5 questions to Mila, Risk trainee
- Mila LiuRisk Management trainee
- Reading time
In this series, we interview trainees, starters, and interns about their first experiences at Rabobank. What does the traineeship they follow consist of? How are the first months at Rabobank, and what surprises have they encountered? This time, we chat with Mila, a recently started trainee in the Risk Management track.
Tell us.. who are you, what is your role at Rabobank, and what did you study?
"Hi, I’m Mila, a Risk Management trainee at Rabobank. During my bachelor’s in International Business Administration, I realized the broad scope wasn’t for me. While the program gave me a broad understanding of the field, I realized I wanted something more specialized, something that aligned better with my interests. That’s when I decided to pursue a master’s in Business Information Management, a field that combined analytical thinking with strategic decision-making.
After graduating, I wanted to enter the job market in a way that allowed me to keep learning, gain hands-on experience, and build a strong professional network. That’s why I chose Rabobank’s traineeship program, it offered the perfect balance of personal and professional development. That's how I ended up in the Risk Management traineeship."
Rotations are a part of the Rabobank Traineeship. Can you tell us more about this?
"One of the key benefits of the risk traineeship is the opportunity to rotate through four different risk departments.
My first rotation was in operational risk, a quite technical department. While it wasn’t an exact match for my skill set, I appreciated the team’s flexibility in allowing me to take on a project that aligned with my strengths while still contributing meaningful value to the team.
For my second rotation, I joined credit analytics, supporting the Business Management team. One of my key projects involved promoting the Tribe Credit Analytics Academy, an internal learning platform, and increasing its visibility within the department. This rotation also gave me the chance to be creative, including video editing — a skill I love doing in my spare time.
A major advantage of the risk management traineeship is the chance to do one of your four rotations outside the risk domain. So now, I’m preparing for my third rotation with the Voluntary Carbon Credit brokerage team in the innovation department. This team acts as an intermediary between buyers and sellers of carbon credits, facilitating projects that reduce, remove, or avoid greenhouse gas emissions. Coming from a risk background — where you typically work in a second-line role, focusing on oversight and controls — it’s exciting to get closer to clients and experience the commercial side of the bank."
Were you specifically interested in working at Rabobank, or were you also looking at other options?
"I was looking at various companies and traineeships, but Rabobank stood out after attending the Young Talent Event. The friendly and well-organized atmosphere, along with the open and approachable people, made me choose Rabobank."
Although the first rotation was challenging, I appreciated the flexibility to choose something that suited me better for a subsequent rotation."
What makes you feel at home?
"The very first time I walked into the Rabobank office for an in-house event as a student, I felt a warmth and welcoming atmosphere that I hadn’t experienced at other companies yet — and that feeling stuck with me. It’s so easy to connect with people from different teams, backgrounds, and cultures. There’s just this sense of openness and acceptance for who you are, no matter your background or nationality. This is further strengthened by the feeling of a flat organizational structure and down-to-earth culture, where colleagues and managers are approachable and always willing to help, whether you’re brainstorming ideas or just grabbing a coffee. It’s always ‘gezellig’ in the office.
Beyond work, my current team organizes quarterly planning sessions in different cities, combining business meetings with social activities (like curling!), which creates a good balance between work and team bonding. Additionally, being part of the risk trainees’ events committee lets me help organize internal activities and connect other trainees.
What makes Rabobank feel like home is not just the work itself, but the people and the culture."
Lastly, do you have any tips for future trainees?
"If you're interested in a Rabobank traineeship, whether it's Risk Management or another track, I highly recommend attending in-house days like the Young Talent Event. I attended one myself before starting, and it gave me a good sense of the company’s culture, people, and whether there was a mutual fit. It can also be helpful to connect with current trainees to hear about their experiences and gain insights into the program.