Investing in yourself in small steps

Her ITP journey began as Business Manager to the Head of Private Banking for the Central Zone, followed by a rotation as Project Coordinator in the Investment Office. Now, she has her eyes on New York for her rotation abroad. A presentation from a senior manager before her second rotation was the beginning of her biggest inspiration. “She told us: ‘Start investing in yourself, even in small ways. Your personal journey in finance begins now.’ And that message stuck ever since.” 

Stepping in, standing out from day one

Julie helped create a new product for private banking clients, which requires coordination across departments, resources, and long term follow-up. “It went well,” she says with modest confidence. “It reminded me that even as a trainee, you can shape finance. You’re not just there to observe, you can lead. And it is thanks to the ITP.” 

“One of the strengths I discovered is that I remain emotionally neutral at work. I help keep things calm and guide people in the same direction.” 

It’s also a trait that proved essential during one of her proudest ITP moments: helping organise the Wealth Banker Day in Brussels. The event needed fresh energy, and she brought it by inviting key speakers and creating space for collaboration across borders. It reflected something she had already been living - driven by a mindset shaped at Ghent University and around the kitchen table of her entrepreneurial parents. “They always taught me to ask ‘why,’ to think critically.”

Grounded in life, a lesson that lasts

Julie isn’t all strategy and spreadsheets. She fell in love with hiking in the Swiss Alps and has since trekked across Peru, Argentina, and Nepal. She enjoys barbecues with friends in the fields near Gent and has joined ING’s hockey team. When ING launched a wellbeing initiative around nutrition, she took part - and used it as a reset to adopt healthier habits and pick up running again.

“I realised that I don’t need to be an expert in one domain.
My goal is to make people smile, even on complex projects.”

Reflecting on her ITP experience, Julie’s learned to be assertive and intentional. “Don’t just take what’s handed to you. Choose your path. Don’t wait. Go for it.”

Her vision of success? “To keep my passion, see the world, enjoy family, and have a beautiful life.” For her, it’s not about titles or hierarchy. It’s about living fully and authentically, within and beyond the office.

A message for the future ITP community:
It’s all about the people

“Use the ITP not just for the job but for the people you meet,” Julie advises. “At the end of the day, it’s not about the topic, it’s about how you approach it, and with whom. Always remember to be yourself, no matter who you’re speaking to.” She credits the supportive ITP community for making that possible. “The community is casual, collaborative, and everyone genuinely wants to help. It’s one of the best parts of the programme.”