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In today's employee spotlight series, we introduce Sherman. Discover his journey, from traditional finance to Binance.
As Compliance Project Manager at Binance, Sherman embodies the rigorous essence of Binance. His story teaches us the importance of tireless determination and a pioneering spirit in leading the crypto sector.
Sherman champions Binance's efforts to foster a culture of compliance and transparency, which is essential to our success and the growth of the cryptocurrency industry.
"While I'm alive, I learn" – five simple words by which Sherman guides his journey. As a Compliance Project Manager, Sherman's work helps Binance navigate the industry's rapidly maturing era. It is the unwavering passion of leaders like Sherman that contributes to our success. However, Sherman won't tell you that. He sees himself as an ordinary person outside of work, enjoying the simple pleasures in life: relaxing with his family on the weekends, going out to eat or watching movies at the cinema. Every morning, he starts his day with a session at the gym to get more energy. This routine also balances his sweet tooth, as he loves cooking and making desserts. Her greatest joy is sharing homemade treats with loved ones.
Some Sherman masterpieces
Difficult start
Sherman was born and raised in Singapore to a Cantonese mother originally from Hong Kong, and the mix of these two cultures played an important role in his upbringing. From a young age, a strong desire to conquer his place in the world was engraved in his DNA, leading him to work harder, faster and go beyond his comfort zones. By the end of high school, he had worked multiple jobs to cultivate his independence and explore his interests.
While studying accounting at university, Sherman worked in an IT sales position that showed him the importance of facilitating the customer experience. He also learned the importance of sharing the load among peers to obtain results. Wanting to make a positive impact through her work, she decided to pursue a career in the regulatory compliance sector, seeing it as a way to promote a safer and more transparent business ecosystem. After university, he joined one of the Big Four accounting firms in Singapore, the first step that led him to cryptocurrencies.
Trajectory in the traditional finance sector
Sherman began his career at one of the largest companies in the traditional finance industry (TradFi), working on financial audit tasks. Over time, his focus shifted to compliance and investigations, and he gradually began to crave a new challenge. Having gained experience in the TradFi sector, he was now looking into more exciting and uncharted territory. Inspired by the innovations he was seeing in the FinTech sector, he joined an international payment service provider (PSP) and was tasked with handling money laundering prevention operations ( PLD) of the company.
Sherman enjoying dinner
Discovery of cryptocurrencies
Sherman's first encounter with cryptocurrencies was different from common adoption stories. In one of his old jobs, he heard stories of colleagues losing money in cryptocurrencies and discarded them without thinking twice. It was only later, as he heard more about cryptocurrencies in the news, that Sherman began to see their revolutionary potential. Cryptocurrencies offered a viable alternative to traditional money, promoting an open and accessible monetary system.
It was also fascinating for Sherman to see how quickly the ecosystem evolved, growing from a niche industry to a multi-billion dollar industry in just a few years. These insights were the turning point for Sherman as he saw the benefits that cryptocurrencies were bringing to millions of users around the world. His curiosity had been piqued and he began to wonder, "Could this be the future?"
Facing the challenge
One day while working at PSP, Sherman was approached by a Binance recruiter. He still had his reservations, but he couldn't contain his curiosity to explore this innovative sector. As he recalls: "For me, the world of cryptocurrencies was a completely new area. I was young – at heart – and had energy, so I decided to embark on something new and exciting. I saw that cryptocurrencies were the future and were here to stay ."
Sherman was also drawn to Binance's leadership position in the industry, and the vision of enabling global money freedom resonated with him. He could see that this organization was truly dedicated to the future of cryptocurrencies, leading by example and setting new industry standards for regulatory compliance. With encouragement from his future manager (which continues to this day), Sherman decided to venture into this exciting new challenge.
New frontiers at Binance
In early 2022, Sherman began his journey at Binance as a Compliance Product Lead, where he built compliance controls, identified areas for growth, and launched new initiatives. While Sherman was used to the fast pace of the financial sector, cryptocurrencies were on a new level. He also found it interesting to operate in such a diverse environment, as each compliance professional came from a different tradFi industry background and brought unique experience.
From Product Leader to Project Manager
In late 2023, Sherman assumed the role of Compliance Project Manager at Binance. He began overseeing a diverse range of stakeholders and projects, collaborating with numerous teams and business units. While the initial phases presented a steep learning curve, managing these business relationships to drive growth and cultivate team dynamics proved to be enriching. Indeed, Sherman's role in project management symbolizes an important milestone in the path his journey has taken thus far.
"In a challenging and ever-changing environment, it is essential to understand that we are not alone. Overcoming obstacles is not the job of a single person. Therefore, working together as a team and focusing on solutions is the key to success." —Sherman, Compliance Project Manager
The overview
For Sherman, one of the hardest parts of the job is addressing misconceptions about cryptocurrencies' reputation. Proving these misconceptions to be a mistake is crucial, and staying focused on the long-term vision motivates you. He comments that: "People often miss the journey towards success, and the journey is exactly what I enjoy most. Believing and working towards my goals keeps me focused." Compliance work balances business and regulation. Sherman sees them as harmonious, as the construct of conformity provides support for longevity. Improved trust and transparency improves the user experience.
Towards longevity
Sherman's story highlights the need for curiosity and adaptability in our evolving industry. Leaders like Sherman who understand long-term interests are vital to Binance's success. As the industry matures, taking a comprehensive approach to compliance will become increasingly important. As he himself says: "We must adapt, challenge old rules and expect the unexpected."
As we move forward, the role of compliance will become even more evident and we will continue to need dedicated people to guide the industry towards longevity. If you're passionate about shaping the future of cryptocurrencies, check out our open compliance roles here.
