ING is a global financial institution with a strong European base, offering retail and wholesale banking services to customers in over 40 countries. Impact worked with ING as part of their International Talent Programme, a four-year learning journey designed to support talented graduates to become ING's future banking leaders.
ING recruit approximately 160 highly intelligent and adept graduates in 14 different countries every year. The International Talent Programme included international rotations, mandatory and flexible certifications and an annual global learning event: two intense weeks of learning, collaborating and connecting on core banking skills, professional development and personal skills.
Impact delivered training on the personal skills curriculum in line with the ING Orange Code. Impact provided a mix of webinars, online pre-work and face-to-face experiential development.
Impact worked with International Talent Programme trainees to develop their personal skills to complement their academic experience and professional training. Developing these skills helped the trainees access their untapped potential, and to use their intellectual and practical capabilities effectively.
The personal skills curriculum delivered by Impact shifted over four years to put the emphasis on trainees to be able to take ownership of their own learning. Year one focused on personal skills, year two on teams, year three on performance, and year four on leadership. Impact worked to:
Year 1 - Inspire - Amsterdam, Netherlands
Inspire built self-awareness, dialogue and influencing skills, innovation and creativity, listening and communication skills. It introduced ’leadership as action’, cross-gen and intercultural working and MBTI profiles. Here trainees were able to ‘learn to learn’ through inspiring projects and high-energy, high-impact challenges.
Year 2 - Connect - Brussels, Belgium
Supporting international placements, Connect used business simulations to develop teamwork, networking and collaboration skills; helping trainees learn how to work in a team, what makes a great team, how to encourage higher team performance and how to navigate change.
Year 3 - Perform - Frankfurt, Germany
Perform brought trainees' abilities to the next level by focusing on how behaviour affects others and how to manage stakeholders effectively. A scenario based on the UN Sustainable Development Goals featuring invited ING stakeholders' enabled practice in influencing across boundaries.
Year 4 - Lead - Lake District, UK
Lead focused on taking charge and inspiring others, with a unique format designed to deepen self-awareness, teamwork and leadership potential. The programme was incredibly varied, featuring well-being, resilience and challenging content from outdoor adventure to digital detox. Lead consolidated all four years to define trainees’ leadership purpose and develop a balanced life, to reflect on their journey and look to the challenges ahead.
The International Talent Programme helped position ING as a preferred employer, attracting top graduates with the right behaviours and high growth potential. Through the International Talent Programme trainees:
Data from post-programme showed:
95% of graduated International Talent Programme trainees stayed at ING for more than five years
50 International Talent Programme graduates are now in senior management (or on the path to it).
82% increased self-awareness of motivations, strengths and development areas - from Inspire
86% had better understanding of the personal impact on other team members - from Connect
77% increased in their ability to demonstrate skills to motivate and empower others - from Perform
98% reported they felt empowered to own their career - from Lead
