Clearstream
Valentin Walhain
24 June 2025
Valentin Walhain, associate vice president, lending and borrowing at Clearstream, speaks to Carmella Haswell about connecting with people across the world, making an impact, and creating a safe and pleasant place to work
Image: Valentin Walhain
Can you tell us about your journey into the securities finance industry?
Growing up on the Belgian side of the Luxembourg border, one might argue that a career in finance or banking is almost a natural ambition for most teenagers in the region. What drew me to this sector was the global reach of market infrastructures such as Clearstream, where one can connect with people around the world, from different cultures, using various languages.Â
I began my career at Clearstream with an internship in the regulatory governance team in 2019, in the pre-Covid era when desk phones and in-person meetings were the norm. I then had a brief stint at a consultancy firm in the investment funds space but quickly returned to my first love — Clearstream. I rejoined the firm but within the material change committee team, assessing the risk profiles of new products, before transitioning to the securities lending product team at the end of 2022 to develop products myself.Â
As a young professional, what aspects of your role or the industry do you find most exciting?
I particularly relish the tangible impacts of the job. There is no greater satisfaction than leaving the office having made an impact somewhere: a happy client or a more efficient product and, ultimately, market. Clearstream, being a global player in the securities lending space, allows me to interact with a diverse array of counterparts in the market as well as various internal teams.
There is never a dull day as a product manager at Clearstream, especially in securities lending. I also enjoy meeting my peers at conferences or industry events, as staying abreast of geopolitical and market news is crucial for capturing trends and identifying customer needs to develop meaningful products.Â
Many companies offer various training and development opportunities for their employees. Can you share how your company supports your growth?
The nature of the job requires continuous training to stay up to date on regulatory and industry topics. Clearstream and the wider Deutsche Börse Group offer a broad range of both internal and external training opportunities.
Recently, I attended the comprehensive ‘Advanced Repo Trading’ course from the International Capital Market Association (ICMA), which was incredibly insightful. I am also fortunate to participate in industry working groups such as the International Íø±¬³Ô¹Ï Lending Association (ISLA) and attend conferences on industry matters in Europe. This is a real privilege as it helps to better understand market trends and how we can support our clients along the way.
What misconceptions about working in the financial industry have you encountered, and how do you address these challenges?
A common misconception is that the finance industry is a rather individualistic world where people compete with each other at all costs. This is clearly a myth, as my experience has shown that collaboration, both internally and with other market participants globally, is at its peak.
I also welcome the growing awareness around topics like emotional intelligence, diversity, and inclusion. This makes the finance industry a very safe and pleasant place to work in my experience.Â
Looking ahead, where do you see yourself in the next five years in terms of your career goals and aspirations?
Being naturally curious, I see myself exploring other areas of the securities finance world before moving into a leadership role where I can hopefully transfer my knowledge to other young, eager-to-learn team members with the same genuine and positive treatment I always received from my mentors. Each of them played a tremendous role in shaping who I am today, and I aspire to replicate their truly inspirational leadership skills in the future.Â
What advice do you have for other young professionals aspiring to pursue a career in your industry?
Remember that the only foolish question is the one that goes unasked. Be curious, be bold, and never leave a meeting wondering what it was about. Do not be afraid of public speaking either, your voice matters irrespective of your seniority or position on the company organisational chart.Â
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