Back to Article
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.
Joshua’s career began with numbers in models and frameworks, but ambition pulled him from risk management into the dynamic world of trading.
Discover how he helped build a strong derivatives market for OCBC Indonesia and now drives real market decisions and industry-first capabilities as an Executive Director in Emerging Market Rates and Non-Deliverable Forward Trading at OCBC Singapore.
I did not begin my career intending to become a trader.
In 2005, after completing my bachelor’s degree in finance, I decided to kickstart my career in risk management as a Market Risk Manager at an Indonesian bank, Lippo Bank.
My early role was structured. I focused on managing reports, running simulations, and preparing scenarios. That foundation sharpened my technical skills and discipline.
However, over time, I became fascinated by the intensity of working in global markets. The dealing room seemed like a loud and dynamic environment, where each day started with a different level of excitement.
So, when a former manager invited me to join him in trading as an Interest Rates and Derivatives Trader at Bank Danamon in 2007, I said, “Yes”!
The shift was significant. From managing risk frameworks, I was now taking direct responsibility for generating revenue for the bank. It was demanding, but it taught me resilience, ownership, and the importance of continuous learning.
Those lessons continue to shape how I work today.
Concurrently, I decided to pursue a part-time Master of Business Administration at Swiss German University in Indonesia in 2008 and graduated in 2010.
The Move to OCBC
In 2011, my then manager Johannes Husin, moved to OCBC NISP as the Treasurer and invited me to join him. At the time, OCBC Indonesia had just acquired NISP Bank and was in a development phase.
Some in the market viewed the bank as more conservative. However, from the inside, I saw something very different. There was a strong appetite for growth, an openness to new ideas, and a genuine willingness to give employees room to apply their skills.
Senior leaders were clear about building capabilities, taking calculated risks, and growing responsibly.
Developing New Products and Growing with the Bank
A defining chapter of my OCBC journey was my time in Indonesia from 2012 to 2014. I worked closely with colleagues across markets, divisions, and departments to develop new interest rate derivatives and cross currency swap products.
At the time, these instruments were not available in the Indonesian market. Only a handful of global banks were actively trading them. Building this capability required patience, strong governance, and close collaboration.
We also contributed two-way prices for the market, which increased the price discovery mechanism and added further depth to market liquidity.
Additionally, we spent time educating internal stakeholders, strengthening systems and settlement processes, and aligning across teams.
The bank’s collaborative work culture made it possible to innovate responsibly while maintaining a strong risk discipline. Colleagues were eager to learn, receptive to new ideas, and open to improving capabilities together.
While our trades started small, we grew over time. Success came as teams moved in the same direction, with the support of colleagues across countries and leaders who removed roadblocks.
Eventually, OCBC became recognised as a leading player in interest rate derivatives and cross currency swaps in Indonesia. We handled long-dated contracts of five to seven years and big-ticket transactions, ranging from tens of millions to billions of dollars over time.
International companies and global banks eventually took notice and began approaching OCBC for business — a clear signal of market confidence.
Supportive Leadership and Colleagues
In OCBC, I have been fortunate to work with leaders who invested in my growth and trust me with responsibility. Johannes Husin played a key role as my mentor in teaching me the ins and outs of the industry, while other leaders provided opportunities for me to apply and expand on those skills.
In 2021, I was approached by Head of Global Markets Trading, Benedict Tan, to move to Singapore to take over the Global Markets Trading Indonesia business. When I relocated, my managers worked closely with Group Human Resources to ensure my family could join me as smoothly as possible.
My family was able to relocate in just five months. That experience reinforced how OCBC values wellbeing and understood that supporting people holistically allows them to perform at their best.
When I first arrived in Singapore, the learning curve was steep as the market and systems were quite different from what I knew. However, my colleagues were very keen to teach me just about everything I needed to know.
One memorable experience was when they provided me with practice sheets and notes for me to pass the Financial Markets Regulatory Practices (FMRP) examination.
Their support and care also showed up in smaller meaningful moments. During periods when I was unwell, colleagues stepped in without hesitation to cover my responsibilities.
Trust and teamwork were not just words, but everyday practices.
Finding Support at Work and Opportunities to Learn
Today, I am part of a dealing room culture built on trust and respect.
While mornings can be intense as markets open and teams work quickly to deliver the right prices for clients, afternoons give us the space for reflection and connection with colleagues. We work in an open space where jokes are shared from time to time.
Leaders encourage work-life balance and teammates support one another during peak periods. There is a genuine sense that people enjoy being here.
Saying yes to OCBC came from choosing growth over familiarity. The bank strikes the right balance of taking risks prudently.
From regulatory and technical certifications in risk management and treasury dealing, to the freedom to express ideas and shape solutions, I have always felt encouraged to grow.
My story is still evolving, but it is firmly anchored in trust, teamwork, and the belief that meaningful growth happens when we move forward together.
As I look ahead, I am grateful to be part of a company that invests in its people.
Every journey starts with a choice. When was the last time you said yes?
Opportunity Starts Here.
