Joining a new company at any time is a nerve-racking experience. But on-boarding during a pandemic – when most of the country was working from home – was an extra challenge for Billy Ng, an associate at JP Morgan. But Ng, who has just celebrated his one-year anniversary with the company, saw it as a positive thing – much like the rest of his career leading up to the appointment.
Ng studied in his native Hong Kong, before moving to the UK at the age of 19 and studying law at The University of Law, where he cemented his desire to help people alongside working within the legal profession. Joining JP Morgan was a “dream come true”, he says. “Every day when I walk into the office – now that we’re back – feels like such an honour.”
Ng works alongside different teams across the company, such as tech and sales, to help with the legalities of documents that are shown to clients and investors. A typical day involves lots of meetings and interacting with colleagues.
Having meetings suits Ng, who is clearly a people person. “My job involves lots of liaising with different teams,” he says. Pre-pandemic, Ng spent his days in court, whereas now he meets with team members in conference rooms – or online.
His journey to working in London came not just via Hong Kong but India too, he says. Understanding the different cultures, such as working practices and hours, means he can perform better in his current role. “In India, people can work very, very long hours, so when I ask my Indian colleagues for a favour, I bear in mind that they may have been in the office for a long time that day, as well as considering the time difference.”
For Ng, whether it’s the boardroom or courtroom, looking after his colleagues’ and his own mental health is a key part of his role. “More and more people are focusing on mental health. I have experienced homesickness and anxiety during Covid-19. I think a lot of people are in a similar position at the moment.”
His advice is to have honest conversations with colleagues or friends. “Reach out to people if you feel like you’re struggling. I would encourage people to be more open and honest and genuinely explore what they need. It’s not the next position, or the bigger salary, it’s not to mingle with a certain group of people – it’s about knowing what you need as a person, what makes you happy. Sometimes when you ping someone a message, it can really change their day.”
His approach to inclusivity and friendliness also stretches outside of the office, where Ng is an ambassador for the Law Society, working with young people and the disadvantaged. He’s also a judge for the society’s scholarship scheme. “Now I work in a banking environment, I may not necessarily meet as many people as I used to. However, I’m now in a better position to do more volunteering,” he says.
“I’ve been doing a lot of social mobility work with the Law Society, and I’m an ambassador, going out to different schools – when it’s safe – speaking to students, to encourage them, that despite being from a disadvantaged background, you still stand a chance, you are just as valid. I think that is something that connects me back, keeps me grounded and keeps me humble.”
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