“A smile does not cost a thing; it can help you connect with others!”

You graduated from Leisure & Events Management in 2017. Do you remember how you ended up at NHTV/BUas back then?
My sisters studied in Utrecht and my parents had also studied there. And that’s where they met. That made me want to go to Utrecht too, and once I got there, I’d decide what to study. I chose Kunst en Economie (Art and Economics) at HKU, but it was quite a big transition from secondary school. I was sitting in lecture halls with four hundred students and had to learn an 800-page book without any real instruction. I missed the supervision and dropped out halfway through the year. I visited an open day at Leisure & Events Management and met an enthusiastic student with a similar background to mine. She’d also moved to Breda from Utrecht. I started at Archimedesstraat, and that was a perfect fit. There was a pleasant and enjoyable atmosphere, and I had many positive experiences there.

Did you also rent a room in Breda? 
No, I rented a room in Tilburg with some friends. That's what I see now. I like to keep my work or studies and my private life somewhat separate. I live a bit further away from my work, so I appreciate that I don't encounter many colleagues or clients in my hometown.

What do you remember from your student days?
I don’t know whether it still exists, but we had to play a real-life game. Your project group was given a digital environment where you could earn money with a company. I liked the fact that we did not have standard lessons. And I still think about a nice teacher, Nathalie Quint. I found her very inspiring, stylish and friendly. An example of how you can shape your life in later years and form warm connections. 

If you didn't have any resits, you could enjoy an extra week of holiday. This motivated me to pay close attention during the lectures and classes, which worked out quite well!

Do you still keep in touch with former fellow students?
During the intro, I got to know Julia Robeerst. We discovered that our then boyfriends knew each other well, and we immediately hit it off. In the end, we even lived in the same student house. Now we see each other less often, but we call each other regularly and the moments when we do meet are very precious.

What do you currently do for a living? 
I’m part of the Hospitality and Relationship Management team and work as an Account Manager at PSV. PSV Business now has more than 650 business relationships, for which I am partly responsible in the form of relationship management and, above all, maintaining business relationships. The business contacts I work with have, for example, two Business Seats in one of our hospitality concepts. Some come mainly to network, others come for the football, and some come for a combination of both.

How did you end up at PSV?
I was looking for a graduation internship. My cousin and I went to a PSV match and we started talking about my graduation, but I wasn’t really sure what I wanted to do. He said “Why not here at PSV?” A day later, I thought, why not? I sent an open application. Not long after, I got a call from the HR department; they were looking for a placement student for the PSV FANclub. After that, things fell into place. I did a work placement involving research and was then able to replace my supervisor during her maternity leave. After her leave, there was no longer a place for me, so I went to work for an events agency for five years.

I was still in touch with a former colleague from PSV. He told me about a temporary position at PSV, so I applied and was invited for a job interview. During the interview, they said, “Great that you were able to start yesterday!” I started working as a Business Support employee, but I didn't find it challenging enough. Anticipating the temporary position and its end, I was already searching for other jobs until the position of Account Manager became available during the Christmas holidays. I have now been in this fantastic role for almost two years.

Is this role more challenging?
I found it quite exciting at the beginning. I was given a number of accounts and had to schedule introductory meetings. I’m sociable and find it easy to strike up a conversation; I feel comfortable doing that. I’m learning the sales side of things as I go along. In a short space of time, I’ve learned to structure the conversations I have. Cold-calling is not for me, but I enjoy talking to people and managing everything, acting on instinct. Some customers want a lot of contact, while others don't. 

What does cooperation with clients look like? 
Some of them have been part of PSV Business for over fifteen years, while others have just joined. It is now rightly considered the largest business network in the south of the Netherlands. Sometimes our activities are more fun-directed, and sometimes more informative. We try to align ourselves with our customers’ wishes. My main goal is to create value for customers. We also mediate between companies, so they can collaborate more effectively. We also use our network within PSV itself; for example, if a renovation is coming up, we’ll search our network for a construction company or contractor.

How do you try to build lasting relationships with your customers?
Showing genuine interest goes a long way. I’m naturally very curious and sociable. I take time for people, trying to make them feel seen and heard. I do my best to take the time and listen to what someone needs.

Is there anything difficult about your job?
I sometimes find it difficult that I don't always have an answer to every question. Clients try to negotiate, for example, and at first I didn't know how far I could go. This sometimes made contact more difficult, because I want to work in a service-oriented way. On the other hand, you also represent the commercial interests of the club and the PSV company. But I've since realised that it's better to research something thoroughly first than to promise something you can't deliver. I just think: you’ll experience situations your whole life where you cannot answer questions. I’ll  come back to it later, and I really do. I am very much a person of my word, and that helps to prevent any irritation. Communication is very important.

What is your tip for others?
A smile doesn’t cost a thing, and it can help you connect with others. You don't always have to agree, but listen to each other's stories, so you can move forward together. Connection is often found in the little things, and football is a great example of this!