- 30.09.2021

They know I give it my all, and my efforts are appreciated

It’s been 10 years since Aziza started her career as an IT specialist at BNP Paribas Fortis. Here she explains why she loves her job and her employer so much.

Together at the finish line

“I started at BNP Paribas Fortis as a junior. Today, I’m an Initiative Lead and in direct contact with the CIO, because it’s a cross-functional project: the whole bank is involved. I’ve worked hard to get where I am today. But what I like is that my efforts have always been appreciated, and that’s what motivates me,” says Aziza.

“Feedback culture is becoming more and more important,” Aziza continues. “Every few months, the chapter lead organises a face-to-face feedback session. You can also ask for feedback yourself. When I was a Scrum Master, I also asked for feedback from my squad at every quarterly meeting. It’s a real mindset: you have to see feedback as an opportunity to improve. For me, giving and receiving feedback has become completely normal.”

“For example, one of my managers once pointed out that I sometimes want to go too fast. And that not everyone can or wants to keep up with that pace. He said, ‘As a team, you have to cross the finish line together’. Since then, I’ve learned to adapt my pace to the teams around me. I’ve already received a few life lessons like that.”

Being yourself and international perspectives

“Work is still an important part of our lives,” Aziza notes. “If I didn’t have the opportunity to be myself, I wouldn’t last. But here, I can be open and direct. I also get a lot of satisfaction from my work, and I’m well paid. These three things make me really appreciate my employer.”

“I have really bonded with some of my colleagues. We learn to understand different perspectives and ideas, especially from our foreign colleagues who apply certain techniques in a completely different way than we were taught in school. It’s very interesting!”

Common goal and career dreams

One thing is certain: Aziza loves her job. She confirms, “I really enjoy coming to work, simply because of the contact with the teams, the coffee breaks, the lunches, and the laughter: I missed that a lot during the lockdown. Our common goal gives our teams and the whole IT department a real boost.”

“Over the past 10 years, the bank has given me countless opportunities. I’ve had the flexibility to change roles several times, and I’ve always been able to count on the support of HR in those moments. They help you find what you want and identify your interests. I’ve also been able to follow many interesting training courses. The atmosphere within IT suits me perfectly. I’m a fan of the international aspect, the different perspectives, the broad IT landscape, the challenges our company is facing or will face, and the many opportunities the bank offers us as employees. My career dream has definitely come true,” Aziza concludes enthusiastically.

Why choose us? Find out here

Source: Amon

This article was written as part of our partnership with Amon for the organisation of the “This is IT” event.