Against All Odds: How Biremiga Vadivelu Rose to the Top of Swiss Banking
At just 30 years old, Biremiga Vadivelu has already achieved what many spend decades striving for — she is Head of Compliance and Risk Officer at Swiss Bank Gantrisch. Her journey, however, has been anything but conventional.
«Today, I’m grateful for the path I’ve taken,» says Biremiga Vadivelu calmly. It’s a surprising remark from someone whose story is marked by rejection, perseverance, and relentless determination.
Vadivelu's ascent stands out not only for its speed but for the sheer number of obstacles she had to overcome. The daughter of immigrant parents, she was met with closed doors early in her career, and not because of her qualifications. «I was lucky if I even got a chance to interview,» she recalls. «Most of the time, my applications were returned unopened.» Her name and background were often barriers.
Even The Modest Goal Seemed Out of Reach
Originally, she dreamed of becoming an architect. But when math proved a challenge and accounting sparked her interest, she set her sights on a commercial apprenticeship. Even that modest goal seemed out of reach — until a private business school recognized her academic promise and offered her a scholarship.
That opportunity changed everything. Vadivelu found her niche in compliance and entered the financial industry. From then on, her discipline and drive set her apart. «During my internship at a pension fund, they promised me a permanent position once I passed my exams,» she says, her pride unmistakable.
Nothing Was Ever Handed to Her
She earned it. Throughout her studies at the Zurich University of Applied Sciences (ZHAW), Vadivelu held a full-time job and commuted daily between Thun and Winterthur — a five-hour round trip. Often, she juggled work tasks during lectures. Free time? Nonexistent. But unlike most of her peers, she finished her degree in less than half the usual time.
«Nothing was ever handed to me. That made me work harder,» she says. Her parents were her role models — her father came from Sri Lanka to Switzerland without speaking German and built a life from scratch. «Their resilience gave me strength.»
Nothing Stops Her
Today, Vadivelu leads multiple areas at Bank Gantrisch as Head of Compliance and Risk Officer — a role that suits her perfectly. «I enjoy the variety and the responsibility,» she says.
But she’s not stopping there. Five years after finishing her degree, she’s now pursuing a doctorate via distance learning. Her research focuses on the use of Explainable Artificial Intelligence (XAI) in anti-money laundering, along with regulation and risk management in the Swiss banking sector.
What drives her? «My parents always said education is something that stays with you for life,» she says with a smile. It’s a lesson she has clearly taken to heart — and turned into a remarkable career.
