Skilly Award Winner 2021 in the category: Team project competence development: Bank Julius Baer
Find out which innovative development program Front assistants can go through, how an interactive app was successfully implemented within a year and what values Bank Julius Baer stands for.
Project 1: A development booster for the Front
Many of today's Job profiles and job profiles will change more and more in the future. This is a challenge for both banks and employees. Oliver Ruch and his team tackled this issue in 2020. The result: an innovative development program for Front assistants in private banking ("Assistant Relationship Manager"). This not only gave employees the opportunity to pursue a specific career path, but also launched a tailor-made certification program. In addition to completing the program, an onlineplatform offers space for exchange and Networking, so that the Assistant Relationship Manager community can grow even closer together and learn from each other. "It was particularly important to us that we not only focus on the development of customer advisors, but also create new career opportunities for Assistant Relationship Managers and thus give them the recognition and appreciation they deserve," emphasizes Oliver Ruch, project manager.
Project 2: A Learning & Collaboration App in just one year
Dominique Zweifel and her team have achieved something that will probably amaze some people. A bank-wide "collaboration app" was developed and introduced within a year. In a banking environment characterized by high security standards, this is no mean feat. Since the beginning of 2021, all employees at Bank Julius Baer have been able to use the app to engage in intensive and uncomplicated exchanges, get support from peers or share best practice examples, ideas and tips on various topics with others.
Why not just use LinkedIn & Co?
The app's functions are very reminiscent of well-known social networks such as LinkedIn, Instagram and Facebook. "We wanted to make use of precisely these mechanisms," confirms Dominique Zweifel. All employees should be able to use the app to network and exchange information in an uncomplicated way in order to strengthen social and informal learning and the various communities within the bank in a protected space.
First the work and then the pleasure
As well received as both projects were, there were of course a few hurdles to overcome beforehand. The development and integration of an app into the internal system presented interesting technical and security-specific challenges. "We had to deal with different scenarios, such as the question of what happens if an employee's smartphone is stolen and how to prevent misuse of the app," explains Dominique Zweifel. At Oliver Ruch, it was particularly challenging to pick up on all the different realities, cultures and teams and to design a program that meets all needs as well as possible. "A particular success factor here was that we turned those affected into participants and engaged in a direct, transparent and continuous exchange with them," says Oliver Ruch. And even if the launch of the initiatives was sometimes very challenging, both projects have contributed to the "learning culture", which means that competence development and informal learning are now receiving even greater attention. "This is a positive development," remark both HR experts.
Such projects are no coincidence: "Learning culture is key"
Bank Julius Baer has a long history. Founded in Zurich in 1890, it is now the leading Swiss wealth management group. But despite its enormous expansion and business success, one traditional value still stands out. It takes care of its employees. The once family-like structure of the private bank lives on to this day. We pull together to ensure the success and strategic goals of the company. The Julius Baer Academy acts as a sparring partner for all business units and conveys and lives the learning culture. The idea behind this is that only if companies actively supports its employees in their development and encourages them to learn can a competitive advantage be created in the long term. "To achieve this, we also want to change the perspective on learning. We want to develop the understanding of learning among all employees to the effect that learning today happens much more informally, while actively doing things, while working and in exchange with others, and not just once a year in a course, for example," explains Dominique Zweifel. The Julius Baer Academy offers innovative and employee-centered courses so that learning becomes part of everyday life and everyone can integrate appropriate development steps into their job.
Skilly Award well deserved
The skillaware team would like to congratulate Bank Julius Baer on Skilly Award 2021 and wishes them continued perseverance and development power for the continuation of the 'learning culture' - and hopes for more exciting projects!
Listen to the full interview now
Would you like to find out more about the Skilly Award award winners and their great projects? Click here for the detailed Podcast interview with Dominique Zweifel and Oliver Ruch.
