision. The above is an example of our CCF employee engagement regional initiative, the Employee Volunteer Grant. This initiative enables employees who organize a volunteer event for a charity to apply for a grant to support the organization.
Credit Suisse has been Foundation for Shared Impact (FSI)‘s corporate partner in the Community Connections Program for years now. Can you share your thoughts on the program and what it has enabled Credit Suisse to achieve?
The Community Connections Program is one of our key skills-based volunteering programs that we offer to employees who are looking to apply their skills and expertise at a strategic level, such as through joining the committee or board of social organizations and helping them build their capacity. Through this program, employees have managed to make a greater impact on our partners such as Halogen Foundation.
Why is it important for Credit Suisse to offer skills-based volunteering opportunities to its employees? Any memorable feedback you have received from your colleagues who have participated in the Community Connections Program?
At Credit Suisse, skills-based volunteering is a key component of our volunteering offerings. We strongly believe that by coupling financial contributions with the expertise of our employees, we are better able to strengthen the capacity of social organizations.
Serving on a non-profit board also helps our employees improve their leadership, strategy, and persuasion skills, and enhances their ability to work under circumstances different from the ones they may encounter in the workplace. We have seen many instances of employees developing various skills while supporting their community and bringing these skills back to Credit Suisse in expanded roles, which is a win-win-win for all.
Going forward, what more would you like to achieve through your partnership with FSI?
We look forward to continuing our partnership with FSI and the platform that they provide through the Community Connections Program and the Board Director Training to benefit more Credit Suisse employees who are keen to support social organizations. This program is a significant opportunity for employees to develop their leadership skills while adding tremendous value to the community.
