From trainee to HR Business Partner Lead, Maj-Britt is shaping people, decisions, and her own story at Riverty.
Maj-Britt started her career at Riverty right after university. What began as a search for a trainee role quickly turned into a journey of responsibility, trust, and impact. Today, as HR Business Partner Lead for the entire COO area , she works hand in hand with leaders to shape the organization, support people through change, and help Riverty stay competitive in a dynamic environment.
Her story is about taking ownership early, growing through challenges, and using HR as a bridge between business needs and human-centric decisions.
Hi, I’m Maj-Britt
I joined Riverty in 2021, right after finishing my studies. I was looking for management associate or trainee positions when I first learned about a Management Associate role in our Operations. During the recruitment process and due to the focus on my background and skills it became clear that I would be an even better fit for the HR Business Partner team, so a few weeks later I started as a trainee in People & Culture.
Today, I am HR Business Partner Lead for the COO area, based in Baden-Baden. Over the last five years, I’ve grown from a trainee into a strategic sparring partner for our leaders, and I’m grateful that Riverty has been a place where my potential was seen and actively developed.
Stepping In, Not Just Tagging Along
From day one in the trainee program, I wasn’t just observing — I was involved in real HR Business Partner topics. I worked closely on the issues that landed on my manager’s desk, which gave me a steep learning curve and a strong understanding of our organization.
The program was much more than a classic graduate scheme. It allowed me to:
- Take responsibility for meaningful topics early on
- Get to know different areas and perspectives
- Build a strong network across People & Culture and the wider business
Looking back, it was a foundation for where I am today. I learned that personal development happens when you ask for new challenges, step out of your comfort zone, and are willing to make decisions instead of waiting for others to make them for you.
At the same time, Riverty invested a lot in my growth during the traineeship. This included networking events, mentoring from my manager, regular check-ins with the program managers, assessments for my personal development and much more.
Growing Into a Partner for Change
In my current role, what drives me most is working as a true sparring partner for leaders. I don’t just accompany decisions — I help shape them.
I support topics that directly influence our organization and business, such as:
- Implementing a salary model for our operations employees in Germany
- Working on site and organizational decisions
- Planning succession and talent development
- Implementing organizational changes and people-related decisions
For me, ownership means pushing topics forward, bringing different perspectives together, and also addressing uncomfortable issues. My goal is always to find solutions that support both business success and the needs of our employees.
Balancing Business, Labour Law, and People
One of the most important lessons I’ve learned is that HR is not only about the positive sides of working life. Being in an HR Business Partner role also means:
- Taking part in difficult decisions and implementing them
- Communicating those decisions openly and transparently
- Supporting people and leaders through challenging changes
Sometimes this includes restructuring or even closing areas due to strategic or client decisions. In these moments, my role is to keep a balance between three perspectives: legally sound solutions, entrepreneurial thinking, and human-centric actions.
This combination of operational and strategic work, responsibility for people topics, and strong business focus is what makes my role so exciting.
Riverty as a Place for People Who Want to Shape Their Story
I would especially recommend Riverty and the SHAPE program to people who want to grow fast and take ownership. In just a few years, I was trusted with strategic topics, worked closely with experienced leaders, and helped shape important decisions.
From my experience, people who thrive at Riverty:
- Are curious and show initiative
- Are ready to take responsibility and leave their comfort zone
- See change as an opportunity and enjoy working with different people
- Think entrepreneurially and keep learning instead of waiting for doors to open
Riverty has been an environment that recognizes potential, supports and challenges you, and gives you the chance to actively design your own career path while contributing to the future of financial services.
Frequently Asked Questions
SHAPE is our trainee program for people who want flexibility within a clear, agreed framework. From day one, you join Riverty on a permanent contract and choose a focus area together with our CXO organisation and senior leaders. You work on business projects from the start, supported by a buddy for day-to-day questions, a mentor to help you think ahead and regular feedback.
“Shape” also means freedom and trust: you’re encouraged to bring in your ideas, challenge assumptions, improve workflows and influence how we work. During the program we plan your follow-up role together, based on what Riverty needs and how you want to grow.
You will join a global team in one of our locations in Europe, connected to more than 4,000 colleagues at around 30 sites in 12 European countries and backed by the Bertelsmann group. That gives you both stability and a modern fintech environment where people from different backgrounds shape Riverty. Whatever your gender, background or life story, you’ll find people here who care and are curious to learn from you.
Maj-Britt joined Riverty in 2021 as a trainee in People & Culture. By actively asking for new challenges, taking ownership of key HR topics and serving as a sparring partner to leaders, she grew into the role of HR Business Partner Lead for the COO area within a few years.
An HR Business Partner Lead at Riverty works closely with leaders to shape organizational decisions and people topics. This includes designing salary models, supporting site and organizational changes, planning succession and talent development, and balancing business, labour law and employee needs.
People who thrive at Riverty are curious, proactive and ready to take responsibility. They enjoy stepping out of their comfort zone, see change as an opportunity, like working with different stakeholders and think entrepreneurially about both business and people topics.
Yes. Riverty offers trainee and early-career opportunities in People & Culture, including roles similar to the path Maj-Britt followed. These programs give graduates hands-on experience in HR Business Partner work and the chance to contribute to strategic decisions.
HR Business Partner roles are based in several locations, including Baden-Baden in Germany, where Maj-Britt works. Depending on the role, there may be opportunities across different sites and business areas within Riverty’s international organization.
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