PRMIA volunteer spotlight - Dr. Monika Sosa Smatralova by Adam Lindquist

PRMIA volunteer spotlight - Dr. Monika Sosa Smatralova

by Adam Lindquist

Volunteers with PRMIA bring a volume of experience to our Association for the benefit of members. Dr. Monika Sosa Smatralova brings more than her share as both a long-time volunteer on the Ireland Chapter, but also a Director at Barclays Europe and as an Adjunct Professor / Lecturer at many prestigious universities. I had a chance to connect with Dr. Smatralova and learn more about her PRMIA work.

Adam Dr. Smatralova, thank you for taking time from your busy schedule. For our readers, can you share your current professional practitioner role?

Monika in Europe. I am the Director for Internal Audit in Barclays looking after Treasury, Risk and Finance portfolio

Adam How long have you been in risk, and what interested you in the industry?

Monika I have spent almost 15 years in the industry. What attracted me and still attracts me is the exposure to multidisciplinary approaches to try to understand the complex world and make some sense of it. It is never monotonous, there is always something happening. It is a beautiful area not only for financial services but beyond.

Adam What made you first decide to become a volunteer with PRMIA?

Monika Initially, I wanted to explore more about risk management from the practitioner’s point of view and as everyone else, full of passion and dreams, I wanted to make some change and impact how the risk management profession is perceived.

Adam You have worn many hats with PRMIA over almost seven years of volunteering. What roles have you enjoyed with PRMIA?

Monika I started as event support for Irish Chapter, then I served on the Steering Committee, and in 2013 I was elected as the Regional Director for Ireland, and I am serving that role until now.

In addition, in 2014 I have been elected and serving as the EMEA Regional Directors Committee Co-Chair.

In 2020 I was elected to join the PRMIA Global Council, my second participation there. In the meantime, I was shortly supporting the Education Committee and volunteered in the EMEA Risk Summit event organization working group for those events taking place in London, pre COVID-19.

Adam

What has the experience of volunteering meant for you?

What would you tell others on why they should consider volunteering?

What skills have you acquired or strengthened by being a volunteer?

What advice would you share with your PRMIA colleagues?

That’s great advice, and you certainly live that with all you do for this profession. Thank you for taking the time to share your story.

Monika It is my vocation and service that I tried to give back to the community. For me it is fulfilling professionally and personally. I have never regretted one day of my volunteering work. I believe that it is rounding my experience.

Adam

Monika Volunteering is a commitment, and it requires your time and focus but it is enriching. You should really choose to volunteer if you are able to ‘give’ in a good sense. It gives you the perspectives that you may not get when you are only focusing on the paid job, and it gives you the opportunity to meet people from all around the world who have the same interests and passion as you. You are part of the community; you are never alone.

Adam

Monika Leadership and time management. Volunteering jobs usually present plenty of opportunities where you can practice leadership and work on areas that still need improvement. In addition, when volunteering, you automatically gain the chance to try out new things. From the leadership perspective, you are followed on the voluntarily basis, not on the hierarchical one which is a completely different dimension.

Adam

Monika Always follow your passion and enthusiasm. Keep promoting this beautiful profession.

Adam