Emei her strongest muscle? Growing through challenges

The perfect mix

After completing her bachelor's degree in Public Administration and her master's degree in Business Administration, Emei started looking for an environment where technology, business, and social impact came together. She eventually joined ABN AMRO's Consultancy Traineeship.

"Here, I found exactly the balance I was looking for. It was also within a large organisation, which meant I got to work with a wide variety of people and departments. The ideal place for a generalist like me." 

From trainee to lead product owner

After completing her traineeship, Emei deliberately chose not to take the obvious next step. Instead, she joined the strategy team within the corporate bank. She later also worked as a business manager.

"Over the past few years, I've consistently sought greater responsibility. I wanted a job where I could truly be held accountable for results. That search, combined with my desire to work more closely with the IT organisation, ultimately led me to my current role as Lead Product Owner." 

"We improve end-to-end customer journeys surrounding major life events, such as turning eighteen. Our goal is to make those interactions as personal, seamless, and inclusive as possible. Becoming an adult is a significant milestone, and our processes should reflect that. The work is highly conceptual, which allows me to think ahead strategically, collaborate with tech specialists, and take responsibility for the performance of the entire team. This move was unusual because I had never been a product owner before, but it now feels like the perfect role for me." 

Growth as a strength

Her purposeful career path and the progress she has made in just five years reflect Emei’s constant drive for new challenges. "I've always been like that. During my Public Administration studies, for example, I went on exchange to Beijing, even though that's not the most obvious choice for such a Netherlands-focused program. I find growing through challenges incredibly interesting and rewarding. Bringing structure and clarity to situations that you don't fully understand yet, I see that as a muscle. And by now, I've trained that muscle quite extensively." 

"Thanks in part to the people at ABN AMRO. At several points in my career, I was able to make significant career moves, and I was always given the space and support to do so. I even receive recognition for it. Recently, ABN AMRO nominated me for the Topvrouw van het Jaar Young Talent Award 2026. One of the reasons was that I don't wait until I feel completely ready before taking on something new: 'she takes responsibility early, gets started, and learns along the way how to excel in a role.' I think that's a wonderful compliment."

More momentum than you might expect

"I'm very proud to work at ABN AMRO." Emei values her colleagues: talented people who are excellent at what they do. She also appreciates being part of such a large organisation. "I can work on many different things simultaneously and connect ideas across domains. And let's be honest: being a large bank means dealing with many stakeholders, complexity, and organisational politics. Some people hear that and think 'bureaucracy' or 'slow-moving,' but it actually energises me. Yes, it can take time to reach decisions, but we do things carefully. That's a direct consequence of our societal responsibility."

"From the outside, progress on topics such as sustainability may not always be immediately visible, but I see how many people work every day to make things better. And we're constantly challenging ourselves. In every meeting, there's always someone asking: is this really a good idea, and is this genuinely helping our customers? That mindset suits me perfectly." 

Equal opportunities

"I've often been given the benefit of the doubt. For example, when I was selected for my current role. Of course, I prepared thoroughly, but I didn't have the obvious profile. I had never been a product owner. Yet I got the job."

Her experiences have strengthened her belief that everyone deserves the same opportunities. "People have given me opportunities, and I want to do the same for others. It's something I actively invest my time in, for example by coaching people. Colleagues, but also people outside the bank who reach out to me. Anyone is welcome to contact me for advice. Whether it's reviewing a letter, discussing career decisions, or sharing my experiences, I hope I can help others take the next step in their careers as well." 

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