For 50 years, the University of Washington Global Banking Program has brought experienced banking and finance professionals from around the world together in Seattle. Andrew Galbraith, a 2014 graduate of the UW Global Banking Program, is one of the program’s many standout alumni.
Today, Galbraith serves as Chief Representative for Wells Fargo in Sydney, Australia, after building a career across Asia and Australia. On the eve of the UW Global Banking program’s 50th anniversary, we caught up with him from Down Under for a quick chat about the lessons that have stayed with him as he’s built a career in global banking.
What brought you to the UW Global Banking Program in 2014?
After 10 years in Asia, I relocated from Singapore to Sydney, Australia with ANZ Bank. My manager, Bryan Stagg, was also a UW Global Banking Program alum and was on the program’s board. He kindly nominated me to attend. I was hoping to gain leadership insights and a greater understanding of cross-border organizational behavior.
UW Global Banking Program students from the 2015 cohort working together on a group project.
Looking back, what stands out most about your experience?
I found the presenters to be some of the most engaging I have ever encountered. Pat Bettin, Senior Lecturer at the Foster School, was profound and unforgettable. The cases we worked on in the classes were real-world problems.
But far beyond this, the camaraderie and friendships I was lucky enough to experience will always be the greatest gift from the program.
What did the program teach you about banking that has stayed with you?
It taught me that behind every email, phone call, or Zoom, there is a human. Banking is about people, and the relationships we forge allow us to function optimally. Our industry cuts across political, religious, and cultural differences. The best bankers I have met understand this and are the most effective at what they do.
You now serve as Chief Representative for Wells Fargo in Sydney. How has the program shaped your career?
In the 12 years since my time in the UW Global Banking Program, the world has changed. The COVID pandemic, wars, and technological advances have made us look at life through a different filter. My experience in the program has equipped me with the ability to distill the noise, get to the heart of what is important for clients, and ultimately deliver the services and solutions they require.
“The camaraderie and friendships I was lucky enough to experience will always be the greatest gift from the Global Banking Program” – Andrew Gailbraith
What do today’s banking professionals need to understand that may not have been as important when you were in the program?
The perennial answer here is “keep up with technology,” but really, it’s more than that. We now need to understand how to harness the latest technology to better serve customers without becoming overly reliant on it.
Speed alone isn’t the goal. Technology should have a purpose, and we can’t lose sight of what the customer actually wants in the pursuit of being faster.
If you could go back and give your 2014 self one piece of advice, what would you say?
You will encounter many obstacles and disappointments as your career progresses, but your ability to build resilience will be crucial to your future success. Nurturing your resilience will not only help you get through difficult situations but also empower you to grow, be bold, and back your convictions.
Looking Ahead
Founded in 1976 as the Pacific Rim Bankers Program, the two-week executive program has now reached more than 2,700 alumni across 49 countries.
Over the course of two weeks, the tight-knit cohort learns from faculty and industry leaders, exchanges perspectives, and builds lasting connections.
In December 2026, alumni, faculty, board members, program partners, and friends of the Global Banking Program will gather in Manila, Philippines, to celebrate its 50th anniversary. The location is a fitting one for a program founded on the idea that banking leaders need to understand markets and people across borders.
Five decades later, the banking industry has changed dramatically, but the program’s emphasis on global perspectives and relationships continues to connect each new cohort of banking professionals. Galbraith’s experience is one example of how those connections can continue long after the two-week program ends.
Learn more about the Global Banking Program at the Foster School of Business in Seattle.