Kshamta Kaushik, Managing Director and Head of US Capital Markets, Scotiabank, won Crystal Ladder at Markets Media Group’s 2023 Women in Finance (U.S.) Awards.

What have been the main drivers of your success?

Curiosity, courage and resiliency are the main drivers of success throughout my career. Curiosity pushed me to learn and get interested in new & different areas. Courage helped me push myself out of my comfort zone. Resiliency is how I landed on my feet even when things didn’t go exactly as planned and how I was able to solution ground breaking transactions. Throughout my career, I bet on myself every time I stretched myself, but it was also Scotiabank who was also willing to take a risk on me. Ultimately the power of the collective, with so many talented colleagues and managers, is why I am where I am. And its that willingness to take risk on talent that makes Scotia more than a workplace – it’s a platform for growth.

What’s something you’re really proud of and why?

There have been moments of personal achievement and professional milestones throughout the years, but I am most proud of the journey itself and the people interactions along the way. Starting from humble beginnings in India, to a decision to pursue an Advanced Math master in Waterloo, I hadn’t expected the journey to unfold as it did. My career journey has spanned three countries, many different roles and lots of twists and turns. This meant, that I had to be creative, re-invent and keep an open mind on the path to ensure I kept growing as a professional. And I’m really glad that I did.

What’s your advice to the next generation of women in finance?

Don’t be afraid to have the confidence to bet on yourself; if you won’t bet on you, no one else will. The way to put in motion is to be intentional, take ownership and have a plan. First, stating the obvious, but performance & results matter; that’s the base line. Know what you need to accomplish in your role and strive for excellence everyday. The success of your organization and your impact on it will differentiate you. Second, establish a goal. It can be a major goal of changing career paths or something as simple learning a new skill. Third, know that we don’t have to do it all by ourselves. Having people invested in your success is a key component of this journey and this is where seeking to develop a strong support system both at work and at home is key. The definition of the goal will help establish the who. Building credibility, surrounding ourselves with people invested in our success and being open to advice and more importantly feedback is what will shape our paths.