Svetlana Aleksandrova
Team Manager
Passion for Growth and Sustainability
Svetlana’s journey at SEB started almost five years ago when she discovered her passion for the KYC (Know Your Customer) area. She shifted her career and never looked back. Today, she leads a team and ensures that knowledge and growth go hand in hand.
How did your journey start at SEB?
I knew I wanted to work here – it just felt right. The company culture and values matched my own, and the KYC area was so interesting to me. That brought me here almost five years ago, and I’m happy I took the opportunity.
I started as a KYC Regulatory Analyst, then became a Process Area Specialist, focusing on analyzing and improving processes. Now, for more than a year, I am a team manager, putting all the knowledge I have gained over the years to work – helping my team grow and develop.
What does long-term thinking and sustainability mean to you personally?
For me, sustainability isn’t about instant results; it’s about creating benefits for the future.
We often hear "sustainability" in the context of the environment, but for me, it’s also deeply connected to the business and the financial industry.
In banking, we must think long-term because clients trust us not only to provide the best solutions today but also five or ten years from now. Everything we do – every decision and every solution we implement – can and will make an impact.
Do you see sustainability as part of your everyday work?
Absolutely. In the KYC department, we focus on learning and implementing processes that not only save time but also provide customers with better services.
For example, we used to ask clients to provide a lot of data on a regular basis. They often struggled, sending incorrect information or missing the deadlines, which meant we spent a lot of time sending reminders and verifying data.
Now, we gather the necessary data ourselves and send customers a pre-filled form, asking them to simply confirm if the information is up to date. This saves a lot of time for both customers and us - because we are the specialists, we know what to look for and where to find it.
Customers appreciate this effort, and the process is smoother and faster for everyone.
To me, this is a great example of a sustainable solution that truly works – and it’s just one of many examples where we learn to work smarter.
Sometimes this way of thinking doesn’t come naturally - there’s often a habit of creating quick fixes for today’s problems – but over time, you see the value of investing extra time and effort into creating solutions that will last.
Is SEB’s focus on sustainability different from other companies in the financial industry?
I believe it is. We are proactive rather than reactive: we try to foresee challenges and address them with solutions before problems even occur.
Whatever we do, we make sure it works in the long term.
Innovations come in many shapes and sizes, and I can confirm that we are constantly innovating - even though innovation is often seen as a prerogative of smaller companies and startups.
At SEB, we launch solutions that have been thoroughly tested. We don’t rush to be the first; we focus on providing the best possible service to clients who put their trust in us.
I’m proud that we use this approach – proud to work here and to be part of shaping future solutions.
What is something that is on the horizon that you think will be impactful in the world of finance or sustainability?
I believe it’s crucial that ESG initiatives (Environmental, Social, and Governance) become even more embedded in the financial industry – and that a company’s success is determined not only by its financial performance but also by its responsibility towards society and the environment.
When working with clients who might not yet be where they want to be in terms of environmental impact, we offer solutions to help them transition – instead of waiting for them to manage everything on their own.
This way of thinking really aligns with my personal values. I believe that this kind of proactivity drives real change.
It’s not just about one company being in the lead; it’s about helping others move forward too. It’s a collective effort that leads to a shift towards responsible decision-making every day.
