Turn Your Client Portfolio into A Revenue Strategy

Juliana Xavier Peterken, Head of Transactional Banking - Westpac New Zealand

"I worked with Sarah as a peer across two different segments of banking. First in Corporate and Private Banking, where she grew a strong portfolio of corporate clients, and then in Global Markets, where she led a foreign exchange sales team before taking on a large transformation project. She assessed and established a revenue-per-trade benchmark, and never let the push for a commercial outcome come at the cost of the client relationship. She found a way to hold both at once. What I saw most closely was how she worked with clients once we’d actually won them. I’d go out with her or a team member to onboard new clients and train them on the technology side of executing FX trades online. Sarah has always been an excellent communicator, breaking down commercial requirements for clients without losing sight of what they needed. She is genuinely good with people, and willing to get into the detail with a client herself. It’s exactly what makes her effective now teaching others to do the same."

Felix Su, Private Banker - Commonwealth Bank

"Sarah was my former leader who gave people the trust and space to do their job, while always being there when you needed support or guidance and she was calm and logical under pressure, which made a big difference to the team, especially during the more challenging periods. Commercially, she never focused solely on pricing; she looked at the overall position and relationship, which matters in a relationship-driven business. She's a great communicator, able to have the difficult conversations when needed while still making the client feel heard and valued, always finding the balance between what's commercially right and maintaining the relationship."

Sara Zafar, Business Finance Manager - Westpac

"I had the privilege of working under Sarah’s leadership, and what stood out most was her rare ability to combine strong commercial judgement with genuinely people-focused leadership. Whether it was pricing strategy, a challenging client conversation or a difficult portfolio decision, she encouraged us to look beyond the immediate transaction and understand the broader picture the relationship, the risk, the opportunity, and what actually made sense for both client and business. She never simply gave us the answer; she challenged our thinking and helped us develop the confidence to make sound commercial decisions ourselves. That commercial discipline never came at the expense of her people. Even under pressure, she remained approachable, supportive and genuinely invested in developing her team. I became a more confident banker through working with her, and many of the lessons I learned around client conversations and commercial decision-making have stayed with me throughout my career. Sarah is one of those leaders whose impact continues long after you stop reporting to them."

Nicholas Smart, Director, Financial Services

"Having worked with Sarah for a number of years in the private banking space, one of the attributes I’d seen was something the best private bankers around the world share. She doesn’t just manage a transaction, she understands the client behind it. What sets her apart is her thirst for knowledge, technical expertise and how she goes about applying it, taking the time to ask the right questions before offering a solution. She brings a clarity to situations that feel anything but clear, anticipates obstacles before they arise and translates complexity into plain English that clients can act on. Ultimately, her consistency has built her significant trust with her clients. She shows up as a steady, straight-talking partner through negotiations and client interactions. Clients don't just get a transaction with Sarah, they get a strategic partner who is there for the next decision, and the one after that."