From First Steps in Riga to Leading Digital Banking in Estonia – Rita Šavrina's 10-Year Career Journey
When it comes to growing within a company, Rita is a shining example of how curiosity, perseverance, and a love for challenges can lead to remarkable success. She began her path in our Latvian branch, quickly standing out for her energy and drive to make things better.
Over the years, she embraced new roles, stepped outside her comfort zone and continuously expanded her skillset-each chapter shaping her into the leader she is today. Now based in Estonia and leading the Internet Bank Unit, she reflects on the steps- and leaps-that brought her here. In this interview, Rita shares stories from her 10-year career, lessons learned along the way, and how staying active, open, and passionate has fueled both her professional and personal growth.
Let’s start from the beginning- what first attracted you to join the Bigbank almost 10 years ago?
Wonderful question, thank you! This takes me back. At that time, I was a student, combining my studies with work at the university. But I wanted to move forward and find a more serious and stable job in a bigger company. Banks had always been interesting to me-they seemed like serious organizations with complex work. But I’ve never been afraid of complexity. On the contrary, I’m excited by challenges and problem-solving.
I have the sweetest memories of my interview. Back then, our Head of Office unit Evija interviewed me, and I was stunned! I immediately felt that this was the place I would love to work, but I was afraid I wouldn’t be chosen because my Latvian language skills weren’t very strong at the time. Still, I focused on showing my strengths-and it worked out. I’m still very grateful to Evija for accepting me as the new Office Specialist. Thanks to her, I’m here now-10 years later.
You’ve had quite a journey, from office specialist in Latvia to head of internet bank unit in group – what have been the biggest turning points in your career?
Oh yes, over 10 years I’ve held several positions-this is actually my fifth one! I believe I’ve made it this far because I’m not afraid of challenges. I try to step out of my comfort zone, I enjoy learning new things and I always aim to do more than expected. That’s how I believe you can show yourself to be capable and competent.
If you’re thinking about applying for a new role and you’re not sure you can do it-but really want to-don’t be afraid. Take the chance. You can learn anything! Yes, I’ve also faced rejection when applying for some positions, but those moments only made me stronger. Whenever I knew I wanted to apply for a certain position, I immediately started gaining as much knowledge as possible to prepare well for the interview-and to feel more confident once I started in the role. Preparation is the key!
What skills or mindsets helped you most in transitioning between such different roles – from Quality Specialist to product management and now leadership?
As I mentioned earlier-don’t be afraid to try something new. Keep learning, improve yourself, and go a bit further than expected to show your potential.
I’ve had great examples of leadership from my managers, and I learned a lot from them. And of course, the leadership training provided by Bigbank really helped me develop the skills I needed to grow into a leadership position.
When you look back at your time as a Quality and Constant Improvement Specialist, what lessons still stay with you today?
Listen to customers more! What we think is right may not actually be right for our customers. We live and breathe banking and already have our own perceptions, but our customers have different expertise, expectations, and feelings about our services—and those can be quite different from ours. We exist to serve our customers. If they’re not satisfied, the business will suffer. So it’s important to always listen and stay aligned with their needs.
What was it like to move from working in Latvia to building your career further in Estonia? What surprised you the most?
Estonians walking around the office in socks or flippers! (Not everyone, of course-but still!) Meanwhile, Latvians would never do that. But on a more serious note-moving to a Group-level role unlocked a whole new level of knowledge. It’s like advancing to a new level in your favorite game! Now I don’t think only about Latvia, but about all the countries we operate in. It’s challenging-but also very exciting.
Describe your career in three words?
Did working in two different countries give you a new perspective on collaboration or company culture?
It definitely did. Latvians tend to be louder and more emotionally expressive-we speak with passion. Estonians are calmer, more composed, and often keep emotions in check. I love both styles, because every culture has something to teach. I admit I’m still quite emotional-sometimes even like a hurricane-and probably one of the loudest in the room. But I really admire the calmness of my Estonian colleagues. It’s something I try to learn from. Emotions are important, but they can sometimes get in the way, lead to misunderstandings, or even poor decisions.
You’re known as a very active and energetic person – how do you stay motivated and balanced?
I’m Latvian-what can I say?!
But seriously, the main reason I stay motivated is because I love what I do. I love seeing how Bigbank continues to evolve. I’ve witnessed so many changes in the company and I’m excited to see what comes next! And of course-I have the most wonderful colleagues. That’s what keeps me going every day.
If you could give one piece of advice to your younger self starting out in this company, what would it be?
Don’t doubt yourself. And even if you do-don’t stop trying to achieve your goals. You will get what you wish for. You are strong and more than capable! Don’t be afraid to ask for help if you’re struggling. Asking for help is not a sign of weakness-on the contrary, it shows strength. It means you can admit when something is challenging, seek support, gain new knowledge, and move forward as a better version of yourself.