Growing together: Longtime APAC employees on their time at Bloomberg

From Sydney to Singapore, Bloomberg’s journey in APAC has been shaped and enriched by the contributions of our greatest asset: our people. And there’s no better example than our employees who have been with us for decades.

Over the years, they’ve honed their skills and applied their talents to multiple areas of the business. Here, six of our longtime APAC employees discuss their career paths, why they continue to stay at Bloomberg, their favorite moments at the company, and what sets our culture apart.

Opportunities for every employee 

Jyoti Bahl, Procurement, Hong Kong, joined 2005 (15 years)

In my 15 years at Bloomberg, I’ve had the opportunity to work in five different offices. I started out in Tokyo as a Customer Support representative before becoming a Team Leader. After four years, I moved into Customer Account Management Support – a role that took me to Singapore and then Mumbai. Next, I applied for a position in Product Oversight and moved to New York for two years before returning to Asia, where I’m now with the Procurement team in Hong Kong. 

I’ve been fortunate to have colleagues and managers who’ve guided and challenged me along the way. There are many career paths within Bloomberg and the company always encourages its employees to step out of their comfort zone and seek new opportunities.

One of my most meaningful memories at Bloomberg is from 2011, when the Tohoku Earthquake hit Japan. I was working in the Tokyo office then. It was an extremely tough and scary time, but all the offices rallied together to support us as we worked through the chaos to get things back in order. I’m proud to be a part of Bloomberg – we truly come together as a team to support one another through difficult times.

A company with a human touch

Irene Lam, Sales, Hong Kong, joined 2008 (12 years)

My Bloomberg journey has been incredible. I started with the Global Customer Support team before moving to Analytics and then Core Terminal Sales. Finally, I became a team leader for both the Corporation and Workflow Specialist teams in Hong Kong. 

I absolutely love the people I work with and what I do. Twelve years have flown by in the blink of an eye, and no matter which role I’m in, I’ve been able to apply my strengths to make a positive impact on the business and the people I work with. Unlike many other large corporations, Bloomberg has always encouraged us to take risks, think big and stay innovative. All my managers have been very supportive throughout my career and have empowered me to run the business as though it were my own. 

I had a big car accident in 2019, and what touched me the most was how supportive the company was during my recovery. Everyone made an extra effort to get me back on track. Apart from the warm welcome back, they also made sure I could move around the office easily. The way Bloomberg values its people really sets it apart.

A solid support system 

Chin Teck Lee, On-Site Support, Singapore, joined in 1991 (29 years)

When I officially joined the company in 1991, there were only four employees working in Singapore and there wasn’t even an Operations department. We had to wear many hats and solve new challenges across a variety of roles: Customer Support, Information Systems, Facilities and Supply Chain, just to name a few!

It’s been 29 years now and things have changed so much – in the world and at Bloomberg. Something new is always happening, and we’re always growing and adapting. However, Bloomberg’s great company culture has always been a constant. The recognition of my work and unwavering support from my superiors, colleagues and business associates have kept me motivated for so many years, and will continue to do so for many more. 

From the beginning, I always knew that I wanted to build a long-term career with Bloomberg. The company really supports its employees in doing so by outlining potential career paths and specific milestones we can strive towards. Also, the working environment here is really conducive – everyone is continuously sharing ideas and learning new things. At Bloomberg, we are encouraged to improve bit by bit until we become the best versions of ourselves. 

A culture of collaboration

Celine Shi, Sales, Shanghai, joined 2011 (9 years)

I started out as an Analytics representative in the Singapore office before becoming an advanced specialist, and later, a team leader. In 2015, I was given the opportunity to expand our team coverage to Beijing, and relocated there in 2017 to continue building our support for Chinese clients. Over the next 2.5 years, the team tripled in size, and I was able to use my knowledge and experience to move into China Enterprise Sales and help manage our buy-side product specialists. 

For me, what matters most is how Bloomberg provides opportunities for everyone to learn and contribute to larger goals. Also, I really appreciate Bloomberg’s collaborative culture and how everyone is willing to share, help, and work together to achieve more. It’s a place where I’ve made many friends and forged many fun memories. A particularly special moment for me was getting to meet Mike Bloomberg in person when I was in New York for a leadership program. 

The power to shape markets 

Kyoko Shimodoi, News, Tokyo, joined in 1999 (21 years)

I joined Bloomberg as a Japanese Bloomberg News (JBN) reporter in October 1999, and spent the next decade or so in the press club of the Ministry of Finance (MOF) covering Japanese politics. It was an exciting time, as I got to meet a lot of politicians and government officials. 

In March 2016, my career reached a turning point. I took up an editor position in the Tokyo office, working on government-related stories from the Prime Minister’s Office, Bank of Japan (BOJ) and MOF. Following that, I became a team leader, and I am now the managing editor for JBN.

Bloomberg News has had a very significant impact on the markets in Tokyo and I always feel a huge sense of achievement when our stories lead market movements and receive good feedback from readers. I also enjoy the working environment that Bloomberg fosters. It really encourages me to perform at my best.

A great place for ambition and innovation

Annie Tejano, Sales, Manila, joined 1993 (27 years)

Back in 1993, I joined the Analytics team in Hong Kong and later helped set up the Integrated Products team. In 2000, I moved to the Terminal Sales team, covering the Philippines – a role I still do today. Over the years, I have developed my leadership abilities and technical skills, and built strong relationships with many people. 

I’m often asked why I’ve chosen to stay with Bloomberg for so long. Bloomberg is a very dynamic organization and employees are empowered to innovate and test new ideas. In short, it’s a great place to work for big thinkers. I remember our former sales manager in New York declaring that “we want to be the leading partners for the buy-side” – a lofty goal at that time. In my mind, I was wondering how we could ever achieve that, especially with all the competition out there! Today however, with great colleagues, management support, hard work and strong relationships, I can confidently say that we have attained that goal in the Philippines and even more.

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