Meet Thelma: From CRCC Asia Intern to Vice-President at Wells Fargo
Meet Thelma Susanna Brooks, an accomplished Vice-President and Lead Control Management Officer at Wells Fargo Corporation, based in Charlotte, North Carolina, USA. With a career defined by excellence and leadership in risk management and compliance, Thelma’s professional journey is nothing short of inspiring.
Her story with CRCC Asia began in 2013 when she interned in Shanghai, China. This transformative experience not only shaped her career but also honed her global perspective and skill set. As an intern at Chang An Law Firm, located in Shanghai’s World Financial Center, Thelma delved into the intricate world of corporate law and compliance, gaining invaluable insights into the international business landscape.
In this interview, Thelma reflects on her journey since her internship, shares the impact of her CRCC Asia experience, and offers advice for aspiring global professionals. Her insights are a testament to the opportunities and growth that international experiences like CRCC Asia can offer.
- Could you tell us about your current role and some of the professional milestones you’ve achieved since your CRCC Asia internship?
I am currently Vice-President/Lead Control Management Officer at Wells Fargo Corporation. In this role, I monitor complex business programs tied to very high-priority remediation items and provide strategic risk management support to Corporate & Investment Banking Technology partners to implement remediation solutions. This supports the business in designing and implementing risk-mitigation strategies to ensure compliance with legal and regulatory laws, corporate controls, and procedures. - How has your CRCC Asia experience contributed to shaping your career path or helping you achieve your goals?
My CRCC Asia experience shaped my career path because it gave me a broad, yet niche, legal and compliance foundation. My caseload provided me with the opportunity to evaluate large multinational companies’ compliance with international laws and regulations within the financial services sector. I worked for Chang An law firm, a corporate law firm that supported many large clients in the financial services business and was located in Pudong, Shanghai’s World Financial Center. The entire experience enabled me to gain a perspective on the risk and control infrastructure on a global level, how to work with business partners to solve challenging problems at both macro and micro levels, and how to avoid a myopic approach to addressing these problems. Every company or legal employer I have had since this experience has appreciated the unique and challenging skill set, I gained by working as an expatriate in Shanghai and the valuable and transferable skills it provided to aid their organization. As a result, every company has directly benefited from the application of this skill set to enhance the strategic direction of the company.
- Which skills or insights from your internship have been most valuable to you in your career journey?
- Language Proficiency: Working at Chang An law firm (where 99% of the partners and staff spoke fluent Mandarin) required me to enhance my Mandarin speaking skills because I had no choice. This enabled me to converse with partners and clients fluently in Mandarin, and my supervisor, Micky Ma, allowed me to translate conversations as I became more comfortable. The business partners were very impressed.
- Adaptability: Learning how to navigate a new country and work for several months on challenging assignments showed my ability to handle complex environments and thrive.
- Problem-Solving: I learned how to develop creative and innovative solutions to assist business partners in taking their business to the next level while remaining compliant and having the necessary risk and control infrastructure in place.
- Technical Proficiency: I learned how to use different software and messaging systems, all in Mandarin, to communicate effectively with my supervisor and team.
- Confidence: The experience taught me that I can accomplish hard things and grow personally and professionally.
- Critical Thinking Skills: I enhanced my legal research and writing skills because I had to learn Chinese laws and regulations.
- Global Perspective: Working internationally teaches you to view the world and challenges through a comprehensive lens, giving you an appreciation of how other countries navigate complex business problems. This exposure enables you to bring a unique skill set to any business, allowing you to think outside the box.
- Did your CRCC Asia experience help you build a professional network? Could you share any success stories that came from these connections?
Yes, my CRCC Asia experience helped me build a professional network, including a CEO of a multinational company located in both China and the US. He was instrumental in helping me get my first job out of law school and serves as a mentor to me, providing a variety of connections willing to assist me wherever I want to go. This person is an invaluable connection, and I am deeply appreciative of how he and his resources invest in my success.
- What are some of your favorite memories from your time with CRCC Asia, either professionally or personally?
One of my favorite memories is going to Beijing and climbing The Great Wall of China—it was one of the most amazing experiences. I was also invited to the village of one of my partners, where they taught me how to make authentic Chinese dishes. My favorite dish to make is Xiaolongbao (soup dumplings). Networking with so many other CRCC Asia interns from across the world was a highlight, as they became friends for life. One of my very best friends from CRCC Asia now lives in San Francisco with her husband. I recently visited her, and she is equally successful, now a Senior Attorney at a major California law firm.
- How did your internship boost your confidence in working within a global or cross-cultural environment?
The internship boosted my confidence in working within a global and cross-cultural environment by showing me how much you can learn about yourself and others through taking a leap and gaining this experience. - What are some of the reasons you would recommend the CRCC Asia program to others?
This is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity that will set you and your career apart from others. You gain so many connections that can be instrumental in navigating life. It provides you with the opportunity to see countries you may never have visited and learn about other parts of the world. - How do you feel your CRCC Asia experience has contributed to your personal and professional development?
The CRCC Asia experience has helped me appreciate the value of striving for excellence in everything I do, both personally and professionally. It has given me confidence to challenge myself in all areas of life, including living halfway across the world, working in a large company, and making an impact.
- What advice or words of encouragement would you give to current and future CRCC Asia interns?
Take full advantage of your experience. Work hard and give it 100%—you never know what doors it may open. Build connections for life. Travel around the country and explore new things. Get to know your fellow CRCC Asia interns; they may become lifelong friends and invaluable connections. Take a leap of faith to try something new—your future self will thank you! - Is there anything else you’d like to share about your CRCC Asia journey and how it has impacted your life and career?
My CRCC Asia journey boosted my personal and professional career in numerous ways by teaching me how intelligent, collaborative, and resilient I am. Since my CRCC Asia experience, I have worked for a major law firm as a summer associate, an e-discovery litigation firm, and several Fortune 500 and 100 companies. I received the Golden Shield award in my current company for leading a team to implement a product mitigating risk and control issues. I was featured in Who’s Who in Black Charlotte and inducted into Who’s Who in America in 2024. I started my own LLC as a motivational speaker and business consultant. Finally, the skills I gained during my CRCC Asia journey became invaluable when I achieved personal milestones like completing the Charlotte Half-Marathon relay. I am deeply grateful for the opportunity CRCC Asia provided and recommend it to everyone—this program truly opens doors and builds lifelong connections. Stay tuned—I am not finished yet!
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