Main Takeaways
For today’s employee spotlight, meet Sherman. Discover his journey from traditional finance to Binance.
As a Compliance Project Manager at Binance, Sherman embodies Binance’s hardcore spirit. His story teaches us the importance of relentless drive and a pioneering spirit in leading the crypto industry.
Sherman champions Binance’s efforts to foster a culture of compliance and transparency, essential for our success and the crypto industry’s growth.
“As I live, I learn” – five simple words that Sherman lives by. As a Compliance Project Manager, Sherman’s work helps Binance navigate the industry’s era of accelerating maturation. It’s the hardcore passion of leaders like Sherman that contribute to our success. Yet, Sherman won’t tell you that himself. He views himself as an average Joe outside of work, enjoying life’s simple pleasures: relaxing with family on weekends, going out to eat, or watching movies at the cinema. Each morning, he jumpstarts his day with a gym session to get energized. This routine also balances his sweet tooth, as Sherman loves cooking and baking desserts. Sharing homemade treats with loved ones is his greatest joy.
A couple of Sherman’s masterpieces
Hardcore Beginnings
Sherman was born and raised in Singapore to a Cantonese mother originally from Hong Kong, and the intermingling of these two cultures played a crucial role in his upbringing. From a young age, a strong yearning to carve out his place in the world was engraved into his DNA, driving him to work harder, faster, and look beyond his comfort zones. By the end of high school, he had already worked numerous jobs to cultivate his independence and explore his interests.
Studying accounting in university, Sherman worked in an IT sales position that showed him the importance of facilitating smooth customer experience. He also learned the importance of sharing the load among peers to achieve results. Seeking to make a positive impact through his work, he ultimately decided to pursue a career in regulatory compliance, seeing it as a way to foster a safer, more transparent business ecosystem. After university, he joined one of the Big Four accounting firms in Singapore, the first stepping stone that eventually led him to crypto.
Traversing TradFi
Sherman started his career with one of the biggest players in traditional finance (TradFi), working on financial auditing tasks. Over time, his focus shifted to compliance and investigations, and he gradually began hungering for a new challenge. Having cut his teeth on TradFi, he now sought a more exciting and unfamiliar territory. Inspired by the innovations he was seeing in FinTech, he joined a global payments services provider (PSP) and was tasked with handling the company’s anti-money laundering (AML) operations.
Sherman enjoying dinner
Discovering Crypto
Sherman’s first encounters with crypto were different from the usual stories of adoption. At a previous job, he heard stories of colleagues losing money in crypto and abruptly dismissed it. It wasn’t until later, when hearing more about crypto on the news, that Sherman began to see its revolutionary potential. Crypto was offering a viable alternative to traditional money, fostering an open and accessible monetary system.
It was also fascinating for Sherman to see how rapidly the ecosystem had evolved, growing from a niche sector to a multibillion-dollar industry in only a few years. These realizations were the turning point for Sherman, as he saw just how much benefit crypto was bringing to millions of users worldwide. His curiosity had been piqued, and he began to ask himself, “Could this be the future?”
Taking the plunge
One day, while working at the PSP, Sherman was approached by a Binance recruiter. He still had his reservations, yet he couldn’t contain his curiosity to explore this innovative field. As he recalls, “For me, crypto was an entirely new beast. I was young – at heart – and had the energy, so I decided to embark on something new and exciting. I saw that crypto was the future, and it was here to stay.”
Sherman was also drawn to Binance’s industry-leading position, and its vision of enhancing the global freedom of money resonated with him. He could see that this organization was truly invested in the future of crypto, leading by example and setting new industry standards for regulatory compliance. With the encouragement of his soon-to-be manager (who still is to this day), Sherman decided to take the plunge into this exciting new challenge.
New Frontiers at Binance
Joining in early 2022, Sherman began his Binance journey as a Compliance Product Lead, where he built up compliance controls, identified growth areas, and rolled out new initiatives. While Sherman was used to the rapid pace of the financial industry, crypto was on a new level. He also found it interesting to operate in such a diverse environment, as each compliance professional was coming from a different TradFi background and bringing their unique expertise to the table.
From product lead to project manager
In late 2023, Sherman transitioned to 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. Though the initial phases presented a steep learning curve, managing these business relationships to drive growth and cultivate team dynamics proved empowering. Indeed, Sherman’s role in project management marks a fitting culmination of the steps his journey has taken thus far.
“In an ever-changing and tough environment, it is essential to understand that we are not alone. Overcoming obstacles is never a one-man job. Thus working together as a team and focusing on solutions is the key to success.” ~ Sherman, Compliance PMO
The bigger picture
For Sherman, one of the toughest parts of the job is addressing misconceptions about crypto's reputation. Proving these wrong is crucial, and staying focused on the long-term vision motivates him. He says, “People often miss the journey toward success, which I enjoy most. Believing in and working toward my goals keeps me going.” Compliance work balances business and regulation. Sherman views them as harmonious, where building compliance supports longevity. Enhanced trust and transparency ultimately improve the user experience.
Toward 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. Adopting a holistic compliance approach will grow in importance as the industry matures. As Sherman says, “We must adapt, challenge old rules, and expect the unexpected.”
As we move forward, the role of compliance will only become more pronounced, and we will continue to need dedicated individuals to guide the industry toward longevity. If you’re passionate about shaping crypto's future, check out our open compliance roles here.
