The CEO of Southeast Asia’s Largest Bank Sees Her Role at Risk from AI
When Tan Su Shan was appointed CEO of DBS, Southeast Asia’s largest bank by assets, she received an unexpected message from her board: even her job could be replaced by AI. This blunt reminder came through a WhatsApp message the very day her role was announced in late March.
“If I can be replaced by AI, so can everything else!” Tan said at the Fortune Brainstorm AI Singapore conference on July 24. This perspective shaped how she approaches AI's impact on the bank and its workforce.
Adapting to AI with the “Four Rs”
Tan encourages her team to embrace what she calls the “four Rs”: reinvent, stay relevant, be resilient, and act responsibly. She stresses that volatility brought by AI demands continuous reinvention and resilience while maintaining accountability.
Her approach also influences hiring decisions at DBS. Tan advises against hiring for knowledge alone, since knowledge is now widely accessible. Instead, she looks for attitude—agility, humility, and the willingness to accept that what you know today might become irrelevant tomorrow.
Driving AI Adoption Across the Bank
Before becoming CEO, Tan led DBS’s institutional banking division and prioritized encouraging employees to adopt AI. In 2023, the bank projected that AI could contribute up to 1 billion Singapore dollars ($782 million) in value this year.
She observed that while junior and senior staff showed enthusiasm for AI, middle management was the least engaged. To address this, DBS recently introduced a generative AI-powered executive coach for all employees. Developed with leadership expert Marshall Goldsmith, this tool puts personalized coaching within reach of every staff member.
AI as a Tool to Enhance Performance
Tan shared a personal story illustrating how AI helped her during a client meeting when she was unprepared. Using her phone discreetly, she asked AI to suggest questions, impressing the client with her knowledge.
“I cheated,” she admitted with a smile, highlighting how AI can augment human capabilities rather than replace them outright.
DBS: A Regional Powerhouse
- Founded in 1968, DBS is Singapore’s largest bank.
- It ranks No. 7 on the Fortune Southeast Asia 500 by revenue, generating $29 billion.
- With $8.4 billion in profit, it is the most profitable company on that list.
- Tan Su Shan is the first woman to lead DBS and ranks No. 6 on Fortune’s Most Powerful Women list.
As AI reshapes industries, even top executives like Tan are preparing for change. Her focus on mindset, adaptability, and responsible use of AI offers a practical blueprint for leaders and organizations facing this shift.
For professionals looking to build AI skills relevant to finance and management, exploring targeted training can be a smart move. Courses on AI tools and prompt engineering can help teams stay agile and competitive in this evolving landscape. Learn more at Complete AI Training.
Your membership also unlocks:
