No, that’s not a typo! We had the privilege of speaking with one remarkable woman who has dedicated over 27 years to American Express. Helen Bathe, Vice President, Operational Excellence, joined American Express in the late 90s, fresh out of university.
So, what is it like to witness a company evolve over such a long period?
What motivates her to stay and inspires her vision for the future?
A long tenure, a thriving career path
Helen Bathe’s 27-year tenure at American Express is a testament to the dynamic and evolving career she’s cultivated within the organization; one where she has continued taking on new roles and responsibilities including leading large teams.
Throughout her journey, she has held multiple roles that have consistently challenged her and allowed her to grow. Starting as a Customer Care Professional and growing to Head of Corporate New Accounts, she transitioned into project management before advancing to Director roles in Regulatory Strategy and Operational Risk. She is now Vice President of Operational Excellence, a role she has thrived in since 2018.
“I started at American Express straight out of university and in our servicing organization. It was a great introduction to our business, our operations, and how our customers value our products and services. I then took on roles with increasing responsibility, leading large teams to deliver great customer service. During one project, I was tasked with ensuring we could meet new regulatory obligations in one of our international markets. It was a new area to me, and I found it fascinating. After this project, I was elected to lead a global team on similar projects.”
It was a significant change for Helen, and she received support and mentorship from an experienced colleague in another area of the business:
“Moving out of an operational role was a big change, so I found a mentor to support me. Within a few years, I joined my mentor’s organization, leading operational risk in Europe. Subsequently, I took on a global role and was promoted to vice president. It was in this capacity that I was asked to take on a project within the financial crime space which was an incredible opportunity to grow my skillset and capabilities, and ultimately led to the creation of the function I am in now as Vice President, Financial Crimes Strategy, Governance & Controls.”
A path to new opportunities
It may surprise some that after being at one company for many years, one can continue to learn and grow while taking on new opportunities
“In my role, I ensure we have the right processes in place to ensure our products are being used appropriately. I lead a global team that works closely with other areas of the business to implement systems and controls to ensure compliance.”
At Amex, the company culture is built on strong relationships, shared values and purpose, and an unwavering commitment to back its customers, communities, and each other. Colleagues are proud to be part of a winning team that embraces, collaboration, innovative thinking and respect for each other’s contributions.
“I’m quite competitive and have always had a strong drive to achieve. But I also value loyalty and integrity and am not afraid to challenge the status quo. Success for me means achieving something that may be difficult and being proud of how I behaved in getting there.”
Discovering new ways of working
Helen is proud that she and her husband have raised two fantastic daughters who inspire and motivate them daily. Like many parents, she shares that finding the right balance hasn’t always been easy, but the experience has certainly provided her with opportunities to grow.
“I’m not sure I’ve always got it right, but I’ve learned the importance of setting boundaries and having realistic expectations—nobody ‘has it all,’ and that’s okay.”
She adds it allowed her to learn more about what was important to her, who she wanted to work with, and what sort of leader she wanted to be. And that Amex offers plenty of support to help those looking for flexibility as they navigate this vital aspect of life and work:
“For working parents, there are flexible work arrangements that can better support them, and we also have a lot of networks in place for colleagues to support each other, too.”
How can flexible work at Amex support your career growth and development?
Inspiring the next generation
From a young age, Helen has always been motivated to be the best she can be – particularly challenging any boundaries that might limit expectations for girls and women.
“I’m motivated for the next generation of women leaders. I’d like to continue learning and growing as a leader while developing the talent in our organization.”
Overall, she is proud of the successes she’s achieved with her team and loves seeing the people she led and mentored achieve their career aspirations:
“Lean into opportunities when they present themselves and don’t be afraid to take on challenges in new areas. Things may get tough, but you may just find… you’ll enjoy it along the way!”
