A Canadian in Brazil
Making her bank a leader in sustainability
Christel Scholten, member of EBBF since 1999, is contributing importantly to making ABN AMRO REAL, a bank in Brazil, the best sustainable bank in that country - and probably in all of Latin America. She is interviewed by George Starcher.
George: Christel, we have known each other for quite a few years now. You were the AIESEC International (AI) liaison with EBBF during your term on the AI Board and we still remember your excellentpresentation at our Annual Conference in 1999 as well as your charm. I have not met a better networker than you were at that conference. What did you do after "graduating" from AIESEC?
Christel: I spent a most interesting eight months in Bangladesh. I had met Mohamed Yunus at an AIESEC conference and was so inspired that I accepted his invitation to spend two months as an intern in the Grameen Bank. Then, together with Pioneers of Change and a local NGO, I coordinated a 'learning journey' in microfinance there in Bangledesh.
Returning to Holland I joined AMN AMRO Bank in their Leadership Development and Sustainability unit.
George: What did you discover about yourself and learn during your period in Bangladesh?
Christel: I witnessed extreme poverty and environmental problems, but also saw how local people were finding local solutions for local issues. I was also very inspired by the women clients for microcredits and how this permitted them to improve their lives as well as those of their families.
George: And how did you end up working in Brazil with a Dutch bank? Weren't you always interested in CSR?
Christel: When I joined ABN AMRO, I spent three weeks in Brazil developing a business plan for a microcredit operation. That was early 2002. I also helped to convince the bank there to become primary shareholders in Shore Cap, a venture capital investor in microcredit in Asia, Africa and Eastern and Central Europe.
George: And back in Holland, what did you do?
Christel: In 2000 I attended the State of the World Forum in New York and saw how the financial sector could contribute to Sustainable Development (SD). I also met Tom Cummings there, and collaborated closely with him in getting SD on the bankÕs agenda and in building it into the leadership development programme of the bank. In early 2003, an informal SD group was set up and focused initially on the risk management aspects.
George: What is your mission there in Brazil and do you feel you are making a difference and having an impact?
Christel: I was invited to visit the Brazilian affiliate of ABM AMRO, Banco Real, and was so inspired by their compelling SD mission that I immediately accepted an offer to join their SD group. The President, Mr. Barboza, was and remains personally deeply committed to SD and is trying to create a "new bank for a new society." He is really values and vision driven. My job is in the Education and SD Department. We are striving to integrate SD into all the structures, products and services, and processes of the Bank. It is on the one hand a consulting role and on the other hand we coordinate the strategies and management of SD and design and deliver training programmes throughout the Bank.
George: For a Canadian from way out west in Saskatchewan, you seem to have become a real globe trotter. Have you found that "the world is but one country and mankind its citizens?"
Christel: There are still a lot of social and environmental challenges, but we are moving in that direction. For the moment, the global social and environmental problems are so gigantic that is difficult to fully grasp them. So we focus on acting locally on local problems and seek to bring about change at that level.
George: Thank you for sending me the recent Sustainability Report of ABN AMRO Banco Real. One can learn a great deal about ethical banking by simply reading about your major accomplishments and studying your performance indicators. For the benefit of our readers, what are the bank's major accomplishments reflected in this report?
Christel: They include our sustainability reporting in accordance with the Global Reporting Initiative guidelines, employee training for complete satisfaction of all clients We are the only bank here in Brazil and perhaps in the world to require all 28,000 employees of our bank to take an e-learning course: Education for Sustainability, socio-environmental financing (we were among the initiators of and adhere to the Equator Principles), a large microcredit programme, the world's most profitable socially responsible investment fund, an eco-efficiency programme (you noticed that our reports and correspondence are all on recycled paper), partnershipping with suppliers in sustainable practices and mutual growth, practicing diversity and promoting minorities, social and cultural investment, and the development of model practices and performance indicators.
George: And what was your role in any of these areas and in preparing the report?
Christel: I collaborated with another person in developing the report. A lot of my contribution was in developing the SD indicators and measurement systems.
George: I notice that your parent bank, ABN AMRO, is one of five banks in Europe on a short list to be selected as the most sustainable bank of the year. What really drives the top management of the Dutch Bank to give such attention to Sustainability and CSR?
Cristel: In fact, ABN AMRO is shortlisted for three awards for global banks: sustainable bank of the year, sustainable bankers of the year, and sustainable deal of the year. Banco Real is also well placed for three similar awards for Brazilian banks.
George: How would you advise other young professionals who really want to make a difference and create a better world as you have to find such opportunities?
Christel: First of all, to pursue what they are really passionate about and believe in. This means putting values first and having a job consistent with those values. Sometimes it is not easy. Also it is important to associate with like minded people, as I did with Pioneers for Change. And never give up.
George: Have you thought about the business case for SD?
Christel: First of all, we are driven by the desire to do the right thing. But we are also convinced that our SD strategies and actions lead to competitive advantages. It helps us attract new clients, it helps us attract and motivate great talent, and it improves our risk management.
George: One final question: how does the Bank define its guiding purpose or its basic vision and mission?
Christel: Our President expresses it this way: "Doing well, doing the right thing, and in the right way."
George: Thank you, Christel. This has been a very inspiring interview for me. I look forward to sharing your insights with all of the members of EBBF.
