Laurynas Gančauskas
SEB Tech Site Manager in Vilnius
Sustainability is developing future-focused solutions
Laurynas, SEB Tech Site Manager in Vilnius, is a strong advocate of sustainability. He emphasizes its crucial role in shaping the long-term impact on our environment and believes it should be the foundation of societal actions. Actively involved in SEB's technological innovations, Laurynas shares his insights on the past, present, and future of sustainability, discussing its role in the company's development.
Tell more about your career path at SEB.
I joined SEB in 2021 as an IT Team Manager. Although I had a very attractive, in some aspects, even better offer from another company back then, I decided to join SEB after having a great interview with my hiring manager Henrik Jonsson and learning more about the company, especially culture and values. Looking back, it has proven to be the right choice. I am now an IT Department Manager and hold the responsibility of Vilnius Technology Site Manager. It has been quite a steep and exciting career journey, I am thankful for the support from my colleagues.
What does sustainability mean to you?
The first thing that comes to my mind is how deeply sustainability is tied to human activity. For centuries, we have focused on survival and efficiency, often neglecting long-term impact. Sustainability involves two key aspects: knowledge and mindset. While we have become better informed about the consequences and are making wiser decisions, shifting our mindset takes time. Ironically, sustainability still feels like something new, even though it should be the foundation of our actions.
For me, as an SEB employee, sustainability means making responsible decisions and adopting sustainable practices, both internally and externally, while developing future-focused solutions for our customers.
Do you feel that SEB’s mindset towards sustainability has changed over the years? How is this reflected?
Each year we hear from SEB management about real numbers when connecting capital to sustainability innovations and it is impressive to see the trends that are happening, e.g. doubled investments for clean energy vs fossil fuels.
At SEB, we have introduced green loans and very soon are going to offer new sustainability-oriented products, which my teams are actively involved in developing. SEB has done a lot in sustainability-related financing, e.g. collaborated with companies in Baltics and Nordics to support their investments and growth in the renewable energy sector. Therefore, the direction is clear – the banking industry is heading towards funding innovative sustainable ideas.
We apply sustainability principles in our daily practices to ensure that our investments provide good returns for customers while also benefit society. Whether it’s recycling at the office, smarter use of electronic devices, more trustworthy identification while making payments, or a process that leads to reduced use of the paper – everything is linked to the mindset of both employees and the company.
Why is innovation so important at SEB?
When I joined SEB and was learning about the company's values, one of the first things I was told about was the Wallenberg family, the founders, who emphasized the culture of investment into learning and growth. The focus on investment, combined with innovation, is crucial for our company's growth.
Every day I observe how innovation drives everything we do, from designing data centers to launching new products. As both an employee and a customer, I can witness SEB's strong commitment to a green and innovative future.
SEB has great diversified portfolio, at the same time great responsibility to provide many different solutions for very different customer profiles. It requires understanding the needs and being smarter and more flexible than ever, at the same time meeting tighter than ever regulatory demands. This balance naturally demands the speed, agility and, of course, innovation. I work at SEB Technology and every day meet colleagues who have received industry-wide recognition of their achievements, from mainframe ledgers that were created decades ago to new robotic and AI innovations created recently.
What is something that is on the horizon that you think is going to be impactful in the world of finance or sustainability?
The world is rapidly evolving, with increasing risks and opportunities, especially with the rise of AI. It is transforming how we interact with the data, presenting both challenges and success stories. The key is to balance efficiency and short-term gains with long-term sustainability approach. In banking, this shift comes with increased regulatory demands and technological threats. Adapting to AI and emerging trends will be crucial in the coming years, and navigating these changes will be an interesting challenge.
I am sure that we will see more sustainability-driven initiatives from our customers, and the ability to provide responsible advice and capital, also new banking products will be crucial factor in sustainability acceleration within areas like manufacturing, shipping, power generation and other.
What are your hobbies?
I enjoy walking with my Labrador called Lu in the forest; it is inspiring and sparks new ideas. Also love taking quick family trips filled with discoveries, attending cultural events, skiing, spending time with friends. What it comes to travelling, San Francisco is one of my favorite places, and I am eager to return there again. I really appreciate places where cultures meet, as it is always an interesting experience, recently visited Istanbul. I am also a football fan and have a background in politics and international relations, so I stay updated on global events and always dare to discuss global political trends.
