06 September, 2023
Axelle Van Hende
I’m Axelle and I’m a business solutions expert at KBC. As it goes for most people I’ve met in banking, I never thought I’d end up in finance. However, it’s not much of a surprise I’m partaking in the remarkable but necessary initiative MCBN is.
As a youngster I already labelled myself a global citizen, growing up in a diverse society and eagerly learning all about people regardless of origins. The most intriguing part to me is, that the more you talk to different individuals – the more you notice what unites us all. With that, I’ve witnessed how different cultures also come with different struggles. It made me grow gratitude for the possibilities and opportunities I had never before questioned, and it made me determined to advocate for the equality and diversion I had always perceived as a standard.
In all honesty, I was hesitant about how to compose this portrait since I have no extraordinary biographic story to tell when it comes to this subject. That was until I was reminded how significant it is to be an ally in a movement as such. When realizing that cultural backgrounds in a professional setting to this day still create undeserved advantages for some, and with that, disproportionate disadvantages for others – one cannot simply stand by and look the other way.
To make a difference, I strongly believe in recognizing and even emphasizing said difference. To find comfort in sharing cultures and exchanging experiences. To embrace its benefits and amplify the assets it brings. To raise awareness in both work and private environments. To create a community where everyone matters and nobody doubts it.
