Curiosity lights the path, mentorship shapes the journey 🚀

Lehna truly embodies the spirit of the ING International Talent Programme (ITP). With French-Algerian roots and newly acquired Belgian citizenship, her background adds a unique multicultural perspective to her journey.

Her decision to join the ITP was fueled by an insatiable desire to dive deep into the wholesale banking department. “I recognized ITP as the perfect opportunity to gain a comprehensive understanding of the wholesale department,” she explains. The programme offers a well-structured path enriched with mentorship, learning opportunities, and a sense of community. “For me, the chance to learn alongside like-minded individuals and grow together was a driving factor in my career choice.”

Navigating complexity and thriving

In her role in the Debt Capital Markets (DCM) covering French clients, Lehna helps her team on the complex task of analysing companies to determine how much they can raise on the bond market, at what price, and in what currency. But it doesn’t stop there; she’s also deeply involved in the pitching material and pricing bonds process, keeping clients informed about the interest rate market and global macroeconomic trends. It's a fast-paced, high-stakes environment.

“My role pushes me to communicate clearly and stay transparent with my team,”

she shares. “That challenge has been one of my biggest learning experiences,

and one of the greatest rewards as well.”

Since joining the ITP, Lehna has fully embraced a growth mindset and learned how to showcase her strengths. She has become skilled at juggling tasks and building connections across different departments, which has led to some great collaborations.

“My time in DCM, along with my previous rotation in the coverage Energy Sector team, has deepened my banking knowledge and sharpened my focus on future career goals. ITP has truly shown me a clear direction to grow in the industry.”

“To my surprise, I was the only woman in my current track.” Lehna shared, “According to HR, it’s difficult to find women to join wholesale banking. There is so much room here to explore and grow, and I would love to inspire more women to step into this role and break new ground.”

Passion for a better planet

Lehna’s journey goes beyond Wholesale Banking. She’s always exploring new ways to learn, and make a real difference.

“Just two weeks after joining the ITP, I volunteered to facilitate a session to managers - a workshop called ‘Climate Fresk’ focusing on the causes and effects of global warming,” she shares.

“I was quite overwhelmed in the beginning. The workshop’s scientific complexity and the challenge of engaging an audience for a long session of 3 hours! But despite the initial stress the event was a success and it initiated new dialogues on these important topics.”

For me, mentorship is the heart of this programme

“One of the most valuable aspects of the ITP is the mentorship.” This programme provides Lehna with access to mentors both inside and outside the bank, which has been crucial for her career development. These relationships have helped her develop both hard and soft skills, preparing her for the next steps in her career.

“The mentorship from associates, VPs,

and managers had a powerful impact on my growth.”

A message for the future ITP community

Lehna has a message for future ITP candidates. “Don’t wait around for projects or tasks to land on your desk, just grab those opportunities yourself because it’s the best way to learn. And remember, networking is key. It’s not just about meeting people in your department; make connections across the globe with other ITPs. That’s one thing I wish I had done more during my time in ITP.”