Laurien Meijer | Face of FEB
Want to hear about a year full of experiences, fun and learning? Then meet this month´s face of FEB: Laurien Meijer, Project and Internationalisation Officer of the EBF Board.
Written by Alina Schmidt-Pfitzner from the EBF Academy Committee.
So, could you tell me something about your background? Where are you from and what do you do in your free time?
I grew up in Drenthe and went to high school in Haren which is close to Groningen. I was always very enthusiastic about organizing events, especially during my time in high school, where I was responsible for the organization of our Graduation Ball and the 538 School Awards. In general, I am a really social person who likes to go out and talk to people. I am also part of the student diving association, Ad Fundum, here in Groningen which I really like due to its technical but also social part.
What did or are you studying at the FEB?
I did my Bachelor in International Business where I went to Budapest for my exchange. I really enjoyed this time abroad as I got the chance to follow courses such as Leadership Styles and Team Dynamics which I found extremely interesting. When I came back here, I focused on my thesis and some other courses and in addition to that, I created the matching module for the International Business application procedure. During my fourth year here at the faculty, I focused very much on working as a SPAA mentor, giving Capita Selecta exam trainings and I continued to be part of the International Business Matching Program Team.
How did you get in touch with the EBF?
My very first EBF experience was actually the European Study Research (ESR) to Madrid in my third year. During this trip I learned a lot about doing research and got in touch with a lot of different companies. It was a great way to learn a lot of new people as well. Next to that, I always participated in the Recruitment Days and the EBF Conference which I found very useful for my professional development.
How did you decide to apply for a position in the EBF board?
Well, I didn´t want to start my Master’s yet and I always thought of doing a board year as I felt it would be great for my personal development. Through contacts that I had gained during my ESR trip, I started reaching out to board members to find out what a board year actually looks like. EBF is the biggest study association here in Groningen, so I saw this as a challenge but even more as a great opportunity. After two rounds of interviews and a lot of excitement, I finally got into my position.
So, what are your major tasks as the Project and Internationalization Officer?
My main task is to guide eight committees and to bring forward projects the EBF wants to pursue. I meet up with the chairman of each committee and join their committee meetings regularly to help them and see how they are making progress. A fun addition to this is that I also create the web pages for each committee and promote their events on social media. Examples of projects that I am currently working on are writing a long term sustainability strategy and the establishment of a buddy system that will link current students (buddies) to new incoming students. We hope to find a lot of enthusiastic buddies that will make the start of a new student more fun and a little bit easier! I also organized the EBF Beginning of the Year Party which was a lot of fun! What I really love about this position, is its diversity as you are able to make it your own by following projects in which you believe.
What are three main things that you learned from your EBF board year so far?
Hmm, there is a lot that I learned so it is hard to boil that down. But if I had to choose three things, I would definitely choose my professional and personal development as number one. I work so closely in a team with seven other people, so that made me reflect more on my own behavior as I kind of get a mirror in front of me. I really got to know my own strengths and weaknesses and how to improve them. The skills that I acquired will definitely help me in my future career. Secondly, I get in touch with so many companies which opens a lot of doors as it enables you to build a network with recruiters and other employees but also with other cities´ associations. And lastly, I just enjoy all these great events that the EBF organizes. For me, it is very special to be behind the scenes and to see these events develop.
How would you describe your board?
Our board consists of eight very different personalities but we all kind of build upon the same core characteristics, namely, being responsible, social and enthusiastic. As a board member, one should be ambitious to pursue important goals and have a lot of energy to do so. Especially being a team player is important as you need a good group dynamic. The nice thing about my personal board experience, is that we all somehow complement each other. The opposites that we encounter sometimes, make it interesting and great and can really bring your plans to a whole new level. Also, you get a lot of personal insights into each other´s lives, through for instance parent weekends in which you visit each other’s parents, which makes you bond very much.
What are your future plans?
After 22 years, I will leave Groningen for the first time as I am looking forward to a new challenge. I want to do a Master in Organizational Change and Consulting in Rotterdam and afterwards, I would really like to work as a consultant in change management or in mergers. This board year gives me the precise idea of what I honestly want to do because I feel like I am in a safe environment where I can figure out what I am good at but where I am also allowed to fail. This made me learn a lot about myself and I believe that everyone deserves such an experience.
| Last modified: | 02 July 2019 12.02 p.m. |