How Topathlete Marlous Schuilwerve Succeeds in her Career

Today, we put the spotlight on Marlous Schuilwerve, who excels both in her career at Rabobank and as the Dutch weightlifting champion. Living in Utrecht with her husband and two cats, she works as an Innovation Associate within the Strategy & Transitions (Businesses) team at Rabobank Retail NL. Her role involves helping clients with sustainability initiatives, such as guiding them with CSRD reports and sustainable loans. Beyond her professional life, she is a top athlete in Olympic weightlifting, representing the Netherlands at international competitions like the European Championships, World Championships, and World Cups.

A Full Week of Activities

Marlous' days are well-filled. She works from 9 to 5 at the office or from home, after which she heads straight to the gym for a 2.5-hour training session. Wednesdays are her days off, which she dedicates to extra training, physiotherapy, and household chores. On weekends, she trains only on Saturdays and enjoys Sundays off. Although time for herself and friends is sometimes scarce, she finds it worthwhile as long as she can pursue her sports career.

Support from Fellow Team Members

Thanks to the support of her team at Rabobank, she can seamlessly combine her sports ambitions with her work. "I enjoy flexible working arrangements, even from abroad during training camps. This flexibility has allowed me to train with other top athletes and coaches, enhancing my performance and still stay connected with colleagues. For example, my colleagues support me by being accommodating during the workday and watching my competitions via livestreams at the office “. Additionally, she connects with other (former) top athletes within Rabobank, which helps her manage her dual career. "This support and shared experiences with other top athletes within the organization help me balance my sports and work ambitions."

Motivation and Goal Orientation

Driven by her love for weightlifting and the measurability of the sport, she sets concrete goals and improves step by step. "My belief in continuous improvement helps me strive for better performance, both technically and in strength building. I see small points for improvement everywhere and believe that patience and perseverance are essential to achieving my goals." This goal orientation also benefits her work, where during an Olympic cycle, she works for four years towards one goal, experiencing ups and downs along the way. "Setting a long-term vision and knowing what I'm working towards helps with any project."

Breaking Stereotypes

Her achievements in weightlifting challenge stereotypes about what women can or should do. "I often hear 'weightlifting? But you don't look that strong (or big) at all.' And when I show a video of me lifting 100 kg from the ground to above my head, it often goes quiet," she laughs. As a woman in strength sports, she is often underestimated by people outside the strength sports world, but she sees parallels with women in the corporate, finance, or IT world. "In the Netherlands, we still don't earn the same salary as the average man, although it is fortunately getting better, and we are also underrepresented in management, where only 30% are women." She is determined to contribute to increasing this percentage and breaking these stereotypes after her sports career.

Advice to Other Women

She encourages other women to pursue their passions with full conviction, whether it's a hobby, sport, or career goal. "I think I always wanted to be very modest and kept my sports ambitions small. Switching from 'I don't know if I can, but I want to try' to 'this is my goal, and I will do everything to make it happen' mindset." She advises women not to keep their ambitions small and to believe in their abilities, even if others don't immediately. "You can't convince everyone at once, but with time, effort, and the hours you put in, you can achieve your goals. Keep believing in yourself and don't be afraid to dream big."