Purpose Meets Finance: Frédérique Verschueren’s mission for change

Frédérique Verschueren was 15 when she stepped off a plane in Myanmar, a trip that happened after a year of working and saving up. She wound up at Zay Ta Wun, a small Buddhist school in the city of Bagan, where she taught English to children. Shortly after, the group found themselves at an orphanage remotely located in the mountains, where a couple was taking care of 20 kids.

“That experience really opened my eyes,” she shares. “For the first time, I felt that I am lucky to be born where I was born – starting life in a warm nest, having access to good education and opportunities – because so much of that is pure chance.”

The jolting realisation of her privilege marked the starting point of a journey of purpose and passion that has guided her since: to do something for others who don’t have the same chances and opportunities, to change things for the better.

“You need money to change things,” Frédérique emphatically muses.

“Wanting to change something is one thing, but the real challenge is figuring out how to make it happen, and who’s going to pay for it. Without money, it’s hard to turn even the best idea in the world into reality.”

During her time as an International Relations student at Leiden University in the Netherlands, Frédérique got involved with the DEAL foundation, a student organisation that empowers women around the world by teaching them financial literacy and giving them essential tools that could change the course of their lives.

As a student Frédérique also worked at Libertas, a healthcare organisation in Leiden caring for elderly residents. Over time, as she helped with washing, dressing, feeding and eventually providing dignified end-of-life care for the residents, she found purpose and meaning in the work, but also saw how limited resources can impede impact.

“Healthcare workers give everything and they’re often underpaid. I realised finance isn’t just about numbers; it’s about enablement. If you understand how money flows, you can help direct it towards things that matter.” And thus began Frédérique’s foray into the financial world: “Money isn’t just about profit; it’s also a tool for change. That’s how I ended up in banking: I wanted to learn how the system works from the inside, so I can help shape it to support change for the better.”

After graduating, Frédérique found a good fit between her quest for purpose and the traineeship programme at Rabobank. “The fact Rabobank is a cooperative bank without shareholders and is more focused on being part of society really stood out to me – there is purpose beyond just profit,” she shares.

As a trainee, one of the most memorable and anchoring experiences Frédérique experienced was a three-week stint in Benin, West Africa, where she helped three banks set up their risk management departments.

“It was banking back to basics – I got to see the country, hear local stories and understand how financial systems operate in a completely different context from the European framework I knew too well. It really made me see the role finance plays in establishing stability and rooting society, within a country that is still developing.”

After her traineeship, Frédérique joined the Credit Risk & Treasury Management (CRTM) Europe, Africa & Asia team, where she is a Rates Solutions Associate. She knew she wanted a role with a significant amount of accountability and responsibility, where she would be able to connect directly with clients, and hone her skills and knowledge in global markets – key tools for effecting change.

Frédérique is characteristically low-key about the prestigious 30 Under 30 accolade she was awarded by Elsevier Weekblad, downplaying it as something she didn’t even know she had been nominated for. But it’s clear to see why she was chosen: even with her youth, she has a steely determination on her beliefs and personal convictions, and by choosing to work at a company anchored in the same cooperative values, she is able to work on her ultimate mission of putting money in the right places.

And perhaps most telling of why Frédérique truly deserves this 30 Under 30 recognition is how she lights up when she talks about her passion: “My passion gives me energy. When I care about something, I take ownership and go all in. Whether it was volunteering in Myanmar, working in healthcare, fundraising for a charity or building a purpose-driven career at Rabobank, I’ve always been driven by a desire to do things differently, but better.”

“At work, I want to keep learning, stay close to global developments and eventually be in a position where I can connect the dots between what’s happening in the world and how we respond.”

Making a difference in this beautiful, messy, chaotic, meaningful world one day at a time - that’s Frédérique for you.