“It was one of the hardest but also the best professional decisions I’ve made.”

What work were you doing previously?    

I spent more than ten years working in the banking industry as a financial markets trader.

My role involved managing financial risks, monitoring market movements, executing transactions and helping clients manage their exposure to equities, commodities and foreign exchange.

It was a demanding, fast-paced environment where decisions had to be made quickly and accurately, often under significant pressure. It gave me a very solid foundation in financial markets, liquidity management and decision-making under pressure.

What are you doing now?    

I lead the Financial Activities Department of a multinational company.

My responsibilities include managing global liquidity, financing, cash pooling, foreign exchange and interest rate risk management, banking relationships, treasury systems (TMS) and supporting strategic financial decisions across more than 70 countries and 24 currencies.

The role is both operational and strategic. It combines technical expertise with leadership, collaboration and long-term planning, allowing me to contribute directly to the company’s growth and financial resilience.

Why did you change?

My decision wasn’t driven by dissatisfaction with banking.

I genuinely enjoyed my years in financial markets and learnt an enormous amount from them.

However, over time I could clearly see that the role of a trader was changing. Following the financial crisis, banking regulation became increasingly strict and the amount of risk that banks were allowed to take was reduced significantly.

The nature of the job gradually shifted from actively managing market opportunities towards operating within increasingly restrictive frameworks. Rather than seeing this as a negative development, I saw it as an opportunity to rethink my career.

I realised that what I enjoyed most wasn’t simply trading itself. What motivated me was understanding financial risks, optimising liquidity, solving complex financial problems and helping organisations make better financial decisions.

Corporate treasury offered exactly that. It allowed me to remain close to financial markets while becoming much more involved in business strategy and creating long-term value instead of focusing primarily on short-term market movements.

When was the moment you decided to make the change?

It wasn’t a single dramatic moment.

The decision developed gradually over several months as I reflected on where the banking industry and so my role was heading and where I wanted my own career to go.

Eventually, I realised I'd reached a point where staying in banking would probably allow me to continue doing what I already knew, while moving into treasury would allow me to keep learning, broaden my responsibilities and have a much greater impact on a business.

That realisation gave me the confidence to actively pursue opportunities in corporate treasury.

How did you choose your new career?

I looked carefully at which parts of my existing experience I enjoyed most and where those skills could create the greatest value.

Treasury felt like a very natural evolution because it combines financial markets, funding, risk management, banking relationships, strategic planning and operational execution.

I also appreciated that treasury professionals work much closer to the business. Decisions are rarely made in isolation; they influence investments, acquisitions, working capital, financing and the overall financial health of the organisation.

What do you miss, and what don't you miss?

I sometimes miss the energy and excitement of the trading floor. Financial markets move constantly, and there is a unique atmosphere when decisions need to be taken in real time.

What I don’t miss is the short-term focus and the constant pressure generated by market volatility.

Today my work is still dynamic, but it allows for a broader perspective and a stronger connection between financial decisions and business strategy.

How did you go about making the shift?

The first step was understanding how transferable my existing skills actually were.

Instead of focusing on what I lacked, I identified what I could already bring to a treasury role: knowledge of financial markets, risk management, banking products, analytical thinking and working under pressure.

I invested time in learning the areas where I had less experience, particularly treasury operations, corporate finance processes and international cash management.

I also spoke with professionals working in treasury, studied the responsibilities of different roles and actively looked for opportunities where my background would be considered an advantage rather than a limitation.

Once I secured my first corporate finance position, I treated every new project as an opportunity to learn. Over the years I progressively expanded my responsibilities until leading where I am now.

How did you develop (or transfer) the skills you needed for your new role?

One of the biggest surprises was discovering how many of my existing skills were directly transferable.

Risk management, financial analysis, banking relationships, foreign exchange, interest rate products and decision-making all remained highly relevant.

The biggest learning curve involved understanding the operational and strategic side of corporate treasury, and how financial decisions support the wider business beyond the financial markets.

To accelerate my transition, during my first year as Head of Treasury I enrolled in a one year Executive Master in Finance – Corporate Finance programme.

Although I already had a strong financial background, I wanted to fill the gaps between investment banking and Corporate Finance, and gain a broader understanding of how finance creates value within an international business.

The programme proved to be one of the best investments I made in my career. It complemented my practical experience, strengthened my knowledge of corporate finance, and, perhaps most importantly, expanded the way I approached business problems.

It encouraged me to look beyond purely financial analysis and to consider the wider strategic implications of every decision. That experience reinforced a lesson I still believe today: changing career doesn’t mean starting from scratch, but it does require the humility to keep learning and continuously invest in yourself.

What didn't go well? What wrong turns did you take?

In the beginning, I probably underestimated how different corporate decision-making is compared with investment banking.

In banking, decisions are often immediate and market-driven. Within a multinational company, decisions involve multiple stakeholders, operational considerations and long-term objectives.

Learning to adapt my communication style and broaden my perspective beyond purely financial analysis took time, but ultimately made me a better professional.

How did you handle your finances to make your shift possible?    

Fortunately, my transition didn’t require stepping away from full-time employment or making a significant financial sacrifice.

That allowed me to focus on choosing the right opportunity rather than making a rushed decision.

Having financial stability during the transition reduced pressure and gave me the flexibility to think about the long-term direction of my career rather than immediate financial considerations. 

What was the most difficult thing about changing?

What help did you get?

I benefited from working alongside experienced colleagues who were generous with their knowledge.

I also learnt a great deal from building relationships with professionals across finance, banking and treasury.

Perhaps the biggest support came from maintaining curiosity and being willing to ask questions whenever I didn’t know something.

What have you learnt in the process?    

The biggest lesson is that careers are rarely linear.

Skills are often much more transferable than we initially believe. Many people underestimate the value of their previous experience because they focus too much on job titles instead of capabilities.

I’ve learnt that continuous learning, adaptability and curiosity matter far more than following a perfectly predictable career path.

What do you wish you'd done differently?

If I could go back, I'd probably have explored corporate treasury earlier.

For a long time I thought my experience was too specialised for other industries, when in reality many of the skills I'd developed were exactly what treasury departments were looking for.

I also would've invested earlier in expanding my professional network within the treasury community.

Are you happy with the change?

Absolutely.

Looking back, I believe it was one of the hardest but also the best professional decisions I’ve made.

The role is intellectually stimulating, internationally focused and continuously evolving. Every day presents different challenges, from financing projects and implementing treasury technology to managing financial risks in multiple countries.

I also appreciate being able to see the long-term results of my work. In banking, outcomes were often measured immediately. In treasury, many projects create value over months or years, which I find particularly rewarding.

What would you advise others to do in the same situation? 

Don’t focus on the job title you’re leaving.

Focus on the skills you’re taking with you. Take time to understand what really motivates you and look for careers where those strengths create value.

Talk to people already doing the job, remain open to learning and don’t assume that changing career means starting from zero.

Very often it’s simply about applying your existing expertise in a different context.

What resources would you recommend to others?

I'd recommend talking directly with professionals working in the role you’re interested in.

Real conversations are often more valuable than generic career advice. Professional treasury associations, executive education programmes like the one I attended and industry conferences are excellent ways to understand the profession and build a network.

Finally, I’d encourage people to keep learning throughout their careers. Continuous development is one of the best investments you can make, regardless of the role or industry.

What lessons could you take from Luca's story to use in your own career change? Let us know in the comments below.