Pushing yourself while raising customer awareness of sustainability scores

Following rotations in innovation and finance, Elisabetta joined two sustainability teams as an intern. “One focused on sustainable loans and customer assessments and the other on learning and development.” Her experience of these two very different teams revealed Rabobank’s broad impact and helped her discover her interests. “I’d just graduated. I knew a bit of everything, but lacked direction. Having that variation allowed me to experiment, step out of my comfort zone, and learn new things.” The financial analysis part of the second rotation was particularly challenging, says Elisabetta. “Analyzing corporate balance sheets isn’t something I’d done before, but I was surprised by how quickly it clicked. It’s a valuable skill that shows you exactly how businesses implement sustainable practices.”

Physical and emotional challenges

Elisabetta found many opportunities for personal growth during her traineeship. Alongside taking part in a Circle Coaching Group with other trainees and a coach, reflecting on their ambitions, strengths and challenges, she attended training sessions in Raboskills such as storytelling and problem-solving. She was particularly impressed by the Impact Journey, a two-day program pushing both body and mind. “We were wiped out by the end of the day. But then came a surprise challenge: a group plank... for ten minutes! We pushed through it as a team, and all came to the realization you can do much more than you think.”

Facing challenges head on

Elisabetta discovered how a bank can have a powerful and far-reaching impact as a sustainability leader. “Rabobank serves hundreds of clients in agriculture, including those in high-emissions sectors like livestock and dairy. We could easily stop serving them, but they’d simply turn to another bank. The impact would be the same. It’s clear that we have a responsibility to help them become more sustainable – by lowering emissions, boosting biodiversity, safeguarding human rights and addressing climate risks.” She says this could be a gamechanger. “As a financial institution, we can help accelerate the green transition. It’s our chance to create impact.”

Sustainability: the third pillar

Elisabetta was guided by this belief while working on projects within the two sustainability teams, analyzing large clients’ sustainability scores, developing workshops for coworkers and providing input on training courses that prioritized sustainability as much as risk and return. “We’ve got to realize that risk, return and sustainability are bound together. That’s the key to making decisions that have long-term benefits.” She’ll continue spreading the message in her new position as a Sustainability Analyst on the W&R Sustainability Assessment team: “This is only the beginning of my adventure!”