Janine Vos
Empowered
Employees
Member of the Managing Board
and Chief Human Resources Officer
About this
Report
Chairman's
Foreword
Corporate
Management Report Appendices Governance
Consolidated Financial Company Financial
Statements Statements
When I look at our mission, I like to split it into
three parts: it's about "growing," it's about "a
better world" and it's about doing that
"together." People need a clear goal in order
to develop and to understand exactly what
they're contributing to. That's why we start
with the growth and development of our
people first. That benefits our business,
growth in craftsmanship, vitality and
adaptability. In addition, as a cooperative bank
we should ask ourselves the question: what is
good for the world? Ultimately, it's about the
need to work together.
What increasingly sets our bank apart is the
debate that we are engaging in thanks to the
introduction of our mission 'Growing a better
world together'. We are not there yet, but the
fact that we are being held to account on this
mission builds both the awareness and the
internal momentum needed to achieve this.
We want to do this, and we must do this
because this is who we are. The aspect I am
particularly committed to is involving all
employees in this mission.
In the past year we took several steps forward
but there is still a lot to do. I would like to see
us take a more courageous stance in some
respects. When necessary we must engage in
the conversation with customers more often
and with greater intensity. That is difficult and
it demands courage and straight talking, but
it is worth it every time. If we manage to do
that better, we will grow even more as a bank
and as people. We are working hard on this
and I am very much looking forward to further
developing the human side of our story.
I do realize that not everybody is able or willing
to make this transition with Rabobank. Many
aspects of work at the bank are changing at
lightning speed. There's a great sense of
urgency which places huge demands on the
adaptability of our employees. The bank is
prepared to help and guide them in every way
but, at the same time, new jobs are appearing
while other jobs are disappearing. That causes
tension. When jobs disappear it's vital to help
people to go "from work to work." And we are
achieving excellent results. Naturally it's hard
for people to let go, but it is also great to see
the enduring sense of pride people take from
all they've learned here.
I think that colleagues who really feel the
meaning of our mission are also willing and
able to grow with itto face the future with their
best foot forward. If we succeed in that, we can
really do a lot of good together.