Athena Chao

Managing Director
Fixed Income & Currencies/ Head of Taiwan Sales

How did you get to be where you are today? Was there a particular person or moment that influenced you?

“Keep positive and always look on the bright side” is my belief in my career. I learned this lesson from many senior leaders at RBC and realized that successful people can always secure business opportunities and bring value to the firm by thinking positively.

If you were talking to someone who’s never worked in your RBC business group, how would you describe what you do and what you like best about your job?

I have been responsible for establishing the RBC Franchise in Taiwan and increasing the penetration FIC business since I joined in 2006. The aspect of my job that I like best is knowing that my clients appreciate the constant service and commitment that RBC provides to them. For me, this is the most rewarding and encouraging part of my job.

What’s been the greatest challenge of your career to date and how did you deal with it?

Balancing professional and personal responsibilities is a challenge that we all face. Personally, my biggest challenge is finding time to spend with my son. I am still learning how to achieve that delicate balance that works for me, and how to carve out quality time with my family which is so important.

What advice would you give a younger woman who is at the start of her career?

My advice is “Career is like a journey and you are the owner of that journey.” How far you can go will depend on how much you contribute yourself and how eager you are to learn.

If you weren’t doing what you do now, what would you be doing instead?

I would love to be a school teacher providing financial education to students. I would like to draw on my background and share my own experiences in order to help people make better financial decisions for their futures and guide them toward their own financial success.

Aside from spending time with family and friends, what’s your favourite thing to do when you have time to yourself?

I love swimming as it is an activity that allows me to calm my mind and helps to provide focus in the midst of busy daily life. I enjoy swimming so much that I even participated in the “Cross Sun & Moon Lake” 3.3 kilometer challenge, successfully navigating the biggest Lake in Taiwan. This was one of the best swimming experiences I’ve had in my life.