Johanna Liew

Can you tell me a little bit about yourself?

JL: I’m from Gidea Park, in Havering. I used to be a teacher, I’ve now transitioned into my career at GLAS. I’ve lived in a few countries. I spent time in Asia, and I also lived in Australia where I went to university.

I’m a working mum and I have a five-year-old boy who goes to primary school.

Like most millennials, I’m really into Pilates. I also enjoy cooking, doing general mum things, planning activities, and going on holidays.

What motivated your transition from teaching to a career in financial services?

JL: I reached a point in my career where, although I really enjoyed teaching, I started looking for a better work-life balance. Teaching involved a lot of behind-the-scenes work like lesson planning, marking, and curriculum development. Even though I was delivering lessons during the day, I often had to bring work home, and most of my weekends were spent catching up on admin tasks.

Transitioning from teaching to the corporate world mid-career has turned out to be one of the most rewarding decisions I’ve made. I reached a point in my life where I needed to re-evaluate my priorities. Especially after becoming a mum, I had to consider options that would support a better balance between work and family life. GLAS gave me that opportunity.

How do you balance your career with motherhood and what role does your family play in that journey?

JL: I have my husband, but he has his own career too. Choosing GLAS wasn’t just about finding a new job. It was about finding a company that truly values me. As a mum, having a real work-life balance is essential. I need to be present for my child while also continuing to grow in my career.

I was really inspired by the recent Times article featuring Mia, where she said her family is her inspiration. That really resonated with me. I love how GLAS is women-driven. We have leaders like Mia and Jo, who are incredibly career-focused and have achieved so much.

At the same time, when you speak to them, they talk about their families a lot. That’s one of the reasons I enjoy working at GLAS. It’s a company that values career progression but also understands the importance of family.

There’s a real sense of balance and support here.

In what ways has GLAS helped you navigate the challenges of being a working parent?

JL: I think GLAS has a really positive culture.

A lot of the managers talk openly about their families, which creates a supportive environment. That flexibility has made a big difference for me.

For example, I can log on early in the morning, get some work done, then do the school run, and come back later to catch up. That kind of flexibility just wasn’t available in teaching. Here, I feel supported in a way that allows me to be both a successful manager and a present mother. It gives me the foundation to do my best work.

It’s a very supportive culture, and I think that’s quite rare in the corporate world.

Have there been any skills from teaching that have been valuable in your current role?

JL: Absolutely.

There are so many transferable skills. As a teacher, my main job was managing a group of people with different needs, motivating them to achieve their goals, and constantly adapting my approach. I had to think on my feet all the time.

Skills like communication, patience, and multitasking are at the core of what I do now.

In TMG, we work with lenders and external clients, but also with internal teams. We’re in a unique position where we onboard deals and then pass them over to client services. A big part of the role is breaking down information in a way that’s clear and useful for others. My teaching background really helps with that. I’ve worked with so many different personalities, and it taught me how to collaborate with people and bring out their strengths. Those experiences have been incredibly useful in my current role.

Honestly, one thing I really enjoy now is being in a professional setting where I don’t have to worry about parents shouting at me because their child brought home the wrong book!

What attracted you to GLAS and how has your career evolved since joining?

JL: What first attracted me to GLAS was the role itself. I remember reading the job description and thinking it was something I could bring my teaching skills into. Communication stood out to me straight away. As a teacher, you have to be an effective communicator, and that’s definitely a key part of the role in TMG.

When I had my interview, the way the role was described made it feel like something I could transition into quite naturally.

I started as a Junior Transaction Manager and now I’m a Transaction Manager. I really have to thank Emma, who is now my manager, she has been incredibly supportive in helping me find my feet and progress in my career.

She’s had such a positive impact on me. She’s calm, level-headed, and very solutions-driven, which really resonated with me when I was just starting out. That was exactly the kind of manager I needed. That support has helped me grow in my role.

What does a typical day look like for you as a Transaction Manager?

JL: A typical day starts with logging on and checking emails, we do get a lot of them.

I work more on the portfolio side, so I’m not a deal closer. That means I manage a portfolio of clients who often come to me with requests ranging from general queries on the loan documentation, amendments, waiver requests et cetera. This keeps me quite busy as you have to stay organised and ensure to follow up accordingly.

In many ways, I act as the middle person between borrowers and lenders. It can sound like I’m just a conduit between parties, relaying messages back and forth but it is more than that. Often, they’ll ask for more detailed input, like where a specific provision is in the loan agreement. Then I’ll go through the document and explain the options available.

There are also more exciting parts of the role. For example, if there’s an amendment or restatement, we’ll do a document review and help with onboarding any new lenders involved. Once that’s done, we hand everything over to Client Services who will build the facilities, and this also requires collaboration on both sides to manage the life cycle of the loans.

What do you like about GLAS?

JL: The people are always ready to help, and that support goes beyond just my team. Even if I have a question that isn’t directly related to TMG, I can go to someone in Client Services or another team, and they’re always happy to assist. That openness and willingness to help really stands out.

What was it like moving from teaching into the world of finance?

JL: It was a big change, my English degree helped a bit with understanding documents and communication, but what really made the difference was the training and support I received when I joined.

There was a strong focus on making sure we weren’t left in the dark. I remember how much training there was, plus lots of materials to help us learn. That’s something that sets GLAS apart, there’s real investment in people, because human capital is seen as the most important resource.

It might sound cliche, but when GLAS gave me this job, they also gave me a new path. They trusted me with new responsibilities, gave me constructive feedback, and helped me shift from a teaching mindset to a business mindset.

That support, especially from my manager, gave me the confidence to step up. And that’s what I really enjoy about working at GLAS, everyone is genuinely helpful.

GLAS is known for its independence and client-first approach, do you see those values reflected in the office and your day-to-day work?

JL: Yes, definitely.

One of the things GLAS prides itself on is offering bespoke services, that really comes through in the day-to-day. It’s part of the company’s ethos and mission, and I try to reflect that in my own work.

When I’m onboarding a deal or working on a project, I’m always thinking about what extra value I can bring. That mindset comes from the top. My manager leads by example, and I find myself mirroring that approach. It’s about being as helpful and thoughtful as possible, and that culture is very much present across the business.

Which opportunities at GLAS excite you the most when you think about your career ahead?

JL: Right now, I’m a manager, and I’m looking at how I can continue to grow and progress. I’m excited about the opportunities ahead and curious to see where we are expanding to next.

I definitely would like to learn more from the business development and marketing side. I’ve always loved marketing, so I’d really like to explore how that fits into the wider business.

At the moment, I’m focused on continuing to develop in my current role, but I’m definitely excited to see where things go. And who knows, maybe one day I’ll get the chance to work in another GLAS office. I’d love to be sent to Singapore!

What advice would you give to mothers navigating a return to work or exploring a career in finance?

JL: When you come back from maternity leave, you’re adjusting to a new role as a parent, and at the same time returning to a job that might feel very different from before. I remember when I came back from maternity leave during COVID, it brought a whole new set of challenges. Your values can shift, and that’s completely normal.

I’d say go for it. Do it for your family and do it for yourself. They’re only little for so long, so take the opportunity while you can.