“I want finance to have purpose and at NN we take our responsibility seriously”
“I want finance to have purpose and at NN we take our responsibility seriously”
From Brazil to the Netherlands and from hospitality management to sustainable finance. Elisa Prado talks about the exciting journey that led her to join NN as a Finance & Risk trainee in 2023. “The options in finance are so broad, I wanted to find my niche. And NN convinced me with their commitment to sustainable finance.”
Changing dreams
Elisa grew up in Sao Paulo, Brazil. “It was my dream to own a B&B in Europe. So I moved to the Netherlands in 2018 to do my bachelor’s in hospitality management in The Hague.” She found that what she really liked was the finance & accounting course. “So I reassessed my options and did my master’s in finance & investments at Erasmus University.” Elisa also took a course in sustainable finance and found her drive.
Sustainability drive
About choosing the NN traineeship, Elisa says, “When I applied, I really looked into NN’s sustainability drive. It proved a perfect match. During my first-year rotation, I worked in Sustainability Risk Management at NN Life & Pensions. What strikes me is that NN really takes your preferences into account when matching you to your assignment.”
As a Finance & Risk trainee, you’re in charge of shaping the second and third assignments. So how do you find the right assignment in such a large organisation? Elisa explains, “The trainees are a tight-knit community and help each other. You can also reach out to your buddy, who is a more senior trainee, for valuable input. Like how to approach networking and how to look for your second rotation.”
Responsible investments
She continues, “That’s how I found my current assignment in the Responsible Investments team of NN Group. Collaborating closely with NN’s asset managers, we make sure that NN’s proprietary assets are compliant with our sustainability policies. We also do a lot of research into the latest trends, new regulations, and what peers do. Our focus is not limited to NN. NN, for instance, signed the Finance for Biodiversity Pledge. And during the UN’s Biodiversity Conference (COP16) in Colombia, NN joined a global call to action on biodiversity, alongside 26 other asset owners.”
Cultural fit
Biodiversity lies close to Elisa’s heart. “I love nature. Dutch nature, like the Biesbosch and the Reeuwijkse Plassen, is stunning and my boyfriend and I hike a lot.” Elisa also loves to paint, sing, play the guitar, and spend time with friends. “In the Netherlands, I quickly made friends. It was easy for me to embrace the Dutch culture, probably because I’m quite direct and punctual myself.”
Personal development and ambitions
Elisa has evolved a lot since she started her traineeship. “What really surprised me is how much support we get. We have coaches, but also a mentor, who is a senior manager and gives unbiased advice. And thanks to the personal development programme, I now feel so much more confident. I discovered that even the most senior managers don’t know everything. There’s no need to be insecure, just ask questions and don’t worry about showing vulnerability.”
She continues, “For me, it’s important to contribute to making our investments portfolio increasingly more sustainable. This is where my ambitions lie and after my traineeship, I would love to continue working in this team.”
“NN’s approach to personal development has been an eye-opener’’
‘’At NN you get the freedom and support you need to shape your career’’
"I underestimated how many doors the title "Trainee" can open."
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