HOW LONG HAVE YOU BEEN WORKING AT SIEPE?
Five years and three months.
WHAT DO YOU DO AT SIEPE?
I’m a Business Analyst providing technical and operational assistance to clients, and liaison between clients and development team. I also train individual members of my team, which is called the “run team.”
WHAT INITIALLY ATTRACTED YOU TO WORKING AT SIEPE?
Before joining Siepe, I worked at various Fortune 500 companies throughout my career, but mainly as a contractor. While I had a lot of technology experience, I was always intrigued by how businesses actually worked and wanted to learn more from this perspective. However, by the time I had fully grasped a company’s business dynamic, my contract would end and I’d have to start over at a new company. After getting an MBA in Finance, I was able to leverage my technology experience and delve deeper into the business world, which helped me secure my job at Siepe. I was immediately attracted to Siepe because I knew my technology experience and business knowledge aligned perfectly with the role. Additionally, I was really excited to work at a smaller sized company, as opposed to a larger firm, because I knew I would have much more hands-on experience and opportunity to interact with clients directly, while learning the business workflows. The interview process at Siepe also demonstrated the team’s strong dynamic. I was interviewed by a broad cross-section of the company, showing that every employee’s opinion mattered in the hiring process. Siepe’s culture is built around ensuring everyone fits in and feels comfortable, and this alone indicated it was the right place for me.
WHAT’S THE KEY DIFFERENTIATOR OF SIEPE COMPARED TO YOUR PAST EXPERIENCES?
At Siepe I am responsible for and have full ownership of my work. The success or failure of my tasks is on me and I’m able to hold myself accountable. At the same time, everyone is always readily available to help whenever needed. You will never be left alone if you need support, so that to me is a key difference compared to my previous experiences. My work is valued and recognized, which I didn’t always feel at my previous jobs.
IN YOUR OPINION, WHY DO FINANCIAL FIRMS CHOOSE TO WORK WITH SIEPE OVER OTHER OUTSOURCED TECHNOLOGY PROVIDERS?
One of the things I admire most about Siepe is the vision around doing whatever it takes to ensure our clients’ needs are met, no matter the circumstances. It’s in Siepe’s DNA to help our clients in whatever they ask for, and we do so patiently and efficiently. Siepe offers custom software at a competitive price and that is what draws our clients to us initially and why they continue working with us.
HOW HAS THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC IMPACTED YOUR EXPERIENCE AT SIEPE SO FAR, PARTICULARLY IN YOUR APPROACH TO YOUR ROLE AND GOALS?
We were fully equipped with the resources needed to work from home. However, it was a challenging transition – not because of our inability to work remotely, but because we truly enjoyed going into the office and physically working together as a team. We have an open environment in the office, where everyone is approachable. This was a key part of Siepe’s culture. Several months into the global pandemic, however, we were able to adapt quickly and formed new ways of communicating and collaborating. Additionally, from a technology perspective, our IT team is very responsive and able to help troubleshoot any issues immediately.
CAN YOU TELL US ABOUT SIEPE’S ANNUAL GIVING PROGRAM, WHICH ORGANIZATION YOU CHOSE TO DONATE TO AND WHY?
Every year during the holiday season, Michael Pusateri, CEO of Siepe, provides each employee with a check and gives us the choice to either donate the money to a charity or use it for ourselves for whatever we need – such as fixing something in the house. I truly appreciate this initiative because it not only encourages me to give back more but also empowers me to make a difference. I grew up in India, so giving back to my native country means a lot to me. For two years, I donated the money to an organization that helped local families in need recover from major floods in various areas of the country. Last year, I donated the money to The Robin Hood Army, a zero-funds volunteer organization that works to get surplus food from restaurants and communities to serve the less fortunate, including homeless families, orphanages, patients from public hospitals and retirement homes.
WHAT’S THE BEST PART ABOUT WORKING AT SIEPE?
A huge perk of working at a smaller company like Siepe is gaining full exposure to the industry, as opposed to one part of it. I’m learning a lot and getting more experience in the asset management industry. This is important to me because I’ve finally been able to stay longer term in a company that not only encourages my career growth, but also enables me to understand the full scope of the business.
WHAT IS A FUN FACT ABOUT YOUR EXPERIENCE WORKING AT SIEPE?
For years I was the only female employee working at Siepe! With that said, I never felt uncomfortable or out of place. I was always treated with respect and was valued for my work. Now, with additional female employees onboard at Siepe, we are all one team and work cohesively to ensure the Company culture is strong, transparent and comfortable for everyone.
