#33 — How To Get Promoted In Banking | Philip Kunz on Pay, Politics & Leadership: “Sucking Up To Your Boss Doesn’t Help Much.” “Your Peers Are The Most Influential As You Rise In Leadership.”

Veteran banking leader Philip Kunz dismantles the biggest myths about rising in banking — from promotions and politics to influencing people who don’t report to you.

Across 40 years in wealth management, Philip held senior leadership roles at UBS, ABN AMRO, and Credit Suisse, led Global Private Banking for South Asia at HSBC, and is now Senior Advisor & Group Head Southeast Asia at Nomura International Wealth Management.

In this episode, we dive into what it really takes to rise — and stay — at the top of global financial institutions: how to navigate complex matrix organizations, what to do when politics and perception turn against you, and the real responsibilities that come with senior leadership beyond the title.

If you work in banking, finance, wealth management, or any large matrix organization, this episode will reshape how you think about career growth, influence, and leadership.

Chapters:

00:00 – Intro

02:50 – Can you be “nice” and still make it to the top?

05:18 – Kind vs soft: authenticity, respect & tough conversations

06:48 – Navigating complex matrix organizations

08:32 – Influencing without authority: why peers matter most

11:30 – Standing out among ambitious peers

14:28 – Promotions: merit, perception, relationships

19:25 – Pay, entitlement & sustainability in private banking

24:10 – Promotion frameworks, transparency & manager responsibilities

28:25 – What is politics in the corporate world?

33:28 – How to recover when perception turns against you

37:45 – At the top: does it get easier or harder?

40:25 – Tough decisions: retrenchments & impact on people

42:12 – The privilege and burden of senior leadership

44:50 – From apprentice to MD

46:40 – What keeps Philip going

48:28 – Traits of the most respected senior leaders

50:05 – What “You Never Know” means to Philip

51:45 – Closing

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🌐 LinkedIn: https://sg.linkedin.com/in/philip-marcus-kunz-9b0b45186 

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