Anjena Narang is the Vice President for EU Government, Public & Regulatory Affairs at Moody’s. Here she talks to us about finding her way into public affairs, the skills needed to succeed and financial services not always knowing best.

Can you give us an overview of your career journey?

When I graduated from high school in Germany, I was unsure about my future, like many new graduates. One career I was keen on was air traffic control. I even started the simulation exercises required for the job and got quite far, but unfortunately, I didn’t make it through the final stage.

After that, my mother suggested I consider a more traditional career, like becoming a doctor, a politician or a lawyer Being a doctor wasn’t for me, especially since I can’t stand the sight of blood! So, I decided to study law instead.

I wanted to study abroad, so I chose the Netherlands for its European law program. It was a fantastic choice. Studying EU law helped me understand the significance of the EU, how law and policy making works and, how to analyse and determine its impact This experience proved crucial in my later career.

I briefly worked at a law firm, which confirmed that I didn’t want to be a lawyer. Then, I moved to Brussels, where I started working in the legal department of a financial services association. After that, I joined the financial services practice of FTI Consulting in Brussels. My experience in the diverse financial services policy landscape made me decide to stay in that sector while keeping a focus on policy and law.

After a bit over three years at FTI, I wanted to move in-house and be more involved in a company’s day-to-day operations. As a consultant you often remain on the side lines. That’s when I joined Moody’s, where I’ve been for the past years. It’s interesting in hindsight, because I realised, I developed interest in the sector early on- my dissertation was about the 2008 financial crisis and its effects on financial markets, EU competition law, and state aid rules. Here I am, and I’m grateful for the journey that brought me here.

How do you feel the perception of the financial services industry has evolved over the last 10-15 years?

I witnessed significant changes since I started. For a long time, the industry was viewed critically, because we lacked a robust regulatory framework. However, we’ve made substantial progress over the years.

An important aspect that often gets overlooked, especially by those not directly involved in financial services, is that the sector provides many important solutions. It genuinely offers investment opportunities that support the green transition, the digital transition, and access to capital for people like you and me -retail investors. For instance, it enables people to contribute to those things and projects that matter to one self- contributing to broader economic solutions that are good for society.

Currently, there’s renewed focus on the Capital Markets Union and its importance for reaching the twin transition the EU wants to make. This shift is necessary. In the US, for example, people have a very different attitude towards financial markets, capital markets, and investing. They are less risk-averse and more open to harness these opportunities.

It’s encouraging to see the perception in Europe evolving similarly. Now, financial services are increasingly seen as part of the solution, and organisations like Moody’s are recognised as objective contributors. This represents a huge change in a relatively short period.

Do you think it is challenging to be a woman in your field?

Historically, financial services, like many highly regulated industries, have been dominated by men. Navigating the financial services industry can indeed be challenging at times. However, I don’t view it as a negative challenge. Challenges often depend on one’s perspective.

There are increasing opportunities for women, and many financial services companies are actively working towards achieving real gender balance at all levels, from the boardroom to senior management and junior ranks.

Personally, I have been quite fortunate. I’ve had excellent sponsors and mentors, (often male in fact!), who trusted me and my skills and ensured I had opportunities to advance. It’s important to recognise that doing a good job and being honest should transcend gender. In my experience, people appreciate good work regardless of who does it.

Of course, having someone to support and advocate for you is invaluable, and this is true for everyone. Ultimately, I think, hard work and dedication pay off, regardless of gender.

What are the skills required for your job that university did not prepare you for, and you had to learn in the trenches?

One crucial skill that university didn’t prepare me for is diplomacy. In my role, I interact with a wide variety of people, including different nationalities, ages, and cultural backgrounds. This diversity requires a high degree of empathy – not just emotional empathy, but social intelligence.

Being able to read a room, understand what is appropriate, and determine what will resonate with different counterparts is essential. This requires strong diplomatic skills – knowing what to say and when to say it without hiding the truth. These skills –empathy, and social intelligence – are not typically taught but they have been essential in my career.

I believe, authenticity is just as important, but it must be balanced with diplomacy. I am learning every day and often find myself reflecting on how I could improve.

You are and have been working in a sector which is perceived to be very formal and, to some extent, cold. Based on your experience, what is your view on the idea of bringing your authentic self to work? Is it a good thing, or can it backfire?

I firmly believe in bringing your authentic self to work because people can sense when you’re genuine. However, it’s important to understand that everyone has different personalities in different contexts. For example, at home, I might still be the ‘little daughter’ or the (fun) aunt to my niece and nephew, which is different from my professional persona.

Authenticity has always been beneficial for me, but it requires a delicate balance. In some cultures, being too open can be misunderstood. Nonetheless, I find that people generally prefer to engage with someone who genuinely means what they say.

What excites you the most about your job?

What excites me most about my job is that it’s never boring. There’s not a single dull day because there’s always something new happening.  Financial services is a sector that is either constantly under scrutiny or in high demand for research, intelligence, and market insights.

The dynamic nature of my work means that no two days are the same. I am grateful to meet people who are incredibly knowledgeable and inspiring in this field too. This variety keeps things interesting and engaging. Additionally, being part of important discussions and seeing the impact of my work is extremely fulfilling. For instance, I’m currently in Berlin attending meetings focused on German competitiveness, which is a crucial topic given the current geopolitical context.

This combination of constant change and meaningful impact is what excites me the most about my job.

What would you like to see more of in your field, and what would you like to see less of?

I think what I would like to see less of is the presumption that a ‘’sector knows’’ best. As a public affairs professional, I think it’s important to move away from the mindset of asserting superiority and instead encourage more collaborative approaches across your stakeholders. A colleague of mine aptly put it in a panel discussion when she said, “There is no claim to supremacy”, which resonated with me deeply.

On the other hand, something I would like to see more of is greater diversity, in panels within the financial services industry. There are many successful examples, (the European Commission does it very well, in my opinion), where diverse panels enhance discussions and perspectives. Increasing the representation of women in such forums could bring fresh insights and enrich the dialogue and we have tremendous talent in Brussels for panels!

Can you give kudos to one or more public affairs colleagues and peers who are particularly inspirational to you?

Currently, I’m fortunate to work with Nicole Young, an exceptional professional in the US who serves as our global head of government affairs and corporate sustainability at Moody’s. She has been a tremendous source of inspiration and support throughout my career with the company. Having someone like her as a sponsor has been invaluable to me.

In previous roles, I’ve also been fortunate to have worked with senior individuals who were incredibly supportive, their guidance and encouragement played a significant role in my professional growth. I could not list all of them, but Hans Hack should certainly be mentioned here.

Overall, I consider myself lucky to have been surrounded by kind and trusting individuals who believed in me and provided opportunities for advancement. I hope I can do the same for others.

What is one thing that people do not know about you?

I love Formula One. And fast cars!

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