It is important to keep an open mind

Could you tell us about your career at ING and your current position?

I started as an associate in the so-called junior pool in Corporate Sector Lending, the traditional lending business of ING's Wholesale Banking. I am now a member of the transaction team in the manufacturing and heavy industries sector.

How would you summarize your current tasks and responsibilities? Describe it like you’re talking to a layperson.

We look after our corporate customers and advise them on a range of products throughout the year, such as fixed loans, revolving loans and overdrafts. It's not just about specific projects; it's about the general financial needs of companies. For my corporate clients, I manage the entire transaction process for their ongoing business from credit analysis and approval to coordination with various stakeholders. This includes colleagues from relationship management, risk management and legal. Once this process is complete, we ensure that the loans are disbursed on time. This can be challenging as the timelines are sometimes very tight. In addition to transactions, I also carry out annual reviews to assess the creditworthiness and overall risk profile of our corporate clients in the portfolio and to ensure that loan covenants are being met on an ongoing basis.

What do you like most about working in Wholesale Banking, ING's corporate banking business?

Definitely our culture and close-knit network. We "only" have about 400 employees in Wholesale Banking in Germany, so we all know each other pretty well. We know who to talk to about what. And it's fun to chat at events with all our colleagues who work at the head office in Frankfurt or in our regional offices in Düsseldorf, Munich, Stuttgart and Hamburg.

You have quite an international background, personally and professionally. Tell us a bit about it.

I was born and raised in Bangkok, Thailand then moved to Sydney, Australia, for high school. I spent six years in a boarding school with Australian and international students. Sydney is a very multicultural city, and I immediately felt at home! I also learnt a bit of German at high school. That's why Germany was my first choice for my Master's semester abroad. I always wanted to live in Europe for a while. Here you can drive three hours and change languages and countries twice. If you start from Sydney, you won't even leave the city limits after three hours of driving. Somehow a six-month semester abroad in Germany turned into a six-month internship, then a one-year trainee program and now I've been here for seven years.

What are the most important things you’ve learned from working in other countries?

I have worked in APAC, the Asia Pacific region, and Europe. The experiences I have had could not be more diverse. Here in Germany, I often worry that people get the wrong impression of me or something I do, and I’ll experience prejudice. As a result, I try not to make hasty assumptions about others. I look at people and am curious about their views and opinions. This keeps my mind open.

Has your international work experience helped you in your current job?

Stakeholder management is usually the linchpin of the credit business. That's why we spend a lot of time consulting with colleagues from different departments and coordinating projects. Many ING employees are expats. They work in Germany but were born in another country and live a different culture. My international background helps me to be more open to different working styles and to deal with them better. You can't always adapt, but it's really helpful to have an understanding of others and of how to react in different situations.

What are the most challenging aspects of working in international and culturally diverse teams?

The variety of communication styles. It's hard to read between the lines and understand what people are saying because of the way they express themselves. Sometimes I'm afraid of accidentally offending someone with something I say. Some cultures can be more direct than others, so I always try to keep that in mind.

From your perspective, what skills and strategies are most helpful when working in culturally diverse teams?

Keep an open mind and be aware of local cultures. I don't think you always have to adapt to other people's communication styles or team dynamics – it’s not always possible. But it's really helpful to develop an understanding of different working styles and how to get the best out of collaboration. That's how we move our projects forward together.

Is there anything else you would like to share?

ING is a great employer for people who work in Germany but come from a different country and culture. Diversity, inclusion and belonging are important and highly valued at the bank. It's not just about meeting quotas – it’s about creating a space where all employees feel really safe and like they belong. Whatever their cultural background.