From Banking to Treasury: The Career Move That Seemed Like a Step Back But It Wasn’t

What if the smartest career move you could make looked like a step backwards? In this episode, Keith Gaub, Vice President and Assistant Treasurer at Bristol-Myers Squibb, shares how taking a pay and title cut led him to one of the most rewarding chapters of his treasury career -and why playing the long game is the ultimate career strategy.Keith Gaub is the Vice President and Assistant Treasurer at Bristol-Myers Squibb, a global biopharmaceutical company. With prior roles at Lehman Brothers, Barclays, and Zoetis, Keith brings deep experience across banking, corporate treasury, and investor relations. His journey reflects the power of strategic career transitions, calculated risk-taking, and building treasury operations from the ground up.Main topics discussed:Why Keith left a leadership role in banking to join a fledgling corporate treasury teamThe sacrifices (and eventual payoffs) of stepping “back” in title and compensationHow Keith helped build a treasury department from scratch at ZoetisNavigating the 2008 financial crisis from inside Lehman BrothersTransitioning from technical finance to people management and leadershipThe mindset of deliberate, long-term career planningThe evolving role of treasury in M&A, forecasting, and risk managementThe importance of mentorship, team culture, and maintaining strong professional networksYou can connect with Keith Gaub on LinkedIn. ---🎙️ Subscribe to the Treasury Career Corner podcast - Never miss an episode! Subscribe on your favourite platform:CLICK HERE for 🎧Spotify PodcastsCLICK HERE for 🍏Apple Podcasts📊 Managing short-term cash and investments - Without the right technology is a huge risk for modern treasurers. ICD changes that!🎓 Save $150 on CTP, FPAC & AFP Boston 2025 – Exclusive discounts for treasury professionals – thanks to our trusted partners.🧠 Leadership Under Pressure – Practical tools and coaching that work – from the team at Gazing Leadership🧩 What if your whole team had one clear view of your group structure - Fuseable makes it happen🔐 Managing signatory lists manually? Cygnetise gives treasury teams a smarter, safer way👉 FIND OUT MORE HERE https://treasuryrecruitment.com/partners/Connect to Mike Richards, CEO, The Treasury Recruitment Co via LinkedIn