From Growing the ‘Underdog’ to Growing as a Leader

Every career has a moment where a single yes opens the door to something more. ‘Yes Moments’ is a blog series that celebrate the choices that sparked opportunities and shaped the professional journeys of our people.

For Ka Jit, one decision to step beyond the familiar set him on a path of continuous growth and diverse career moves. From his early days in OCBC to leading transformative digital and operational initiatives today, his journey reflects the power of conviction, adaptability, and the spirit to say yes to opportunities.

Uncover how OCBC’s culture enabled him to take on new challenges, embrace growth, and lead people as Director of Operations & Technology in OCBC Indonesia.

I said ‘Yes’ to OCBC in 2011, but my journey began long before that. I graduated from a local university in Jakarta and came from a relatively modest background. My first job was in the back office in 1998. I was unsure how far this career would go, but I went with the flow.

I went on to spend a good part of my career working for foreign banks. During the 2008 financial crisis, I faced a big question: how can foreign banks differentiate itself in a highly regulated post-crisis industry? It was during this period that OCBC approached me, highlighting a significant gap in business. At that time, the foreign bank that I was at was doing ten times the business of OCBC in Indonesia.

I decided to move to OCBC despite being laughed at for joining a bank one-tenth the size. But I thought to myself, "Yes, even though OCBC is not the leader in this space, the organisation is hungry and willing. We will narrow the gap and exceed them in five years down the road."

True enough, five years later, we were very much on par.

Pull Factors for Saying ‘Yes’

When I joined OCBC, I vividly remember the pull factors and opportunities presented. The regulatory clampdown at that time levelled the playing field. The fancy advantages that foreign banks had, like structured notes, equity & FX derivatives, were no longer available. They relied heavily on strong wealth distribution capabilities to serve clients — something that others could catch up to.

At that time, OCBC's premier banking service had only 28 relationship managers. The management team convinced me they were very serious about growth, which was a leap of faith for me.

A Culture of Investment and Growth

At OCBC, my first ‘Yes’ was a role in Wealth Management (WM) and Priority Banking (starting from number 11 on the chart), and I eventually progressed to a position I never imagined myself taking on. I took on at least eight different roles. If you have conviction and raise your hand whenever opportunities arise, OCBC is very willing to invest in your potential, even if you have limited prior experience.

When I said ‘Yes’ to becoming the Operations & Technology Director two years ago, many people found it hard to believe. For the longest time, my professional experience was in consumer banking, but OCBC often provides opportunities for talents with diverse experiences to grow in their career.

A career path isn’t linear. It has a lot of lateral movement, and I'm living proof of that.

In 2015, I went through a psychology test during my Executive Development Program at INSEAD, a business school. I was ranked second from the left in terms of introversion. Back then, leading a sales and distribution team of 2,000 people requires extroverted communication, which was a challenge for me. I learned to "fake it till I believe it," pushing myself to adapt until it became more natural.

In 2016, OCBC sponsored me to pursue an Executive MBA at the Singapore Management University (SMU), which I am grateful for.

Looking Forward: Long-Term Vision for Indonesia

Looking ahead, we have a long-term view of where we want to be in the Indonesian market. We have set multi-year aspirations and agreed on the steps to take. In contrast to foreign banks, which often focus on massive projects and quick wins, we are committed to building a sustainable presence in Indonesia. 

In support of OCBC’s corporate strategy, The Next Frontier and its four Strategic Shifts, Operations and Technology is positioning itself to enable a single customer bank across entities. We are building the infrastructure, technology stacks and platforms required to support long-term growth. This includes strengthening our digital capabilities to enhance wealth management, developing SME-focused platforms, and advancing customer centricity by leveraging AI, Digital and Data (ADD) to drive greater scale and efficiency.

We are reinventing the customer journey, starting from a baseline where customers often receive different answers from various channels. Our goal is to build a unified experience that offers a consistent omnichannel experience. If we figure this out, it can be embedded across all channels, helping us build the bank of the future.

Pilot Projects, Future Aspirations

Based on our latest project iterations and board visits, it has been agreed that Indonesia will be a key pilot for these initiatives. The Next Frontier project, aims to test these concepts in Indonesia before replicating them in other regions with similar characteristics.

The board and executive members came to Indonesia for in-depth discussions, which kickstarted our multi-year aspirations. We aim to grow Indonesia to be the key ASEAN Domestic Market for OCBC by 2030.

Reflections on My Journey

My journey at OCBC has been filled with growth, challenges, and opportunities. I am proud to be part of an organisation that values investment in its people and fosters a culture of collaboration and innovation.

Reflecting on 15 years of saying ‘Yes’ to OCBC, I recognise that it would be irrational to say there have been no failures or regrets. There have been plenty of moments where I look back and think about the decisions I made. The challenge often lies in raising your hand to do something new and convincing others to embrace changes they are not used to.

As we continue to build the bank of the future, I look forward to the opportunities that lie ahead for both the organisation and its people.

Every journey starts with a choice. When was the last time you said yes?

Opportunity Starts Here.