'Be yourself and enjoy it,' says industry stalwart
A quarter century and seven Australian prime ministers into the new millennium have flown by for La Trobe Financial’s senior vice president and chief lending officer Cory Bannister (pictured), who is celebrating 25 years at the alternative asset manager.
Bannister’s success may come down to the ambitious yet self-aware approach he brings to the job.
In his own words: “Be yourself and enjoy it – take what you are doing very seriously, don’t take yourself too seriously, and above all, be yourself.”
When asked what has kept him at La Trobe Financial for so long, he told MPA it is a question often asked of him, but “the simple answer is, I've had no reason to leave and it doesn't feel like it's been that long.”
Nonetheless, Bannister highlighted four key aspects to working at La Trobe Financial that have contributed to his unwavering loyalty.
- People and culture – Bannister praised the “amazingly talented people” that he has worked alongside over the past two-and-a-half decades, stating: “The company has a fantastic culture where sure, we work hard, but we have fun whilst we are doing it and no-one takes themselves too seriously.”
- Opportunity – Tech department aside, Bannister has worked in every aspect of the La Trobe Financial business. That is “one of the most incredible things” about working at the group, yet not something that is always found in the non-bank sector.
- Growth – “La Trobe Financial has been on an incredible growth trajectory for the past decade that has been exhilarating,” said Bannister. “To work in a fast-moving, agile environment is both fun and rewarding, and in a way, it feels like I have been working in a new business every two to three years, such is the rate of change.”
- Passion and purpose – Bannister said loves what he and the team do at La Trobe Financial. “I am incredibly proud of the role we play in helping deliver financial solutions that make some people's dreams a reality. We play a meaningful role in society and the responsibility and gravitas of that is not lost on me.”
La Trobe Financial has won plaudits for its workplace culture, not just in the asset-management sector, but across the Australia workforce as a whole. Last September, the firm was named among the top 50 best places to work in the country.
Life lessons
According to Bannister, the most satisfying part of spending the bulk of his professional career within one institution has been watching La Trobe Financial grow from a part player in the Australian non-bank finance scene, “to a brand that is now well-known and respected on a global scale as one of Australia’s leading alternative asset managers.”
“Playing a small part in that transformation is something that I will look back on fondly at the end of my career, which I hope is still a long time away,” he said.
When asked what the most valuable lesson he has learned after all these years, Bannister said it was learning to step outside of his comfort zone. “Seek opportunities to learn new things, and make yourself an expert at something.”
Lastly, he called on up and comers to remain “patiently impatient”.
“Be impatient to start tasks, seek opportunities and deliver outcomes, however, you need to balance that with a need to remain patient at times to reap the rewards and the results, and must stay disciplined to the process.”
