Champion of Banking and Technology Advancement
Dr. Steven Gan Sau Phin, a luminary in the banking and finance industries, exemplifies dedication and resilience in his professional and personal life. Born and raised in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, he grew up in a loving family that valued education and hard work. As a curious child with an innate thirst for exploration, Dr. Steven embarked on a remarkable journey that would later define his illustrious career.
Educated in local schools, Dr. Steven’s academic prowess laid the foundation for his success. He pursued a Bachelors of Information Technology (Hons.), majoring in Software Engineering and he decided to further his studies in Master of Business Administration, majoring in Multimedia Marketing at a prestigious Malaysian university. His education equipped him with technical expertise, a robust work ethic, and a drive for corporate excellence. Recently, Dr. Steven has also helmed the Professional Doctorate, majoring in Technology Management at a prestigious international university.
Embracing traditional Chinese values and the multicultural tapestry of Malaysian society, he actively celebrated cultural festivals and maintained connections with his ancestral roots. Throughout his life, he has drawn strength and inspiration from his family, particularly his father, Albert Gan, and expatriate uncle, EM Tan. His support system includes his wife, Joyce Lim, and their children, Shermaine, Jayden, and Shereen, who have been his source of encouragement, love, and unwavering trust. Dr. Steven’s network of friendships with individuals from diverse backgrounds, cultivated during his school and university years, has played a vital role in enriching his personal and professional life.
Dr. Steven’s career in the banking world commenced as an IT Project Executive at an MNC Bank. His early years involved long hours, steep learning curves, and adapting to the competitive banking environment. Despite the initial challenges, his dedication and commitment led to steady progress within the company. His gained extensive global technical experience, overseeing significant projects across various regions, including Malaysia, Australia, New Zealand, Korea, Japan, Thailand, USA, Canada, Hong Kong, Indonesia, India, China, and Singapore.
His career witnessed three significant ups that stand as milestones in his journey. Firstly, Dr. Steven revolutionized banking with the seamless digital account opening project. Secondly, he boosted the bank’s profitability through the world’s first cloud-based digital origination system for credit card and loan system. Lastly, he shifted the company to a product performance-led culture, prioritizing profitability, scalability, and sustainability.
Like any remarkable journey, Dr. Steven encountered setbacks, including a company downturn and the challenges from the COVID-19 pandemic. These experiences taught him resilience and adaptability. He responded by seeking further education and skill development to stay competitive in the evolving banking landscape. His strategies included adapting to pandemic-related needs, cost reduction, leveraging government support, and prioritizing employee well- being.
Dr. Steven’s commitment to giving back to the community through mentorship and volunteering exemplifies his dedication to corporate social responsibility. He is a guiding light to many mentees and strives to create more “Stevens” as role models for the next generation. His principle of life for growth, development, and success will be Passion Of Life and YOLO! Never give up in thriving new challenges in life. “It is never too old to learn”, that’s his dad inspiration to him.
Dr. Steven is a celebrated figure in the banking and financial sector, with a remarkable list of accolades.
These include the “Global Outstanding Technology Leadership Award” at the Internet 2.0 Conference in 2023. He has been recognized with the “Fintech – Financial Technology” awards in multiple consecutive years for groundbreaking programs such as “BoostBills” in 2022 and the “BoostUP” loyalty program in 2021. Dr. Gan’s achievements also extend to international recognition, including the “World’s Best Consumer Digital Bank 2016” by Global Finance and the “Best Retail Online Banking Experience” at The Asset Triple A Digital Awards in 2017. He’s received numerous awards from HSBC, including the “Asia Pacific Regional Digital Origination Delivery Award” in 2019, further cementing his legacy as a pioneering figure in the industry.
An entrepreneurial drive, innovation, leadership, continuous learning, networking, and a passion for understanding market dynamics define Dr. Steven’s appetite for business. Furthermore, his passion is a driving force, be it in his career, social impact initiatives, personal growth, or his dedication to physical and mental health. Dr. Steven’s success mantra revolves around being passionate, adaptive, and perseverant, and it has been instrumental in achieving his goals.
For Dr. Steven, balancing professional and personal challenges involves prioritizing, time management, delegation, flexibility, self-care, communication, mindfulness, continuous learning, seeking support, and regular self- assessment. “Achieving equilibrium means distributing time and attention based on priorities,” he shares.
Dr. Steven’s strengths lie in adaptability, knowledge acquisition, problem-solving, effective communication, resilience, empathy, and a commitment to ethical standards. His weaknesses, such as perfectionism and time management, are seen as learning opportunities, driving him to balance quality with timeliness and prioritize effectively.
For those who aspire to become like Dr. Steven, he says, “Remember that life is a unique journey, and each person’s path is unique.” Dr. Steven Gan Sau Phin’s life story teaches us that fulfillment comes from living life to the fullest, balancing personal and professional aspects, and having faith in the journey.
