Karel: Team Lead at Rabobank and Army Reservist
- Karel BoonzaaijerTeamlead FEC
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'The army gives me purpose, pride, camaraderie and personal growth.'
At the end of the working day, trusted team lead Karel Boonzaaijer (34) puts away his Rabobank pass and puts on his green uniform. Life as an army reservist means juggling two worlds that seem completely different. But it’s precisely that contrast that allows him to thrive.
Karel confidently calls himself a born leader. “As a child, I’d always be the one leading the way, albeit more brazenly than I do today,” he says, laughing. He now uses those leadership qualities in two completely different settings. As a team lead at Rabobank, he supports analysts tackling financial crime such as money laundering, breaches of sanctions and illicit financial flows. “There’s no way to eliminate crime, but you can make life very difficult for the perpetrators.”
Professional Commander
He’s the man in chargein the army, too, managing a unit of eight to ten service members as a section leader. “Just like at the bank, it’s all about security, but in a totally different setting. You’re outdoors, knee-deep in mud, under pressure.” Still, there are big differences between the two.“At the bank, decisions can take days or weeks. In the field, you sometimes have only seconds.”
Two Worlds, One Leadership Style
If his army career has made him a better team lead, his role at Rabobank has made him a better commander. “The corporate world leans towards dialogue, consultations, meetings. My army experience has taught me to be bold and cut to the chase. I’ve also been able to apply the inclusive leadership style I’ve picked up at Rabobank to the army. If you want to go fast, go alone. If you want to go far, go together. Strong teams recognize and utilize each member’s talents.”
Six Hundred Hours
Karel is a member of the 10 Infantry Battalion Guard and Security, National Reserve Corps (10 Infbat BB KNR). He talks about the rigorous cycle of training and assessment. “An ‘average’ army reservist is deployed for about three hundred hours a year. But as an instructor, I do about twice that: two evening lessons each month, a training session on a Saturday and regular extra shooting practice and multiday exercises.” Karel prepares lessons and trains his own squad, making sure each member perfects the military skills they need for the job. “It’s intense, and that’s exactly why I love it. Being outside and active, pushing your limits, all while giving something back to society.”
Support from Rabobank
For years, Karel used his vacation days to undertake army reserve work. But now, he doesn’t have to. Recognizing the important work army reservists do, Rabobank has signed an agreement with the Ministry of Defense giving employees extra vacation hours for duties. “Those ten days are a huge help, because it means I no longer have to sacrifice time for family holidays. Having Rabobank’s support makes a world of difference.”
Karel has also noticed a positive mindset shift at the bank. “Ten years ago, my team were concerned that my reserve duties would interfere with work. Now they ask me where they can sign up! I’ve talked to about twenty colleagues so far.”
New Skills
Karel explains how the army gives him purpose, pride, camaraderie and personal growth. “You learn skills you can be proud of. Keeping your cool, calling decisions, setting boundaries and building a team that doesn’t buckle under pressure. It makes you not only a better leader, but also a more rounded person.”
A More Resilient Place
Those skills are directly applicable at Rabobank, being as useful in the field as they are in a corporate team. But there’s another added benefit, perhaps the most important of all: the ability to give back to society. Karel says, “The Netherlands is in desperate need of more army reservists.Rabobank gives colleagues the freedom to grow and make a real difference in society. Together, we can make the Netherlands a more resilient place.”
Reservist Leave
Rabobank is committed to building a resilient society. That’s why we support employees who choose to serve as reservists in the Dutch armed forces.
As a reservist, you take part in training and may be called upon to serve. Most of these activities take place outside regular working hours, during evenings or weekends. But sometimes you’ll need time off during the workday. In those cases, Rabobank grants you extra leave hours.
Each year, you can use up to twice your weekly working hours for reservist responsibilities. For example, if you work 36 hours a week, you’ll receive 72 additional leave hours. If you work part-time, the number of hours is adjusted accordingly.
