Create Your Career in the Financial World: The Amex Case at RBS

American Express stands as a globally recognized financial institution. Beyond its global recognition, it is a company with a rich history, deep values, and a constant eye towards the future. Recently, students from the Rome Business School had the opportunity to delve into its world. Michela Meo, Talent Acquisition Partner at American Express, delivered a company presentation. Michela, who began her journey at Amex as an intern, shared her experience and the company’s vision. She emphasized the importance of such events for students seeking their place in the professional world.

Amex’s Core: What Values Drive a Global Leader?

At the heart of American Express culture lie values that “guide the way.” These are not merely abstract principles. Instead, they serve as fundamental pillars that influence every daily decision and action. Crucially, they reflect the company’s commitment to customers, colleagues, and the community.

• We Support Our Customers: We build relationships that can make a difference. We offer exceptional products, services, and experiences that support them every day.
• We Operate with Excellence: We commit to maintaining an extremely high standard of excellence. It is always meaningful for our customers.
• We Do What Is Right: Customers choose us for our high reliability and constant integrity in everything we do. This ensures trust in every interaction.
• We Respect Our People: We trust each individual and respect each other, supporting one another.
• We Embrace Diversity: We consider diverse experiences and people as a crucial competitive advantage. They stimulate creativity and innovation in the company, helping us always give our best.
• We Champion Inclusion: We foster an open and inclusive culture where every voice counts. People of every race, ethnicity, gender, gender identity, sexual orientation, age, religion, disability, and diverse opinions can thrive.
• We Win as a Team: All colleagues are part of a united team. The common goal is to uphold the value of our brand and services to our customers every day. Individual contributions are always valued and welcome, even if never at the expense of the entire team.
• We Support Our Communities: We respect our communities and are firmly determined to support them with our work. Our initiatives aim to make a positive and tangible difference.

American Express Values in Action and Through Time

Michela emphasized the importance of teamwork. Colleagues are always ready to support each other. Anyone needing help in the team always finds someone willing to assist. She also provided a concrete example of American Express’s commitment to inclusion. Some years ago, the company offered internship opportunities to students with refugee status. This demonstrated how Amex’s values translate into significant actions.

American Express boasts a 175-year history. Founded in 1850, it was not initially a credit card company. Its primary business involved guaranteeing the shipment of goods and and packages across America. This legacy of trust and innovation led to the creation of the first American Express Traveler’s Cheque in 1891. Almost a century later, in 1958, the first American Express credit card was introduced.

The company has continued to innovate. It launched iconic products such as the Gold Card (1966) and the Platinum Card (1984). American Express has also demonstrated its resilience during difficult times. During the 2010 economic crisis and the 2020 pandemic, it launched initiatives like “Small Business Saturday” and “Stand for Small.” These supported merchants with financial and digital aid.

American Express’s Unique Customer-Centric Model

American Express’s success stems from a unique business model serving three main customer categories:

• Commercial: Companies and their employees who choose to use American Express cards for their business activities. For these clients, Amex offers a range of specially designed services. These include proprietary cards and co-branded customized cards, business check accounts, and business loans. The company actively supports them in daily financial management and growth.
• Merchants: Stores, restaurants, and service providers that accept American Express payments. With a network of 66 million accepted locations in 190 countries and territories, and a network volume totaling $1.5 trillion, American Express facilitates transactions. It efficiently connects merchants and cardholders globally.
• Consumers: American Express cardholders. These individuals use the cards for their personal expenses. For them, Amex provides a series of exclusive benefits that extend beyond simple transactions. In addition to proprietary and co-branded cards, this includes access to the prestigious Centurion Lounge Network, the Resy restaurant reservation service, and global dining benefits.

At the core of this model, American Express intelligently utilizes data. The company collects data from its cardholders for analytics. It then uses this data to better understand its strategy and identify areas for future improvement.

Furthermore, the power of the brand and an excellent customer service, which consistently puts the customer at the center, strengthen this model. A membership model that rewards and retains members further completes the picture.

Pioneering Tomorrow: Amex’s Vision for Innovation and Sustainability

American Express consistently commits to innovation for the future. It actively collaborates with partners to co-create and integrate value into product offerings. This often happens through strategic investments or acquisitions in over 50 companies (corporate ventures). The company also develops new corporate acquisitions. Moreover, it maintains a strong focus on digital innovations with Amex Digital Labs, which includes products like Ask Amex and Send & Split™.

Furthermore, the company demonstrates a strong commitment to environmental and social sustainability:

• Plastic cards utilize recycled plastic.
• Offices at all locations source 100% renewable electricity.
• The company commits to achieving net-zero carbon emissions within 10 years.
• Approximately 15,000 colleagues worldwide volunteer for non-profit organizations.

An Inclusive and Flexible Work Culture

American Express believes that “what makes you, makes us“. Consequently, it actively commits to creating an inclusive and diverse work environment. Employees can authentically express themselves. The company offers a wide range of roles in sectors such as security, digital, technology, marketing, and finance. This comprehensive offering allows everyone to find their unique path.

A particularly interesting aspect involves the “Amex Flex” program. This program offers three distinct work modes: in-office, hybrid, or virtual. Flexibility significantly shapes how they work, and this approach is here to stay. For instance, in Italy, the hybrid model typically involves three days in the office and two from home. This strategy provides employees with greater flexibility. It also actively promotes office presence, particularly for younger profiles. Ultimately, this approach proves essential for fostering rapid learning, knowledge exchange, and the strengthening of interpersonal bonds within the team.

Internship Opportunities

During the meeting, American Express actively highlighted its commitment to supporting the growth of young talent. The company presented numerous internship opportunities available in various European countries. These programs offer students and recent graduates the chance to gain practical experience in an international context. Furthermore, they enable participants to contribute to relevant projects and develop key skills.

This presentation offered a valuable overview of American Express. It not only revealed its long and prestigious history but also showcased its constant commitment to a future of innovation, sustainability, and inclusion. Furthermore, it clearly emerged that the company provides an environment where solid values guide concrete actions. The company actively envisions significant professional growth opportunities for young talents. Ultimately, this serves as an excellent opportunity to deeply understand a leading company that continues to define new standards of excellence and responsibility.