It began with a dream

Roxeanne Hazes’s song ‘Omdat je me ziet’ (‘Because you see me’) is a tribute to Sherida’s conviction. It inspires a new generation of girls determined to pursue their own ambitions. Those girls deserve that inspiration too: even with more women in elite sports than ever before, they still lack visibility. But role models are exactly what we need to awaken a passion in emerging talents, whether in sports, art or business. To achieve great heights, the next generation of women need shoulders to stand on – shoulders like Roxeanne Hazes’s and Sherida Spitse’s.

A special partnership

The song and video clip are the result of a partnership with ABN AMRO. The bank has a long tradition of supporting women in sports, art and business. ABN AMRO wants to eliminate the barriers and create visibility for role models.

The song is a modern version of a traditional Dutch ‘song of life’, written and performed by Roxeanne Hazes. Roxeanne drew her inspiration from Sherida Spitse’s life story – how she’s always gone her own way and fought for her ideals. This makes Sherida a symbol for all those women who keep going, smash barriers, overcome obstacles and clear the road before them. Because they owe it to themselves and to everyone who looks up to them.

The future belongs to the youth

ABN AMRO supports women’s football through its sponsorship of Ajax. The senior team is already playing in Amsterdam’s ArenA stadium, matches are broadcast on television and women’s football has a collective labour agreement. Thanks to the Ajax Talent Academy a whole new generation of girls are waiting eagerly for their opportunity to shoot Dutch women’s football to new heights.

A level playing field outside the field of play

Women make up two-thirds of all hockey players. Even so, off the pitch women still have a long way to go to achieve equality in budgeting, pay and management roles. ABN AMRO is working hard to encourage clubs to support talented women. Not only on the field of play, but also in their own budgets, expenditure and boardrooms.

From the street to STRAAT

Art is another area where ABN AMRO plays an important role in helping talented women find a larger audience. Street art has always been a way of challenging the establishment. As the saying goes, though, ‘You can’t be what you can’t see.’ That’s why it is so important to offer female artists a platform, for themselves and for the emerging talent of the next generation. The unique partnership between ABN AMRO and STRAAT gives women an even louder voice in the cultural sector.

Code-V

An estimated 139 billion euros: that’s how much the Dutch economy could grow if women had equal opportunities in business. Unfortunately they still encounter many obstacles. Code-V is an alliance, set up at ABN AMRO’s initiative, of 64 leading organisations committed to eliminating barriers and creating opportunities for talented women in business.