Mapping climate risks while charting your own course

It was during her internship at the European Investment Bank (EIB) in Amsterdam that she first realized how on the money she was. “I was part of a small team overseeing all Dutch business. I saw how the choices we made had a big impact in the real world.”

Embedding climate into risk assessment

Her experience at the EIB opened the door to new ambitions. “I kept hearing great things about Rabobank from my coworkers, so I applied for the Risk Traineeship to learn more about four divisions at the bank. I’m now in the third rotation, Environment, Social & Governance [ESG] risk, which addresses serious concerns the bank has about environmental and social risks. I helped formulate policy and draft reports for supervisory authorities.” She experienced firsthand how Rabobank is leading action on sustainability. “Rabobank focuses on sustainability across all risk domains Seeing the bank lead the market reassures me that I’m exactly where I should be.”

Creating impact for a farmer in Colombia

In the final stretch of her traineeship, Caterina joined Rabo Partnerships, a team that supports clients – frequently agricultural businesses – in emerging markets through investments and consultancy services. She truly realized she’s in the right place while working on a project with Colombia’s agricultural development bank, FINAGRO. “They created an app that allows analysts to quickly assess farmers’ loan applications. We traveled to Colombia to experience how this benefits cooperations and farmers on the ground. It’s truly rewarding to see a farmer swiftly sell seeds, secure funding for a drying installation, or manage the challenges of fluctuating harvests. It’s moments like these that remind you why you’re in this line of work.”

Learning in your own way

The traineeship is rewarding and enriching at both a personal and professional level, says Caterina. “We’re a small, supportive group of trainees. We’re always learning together, be that in pitching and storytelling training sessions or multi-day banking simulators. We also have a budget to develop specialist knowledge of our choice, like financial risk management or sustainability certifications. It speeds up everyone’s progress.” Another big advantage, says Caterina, is the bank’s hybrid working model. “I enjoy coming to the office to see my team. But if I need to focus on a project, I prefer working from home. Rabobank also lets you work abroad for a couple of days each year. Every now and then, I stay with my parents in Italy for a few weeks, like I’m doing now! It’s great to have the opportunity – it gives me the boost I need.”

Striving for greater impact

What’s her outlook for the future? “I’m where I am today because I wanted to create a positive impact. Rabobank shares that same ambition, but it requires a new mindset and approach that embed sustainability into each and every decision. Thanks to its experience in Food & Agribusiness, the bank has the potential to be a leader. I want to drive that change by using data, policy and decisions to deliver real benefits for farmers, businesses and customers.”