You might not think working as a teenager at an ear-piercing shop would prepare you for a job at a top investment bank. But Shelbie, an Associate in Operations in our Glasgow office, disagrees.
She says that holding down a part-time job in high school and university at a jewellery and accessories retailer was a lot to juggle with her studies, but the Glasgow native says she learned a lot about “the importance of providing the highest level of customer service,” handling some skittish teen and tween patrons with patience and exactitude. “I probably pierced thousands and thousands of ears,” Shelbie says. “You really only get one chance, and our customers counted on us to get it right.
Today Shelbie works with our Europe Middle East and Africa (EMEA) Operations Divisional Management team in the Glasgow office. One of her many responsibilities is managing large-scale events for her colleagues from start to finish, an aspect of her role that draws upon her commitment to customer service and her detail-oriented disposition.
“My role centers on stakeholder management and providing EMEA Operations employees with the opportunities to develop their careers, connect with colleagues, and participate in training courses. Ultimately we focus on rewarding and recognizing our staff for their hard work.”
Shelbie works pretty hard herself, and she says her five years at Morgan Stanley been exhilarating. “Our industry is always evolving, and I feel like it’s important to be accepting of and embrace the changes that come my way in my day-to-day role and my career overall.”
I was born and raised in Glasgow, and I also attended university here at the University of Strathclyde, where I received a bachelor’s degree in management and marketing.
Growing up I wasn’t sure what I wanted to do. I thought about becoming an interior designer or a psychologist, but I finally settled on studying business. One of my university lectures covered the vast opportunities within a business’s operations division, and it sounded like something I would enjoy.
Morgan Stanley hosted one of my management development classes, and employees from the firm gave a lecture and then mingled with us. Having those one-on-one conversations with people and learning about their personal experiences working at the firm made a big difference for me. That’s when I decided that I wanted to work here.
I’m at my most content when I’m with my French bulldog Gus and my family’s dog and cat, who also live in Glasgow. The three animals get along well, although the cat can be a bit sassy.
I’ve had quite a few opportunities to volunteer with animals, which is a passion of mine, through Morgan Stanley’s Global Volunteer Month—I socialized kittens to prepare them for adoption and helped paint an animal sanctuary that rehabilitates and releases animals like foxes and seals back into the wild. I do love that Morgan Stanley provides opportunities for me to volunteer in ways I enjoy.
Just a few months into my current role, I took the lead on organizing our annual Operations Expo, which is an event for more than 1,000 employees held in Glasgow and London. At the Expo, all of the teams within Operations have a booth dedicated to showcasing what they do at the firm.
Every booth has a theme, often with games and decorations; people go all-out. The event is a celebration of what Operations accomplishes and is a chance for people to connect with one another as well to identify potential career opportunities. The success of the event in both locations is a proud achievement for me.
It’s so rewarding to see people benefiting from and enjoying something I planned for many months in advance. What I love most about my role is seeing the impact my work has on my colleagues.
That they’re only interested in their own performance and aren’t willing to help their colleagues.
That we use too many acronyms. That’s definitely true!
