Future Leadership Program of Rabo Partnerships

As Rabo Partnerships we enable partners in emerging markets to offer inclusive financial services that will impact rural livelihoods, F&A finance and profitability. Our enables are: knowledge, network, finance & innovation. We act upon our enablers by organizing a Future Leadership Program each year.

In 2024, 14 participants from 9 different Financial Institutions participated for this immersive 8-week program in Utrecht. One of the participants this year was Dayane Scopel Ferrazza of Banco Sicredi, a partner bank from Brazil. Below she will share her experience of the program.

I attended the FLP upon the recommendation of my Director. At Sicredi, we don’t have an open application process for the program. Instead, our board selects participants based on performance and potential, choosing those they believe would benefit most from this experience.

“Annually, our partners are invited to nominate outstanding talents to participate in this program. It equips participants with the skills needed to assume executive leadership roles within a few years, and this program provides them a broader perspective on banking.” - Bart van Kranenburg, Project Manager Rabo Partnerships

It’s hard to find a single word to describe the experience. As I mentioned on the last day, and I’m happy to repeat here: it was life-changing, both professionally and personally.

This program helped me gain a deeper understanding of the financial system, including areas that aren’t part of my daily responsibilities, such as credit risk. It also expanded my perspective on how to integrate sustainability more intensively into our work. However, I believe the most significant impact lies in the exposure to diverse cultures, learning styles, and leadership development techniques. This knowledge will contribute to various aspects of my career.

“It’s incredible to witness the exchange of insights on banking, culture, and general work practices between Rabobank speakers and participants, as well as among the participants themselves. Over the span of 8 weeks, each participant’s perspective evolves, and lifelong connections are formed.” - Bart van Kranenburg, Project Manager Rabo Partnerships

Wow, that’s a tough one! Can I mention two? First, the importance of truly understanding your customer—not in an idealized way, but through concrete processes. At Rabobank, they have several tools and processes for gaining deep customer insights, making use of technology to increase efficiency and add value to the customer proposition. Secondly, the development of leadership skills through interactions with people from different cultures, including my colleagues in the program, was incredibly enriching.

The day we spent at the cheese farm and the Rabobank branch was particularly memorable. It was special because we got to see each other outside the headquarters environment, and we had the chance to engage more deeply with the reality of Rabobank’s customers in smaller communities.

One key change will be in how we think about collecting, storing, and using customer data to build stronger relationships. The insights on Digital Transformation and Marketing session from Maarten Kolkman gave me numerous ideas and the confidence to pursue them in my company.

Next year Rabo Partnerships will host another Future Leadership Program for 8 weeks from April to June. Preparations are in full swing and our colleague Rubiga Sivakumaran will be the host of this event. If you are interested to know more about the program or if you would like to sign up, feel free to get in touch with her, or any of our other project managers.