Trailblazer Siobhan Moran

Siobhan Moran is a Corporate Account Manager at HSBC UK, leading the bank’s strategic relationships with key mortgage clubs and intermediary partners across the UK. With nearly 20 years’ experience in financial services , including 15years at HSBC,  she plays a central role in shaping distribution strategy, driving sustainable growth, and strengthening HSBC’s position within the intermediary market. Working closely with executive stakeholders across mortgage clubs, Siobhan provides strategic oversight on partnership development, commercial performance, and long term market alignment. She is known for her ability to translate complex strategy into practical, high impact outcomes, ensuring HSBC UK remains a trusted partner of choice.

Holding a Law degree and an MSc in Corporate Governance from Queen’s University, Siobhan brings a strong foundation in governance, regulatory insight and commercial acumen to her role. This unique blend of expertise enables her to navigate complexity while delivering clarity and value for intermediary partners.

Beyond her corporate responsibilities, Siobhan serves as Head of Development for Women in Banking & Finance (WIBF) and Chair of WIBF NI. In this capacity, she leads strategic initiatives focused on leadership development, mentoring and advancing gender equity across financial services. She also sits on HSBC’s External Engagement Committee for the Balance ERG, championing inclusive leadership and personal excellence across the organisation.

Siobhan is driven by the belief that strong partnerships, diverse leadership and strategic clarity are fundamental to building a resilient and forward-thinking financial services industry.

How did you get involved with WIBF?

I first got involved with Women in Banking & Finance (WIBF) off the back of my Master’s in Corporate Governance. My dissertation focused on practical ways to increase the number of women progressing into senior roles in financial services, so it was an area I was extremely passionate about and one I felt the industry needed to do more work on to create greater awareness and drive change.

Shortly after I completed my Master’s, I noticed WIBF was launching in Northern Ireland. I attended their virtual opening session, signed up for membership, and started engaging with the network. The two Chairs at the time then reached out to me for a chat and invited me to join the Belfast board.

From there, my involvement progressed into leadership roles, including becoming Head of Development and running the Personal Excellence programme for WIBF UK, and subsequently moving into the role of Chair for WIBF Northern Ireland. Throughout, I’ve been able to apply the insights from my academic research in a practical way, helping to build development opportunities, strengthen networks, and support more women to progress into senior positions in financial services.

What action have you taken in your career to help you find opportunities to develop and continue your growth?

I’ve taken a proactive approach to my development by deliberately seeking opportunities that stretch me and broaden my experience. A key focus has been raising my external profile and getting involved in industry-wide initiatives, which has helped me build credibility, stay close to market trends, and learn from peers across the sector.

I’ve also invested time in networking and building relationships internally and externally, as well as seeking mentorship both within my organisation and outside it to gain different perspectives and challenge my thinking. Finally, I’ve made a conscious effort to say “yes” to opportunities outside my comfort zone, taking on new responsibilities and unfamiliar topics, because those experiences have consistently accelerated my learning and growth.

Do you have any helpful tools, methods or resources you can recommend to our members, such as books or podcasts, for example?

A few tools and resources I’d recommend to members are:

• Lean In – a helpful starting point for thinking about confidence, ambition and navigating career progression.
• I Am Remarkable – a great initiative for building confidence in self-promotion and getting comfortable articulating your impact.
• WIBF PEP events – worth attending, as they cover really practical topics like career development, personal branding, and conflict management (and you can apply the learning straight away at work).
• Mel Robbins’ books and podcast – very accessible, action-focused content that’s useful for building momentum and changing habits.
• Dr Mandy Lehto’s Enough podcast – excellent for mindset, confidence and overcoming self-doubt (and she’s no stranger to PEP, which members will recognise).

I’d also add one that’s easy to overlook: protecting down time. Building in space to switch off, whether that’s walking, exercising, or simply getting outside, really helps with energy, clarity and resilience. In my experience, some of the best thinking (and best decisions) happen when you step away from the screen and give your brain a breather.

What advice would you give to yourself at the outset of your career?

I’d remind myself that Rome wasn’t built in a day. Building a credible reputation, strong relationships, and real expertise takes time, so don’t panic if opportunities or progression don’t happen immediately.

Focus on doing the basics brilliantly, keep learning, and be consistent. The momentum comes from showing up, delivering quality work, and letting trust build over time.

I’d also tell myself to be authentic. When you try to fit a mould, it’s exhausting, and it can dilute what you uniquely bring. Being yourself builds trust faster, helps you form stronger relationships, and means your confidence and leadership style are sustainable over the long term.