Rebecca Southwell

WORK HISTORY

EDUCATION

ABOUT REBECCA SOUTHWELL

I am a British national who has spent more than 15-years living and working overseas in three continents – Europe, Asia-Pacific and in Latin America. My career is best characterized by challenging business partner roles in international, matrixed organizations. Throughout, I have supported C-suite leaders with strategies that have engaged disparate cultural audiences, have clearly articulated a brand story, and that have achieved cost, growth and efficiency targets across multiple geographies. Ten years ago I made the transition from strategic Communications advisor to COO. Assuming the COO role in Mexico City offered a unique opportunity to establish HSBC´s first off-shore entity in an entirely new market for more than 15 years. There was no playbook or ´how-to´ guide, only a Group-wide ambition to establish a shared services operation in Mexico to serve HSBC customers across the Americas in a sympathetic time zone, and in dual language. The USD 30m high priority programme was an opportunity to do what I do best - connect relevant subject matter experts, build consensus on project milestones, sign up to outcomes (whilst anticipating potential roadblocks), and simply deliver. The off-shore entity,(called ´GSC Mexico´ internally) was established in November 2020 and has since grown to FTE today whilst accumulating ´Great Place to Work´ accolades and recognition for its culture following the roll-out of the ´Kindness Movement´. I am known for my ability to read a room, trusting my instincts, and for putting out fires. In terms of what I stand for, I champion kindness and collaboration in the workplace, and I regularly coach colleagues on valuable communications techniques to become more compelling storytellers. Making the complicated more simple in the way that we communicate is a super power. According to workplace personality assessments, I am a ENFJ Protagonist – more simply explained as an inspiring optimist, readily taking action to do what I feel is right – warm and approachable with strong ideas and values.