Staying true to who you are, and still climbing the ranks... 💨

Welcome to the FIFTEENTH episode of The Smart Money Show! Abrar Azad didn’t follow the textbook path. Born and raised in Bolton, he’s now an Assistant Vice President at Deutsche Bank, and the youngest-ever Chair of the firm’s Muslim Network. But his story isn’t just about promotions or titles. It’s about identity, community, and rewriting what success in the City should look like.

We delve into some really pertinent topics including what it’s like to bring faith into finance, why community work isn’t just a side hustle, and how ambition and authenticity can actually coexist. Whether you’re trying to break into the industry, break out of imposter syndrome, or just break the mould, Abrar’s story will leave you thinking bigger and bolder.

Guest Contacts:

Abrar Azad - https://www.linkedin.com/in/abrar-azad/

Chapters:

0:00 - Intro 🎙️

3:31 - Bolton Roots & The Value of Hard Work 💪

7:44 - University Strategy: The Power of Extracurriculars 🎓

12:36 - Staying Grounded & The Importance of Your Roots 🌳

15:45 - The Unconventional Journey into Banking 🚀

19:44 - Bouncing Back: How to Turn Setbacks into Opportunities ✨

24:20 - Student to Professional: Mindset, Excel & Imposter Syndrome 💼

29:45 - A Day in the Life: AVP in the UK CFO Office 📈

35:13 - The Most Important Skill in Finance? People. 🤝

38:28 - Navigating Corporate Life as a Muslim Professional 🙏

43:07 - Leading the Deutsche Bank Muslim Network 🌍

48:13 - The Future of Faith & Cultural Inclusion at Work 🕊️

54:30 - Final Reflections & Career Advice ✨

58:21 - The Biggest Takeaway: The Power of Community 💌

1:00:06 - Outro 👋

As always, stay tuned to us weekly as we bring you unheard insights, professional guests and a few laughs! 💚

Check out our work and connect with us here: https://www.thesmartmoneyshow.co.uk/

Please be advised, none of our episodes constitute as financial advice and we will never attempt to do so.