"My interest in finance arose when I took additional training as an interpreter," explains Sophie (55). "After that course, ING sent me an invitation to visit." The size of the bank appealed to Sophie because it offers a lot of opportunities for advancement: "In the 30 years I've worked here, I've had nine different positions. Some focused on banking, others supporting the business. Today I am a change expert and a bit of a Swiss army knife (laughs). I have a job with a lot of variety."

Constantly moving forward, even internationally

Sophie is no exception. At ING, we encourage employees to continuously push their limits. Ward (35) came on board shortly after studying commercial engineering through our International Talent Programme. "By working temporarily in different departments, you not only get to know the company: you also discover what you like to do yourself. I gained experience in marketing, wholesale banking and advising corporate clients. Eventually I ended up at ING's Transformation Office, an internal team of consultants who help shape complex transformation processes."

During his traineeship, Ward worked on a project from New York. Not much later, he would start working in Amsterdam. "In the Transformation Office, I helped guide the transition to the agile way of working. With that, I then went to work in customer service. Later I helped introduce a whole new way of working in our hr department in Amsterdam." Ward finds that international mobility a great added value. "And the advantage is that you do all that with a Belgian contract."

Continuously expanding competencies

From process or project manager to agile coach, and from the Transformation Office to the public relations team, Sophie also chose something completely new each time. "Each time, the main reason was that I want to further expand and develop my competencies. Ultimately, I want to have as many skills as possible - not only for the bank, but also for myself. There's a culture of development at ING; it's always been that way. It's not strange to want to do something different every few years: your motivation is what matters most."

Ward experiences it the same way. "Some colleagues prefer to immerse themselves in one theme. So, there is a balance. As a result, there is certainly room to regularly dive into a new field, as Sophie and I do."

Innovative and flexible

The bank still wants to continue to grow. That makes for a very vibrant, innovative atmosphere. Sophie: "ING is evolving quickly, in line with current events. That's why there are many vacancies and why we also receive a lot of training, including on artificial intelligence." According to Ward, ING's size offers only advantages: "You can keep moving forward at the same employer, each time in a team that shares the same values." One of those values is flexibility. "More and more, working autonomously is the norm. You get a lot of freedom. There are clear objectives, but how you achieve them is largely up to you."

Wellbeing and diversity

"ING spares no expense when it comes to wellbeing," says Ward. "Ranging from mobility and fitness programmes to the possibility of working fifty percent from home." For Sophie, the attention to diversity contributes greatly to a pleasant working environment. “Ward already showed that your age doesn't stop you if you want a leadership role. But neither did it ever matter that I am a woman or already a little older," Sophie concludes. "Combined with the welfare initiatives, the nice offices, the gym ... our working environment is just great."

Ready for an adventure like Sophie and Ward's? See where your career at ING can start.