Ana Petrovic

Company: Rabobank
Job Description: Associate Director
Age: 29
Years of working experience in M&A: 4

What are the specialties of this talent?
Ana’s ability to balance high performance with genuine care for others makes her stand out as a leader in the making. Since joining Rabobank M&A in 2021, Ana has grown to be a true all-rounded professional having successfully worked on deals spanning a number of sell and buy side advisories, public delistings, mergers and carve outs such as the sale of ED&F Man, the delisting of Accell Group and one of the largest Lineage acquisitions, Grupo Fuentes.  In addition, Ana is an exceptional team player, always contributing a positive energy and a unifying spirit to the work floor. Her professional uniqueness lies in the combination of boundless energy, unwavering dedication to her projects and clients and strong team spirit. She will always be the one to motivate and support the personal and professional growth of her colleagues, regardless of seniority.    

Her consistent delivery, strategic mindset, and ability to navigate complex transactions with confidence have earned her trust from both clients and colleagues alike. To the team, she brings a valuable combination of grit, both technical and interpersonal skill, outstanding talent for process management and strong client-orientation, whilst being a team player at all times. This combination has made her a valued team member and has reflected in her fast rise through the ranks, having become an Associate Director in record time. 

How does the talent distinguish itself from its peers?
Ana’s proactive and inquisitive mindset consistently elevates the quality of the work and inspires those around her. What especially distinguishes Ana from her peers is her unparalleled ‘can-do mentality’ and her infectious optimism and energy in everything she does. Ana never shies away from taking on new projects or new responsibilities, reaching even beyond her formal seniority, while always having time to be there for the team, participating in all initiatives and activities. Ana’s approach is always thorough when faced with new challenges, leaving no stone unturned and no idea unexplored, while looking at problems with a critical lens. She is not afraid to ask challenging questions or probe the status quo – in the team, during  a process, in approach to clients. This mentality makes Ana’s work stand out and often sparks the broader team to think beyond the box and come up with creative and compelling solutions.   

For Ana, there is never a problem too big or situation too tough – to start with, she never thinks in problems but always jumps straight to the solution, to keep moving forward. She knows there is always a solution or way to make things better or more efficient, for her and the people around her. Having such a team member helps lift everyone’s spirits and bring fresh energy to any working group, making everyone very happy and excited for Ana to be part of their project and deal teams. Her presence consistently boosts team morale and fosters a collaborative, forward-thinking environment.  

Finally, Ana has ‘built in’ talent for process management, ensuring everyone is always aligned and up to date, making sure all stakeholders are perfectly managed; this has especially been reflected in her work on the sale of ED&F Man, one of the most complex transactions spanning numerous geographies with various stakeholders and intricate dependencies, where smooth process management was paramount for the deal success. Ana’s ability to orchestrate clarity and structure in high-pressure situations is a key differentiator in her professional toolkit. 

What impact does the talent have within the organization?
Over the years, Ana has not only delivered outstanding work on her projects, but has actively shaped the culture and the image of the team through several dedicated workstreams. As of her first year with the team Ana has actively been a part ,and later a driving force behind Rabobank’s intern recruitment efforts, promoting and fortifying our inclusive, diverse and dynamic culture. Together with her colleagues, Ana has helped shape a structured path for interns joining the team, including their selection, interview process , pipeline management, training, mentorship, review cycle and intern-journey management. She has also participated in and supported hosting numerous recruitment events, in which over 800 students have participated over the last four years.  Her efforts have significantly strengthened the team’s visibility and appeal among young talent.  

Ana is also active in supporting and promoting female talent and participation within the team and the bank, having mentored some of her more junior colleagues and serving as a true role-model in this regard. Ana also played a pivotal role in the organisation of Rabobank’s first own Female Recruitment Event for Corporate Finance. Her leadership in these initiatives reflects her commitment to fostering a more inclusive and representative workplace.   

She is very aware that a demanding job requires a good team spirit and a healthy balanced lifestyle. Hence, Ana organises among others a yearly participation to a Strong Viking event with the team, occasional social get togethers and joined activities outside of work.   

Finally, Ana is for over three years one of instrumental members of Rabobank M&A team’s publicity efforts, helping in streamlining deal activity and other team marketing efforts to boost the external brand reputation of Rabobank’s corporate finance franchise. 

What impact does the talent have outside the organization?
Even beyond the organisation, Ana is deeply and actively involved in empowering and inspiring female talent within the industry. She is an active member of the Female x Finance community, having participated in numerous panels and given guest lectures on topics of M&A process and breaking into the world of finance, providing invaluable insights and mentorship to young women whose ambition is to enter the world of investment banking. Her visibility and voice in these forums have made her a recognized advocate for gender diversity in finance.   

In addition, she was the one to initiate Rabobank’s Wholesale Ladies Client Event, which has since grown into an annual tradition. The goal of the event is to create a forum that encourages likeminded women from across the financial industry to meet and connect. The event now hosts close to 100 women from the Dutch financial sector and remains unique to date, both in terms of the grounding ideas and goals, as well as scale and diversity. Ana’s initiative has helped foster a stronger, more connected community of female professionals across the industry.   

Beyond this, Ana is actively involved in supporting and mentoring students of her alma mater, Vlerick Business School, participating in a number of career orientation events and lectures, helping host in-house days and growing the reputation of the school within the bank and broader. Her continued engagement with academia bridges the gap between education and industry, inspiring the next generation of finance professionals. 

To what extent does the talent make a difference when working with clients?
Ana has a truly unique ability to make instant connections with clients across all seniority levels and communication styles. It is with ease that she makes clients feel comfortable and open to communicate, while consistently reinforcing the perception of team’s preparedness, quality and dedication. In her projects, she always very quickly becomes a key point of contact that everyone is free and assured to always reach out to. Her presence builds trust and fosters open, productive dialogue from the outset.   

In addition, Ana always puts forward her best effort to help clients find optimal solutions – both in terms of creativity, but also efficiency and pragmatism. She aims to always think alongside the client together with the team, and engage in collaborative problem solving. Her approach ensures clients feel heard, supported, and confident in the team’s ability to deliver. With her international and differentiating background, Ana also brings cultural sensitivity and alternative perspective to client relationships, enabling her to navigate complex dynamics and build rapport across diverse settings. 

Why does the talent deserves this nomination?
Over the last four years with Rabobank, Ana has proven to be a true role model for young M&A professionals – both within the team and beyond – always promoting an inclusive, ambitious mindset grounded in originality. She continues to prove that you can do M&A ‘your way’, making it a fun and fulfilling career for different profiles, where one can thrive as their unique self. She has grown to be a cornerstone of Rabobank’s team culture and her motivation and growth continue to inspire the ones around her. Her influence spans recruitment, mentorship, and team spirit, making her a driving force behind the team’s evolving identity.   

She is always committed to doing more and better and pushing the limits – a trait that distinguishes the most successful advisors in the field. Within Rabobank, Ana is considered a trustworthy colleague, mentor and a friend: someone juniors look up to and seniors rely on. Her ability to connect with clients, manage complex processes, and lead with empathy and energy sets her apart.   

Beyond the organisation, Ana has made a lasting impact on the industry. From initiating Rabobank’s Wholesale Ladies Client Event to mentoring young women through Female x Finance and her alma mater, Ana has consistently championed diversity and inclusion in finance. She is not only shaping the future of M&A within Rabobank, but also inspiring the next generation of talent across the sector.   

For all these reasons – and her consistent excellence, leadership, and authenticity – we believe Ana deserves to be recognised as the Best Young M&A talent in 2025.