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Saskia Elderson
I am pleased to tell you a little about my background and my motivations for doing the work I do. After a year as an exchange student in a host family in the United States, I studied Dutch law at the University of Amsterdam, as well as one year of English law in Manchester, UK. During my graduation year (1993) I held internships at the Counsel for the Prosecution and at a law firm, and since the legal profession appealed to me a great deal, I opted with full conviction for the latter. I completed my lawyer internship at a small firm where I thoroughly learned all facets of the profession (litigation, plea bargaining, pleading, preparing case files). Subsequently, I joined Clifford Chance in Amsterdam in 1996, where I worked for almost seven years in the field of banking & finance, which frequently involved large and complex international transactions.
After having worked as a lawyer for ten years, I decided to join a bank. The switch from working as a lawyer for a large number of banks to working for one single bank (Rabobank) as a bank lawyer was a major step with regard to the working environment: from 2003 until 2010 I worked for Rabobank as senior legal counsel, an executive role in which I worked closely together with various different departments of the bank. In 2008, I was temporarily based in Singapore for the bank as head of the legal department. I also attended executive training at London Business School in 2006 and 2009.
During my career, I personally experienced – but also observed in my working environment – how important it is to hold a position that is well suited to you. A position that makes use of your talents and capabilities, and that gives you the feeling that you will have the opportunity to develop on a professional, personal and, if desired, hierarchical level. Because only if people have truly found their “niche”, they can perform to their fullest potential, can be creative and innovative, and will take pleasure in their work. Ultimately, the employer will also benefit from this.
Yet for a variety of reasons, people end up in a business culture or in a position that does not meet the aforementioned criteria. And, conversely, companies often have insufficient insight into the wishes and ambitions of their employees or do not know how to fulfil them.
It is my aim to ensure the best possible match between a position and the candidate who will fill the position in question. This requires a good understanding of the interests and wishes of both the client and the candidate, for whom – given my background and experience – I believe I can be a good discussion partner.
It is therefore with a strong conviction that I joined Staatsen Executive Search, a firm that shares this vision, and where I will be focusing on legal positions in law firms, the corporate community and banking.
I am looking forward to working with you!
With kind regards,
Saskia Elderson