Written by Consultancy.co.uk
Since two months, Donya Heerschop has been part of The Next Organisation (TNXTO) team. As a working student, she is taking her first steps into the world of strategic consultancy.
With her role at TNXTO, Donya combines her master's degree in Strategy, Competition and Regulation at Utrecht University with practical work. This combination was a very conscious choice. She spread her master's degree over two years to grow both academically and professionally.
"I find it important to gain relevant work experience already during my studies," Donya explains. "This way, I can directly apply the theory from my studies while taking practical insights into my study subjects."
Moreover, this will give her a good idea of the day-to-day work and challenges of a strategic consultant and allow her to determine whether this field is for her.
Dynamic environment
What attracts Donya to strategic consulting are the content, dynamics and variety of the work. This fits well with her academic interest in business strategies and competitive analysis. "Every project is different, which makes for a constant challenge, while at the same time you also learn an awful lot in a short time."
Besides the content of the work, Donya also appreciates the working environment of the small-scale consulting firm. She chose this boutique environment because of its approachability and flat organisation. "At TNXTO, you end up in a small, close-knit team, which ensures good cooperation and many learning opportunities. I am involved in projects from day one and am strongly motivated to think actively."
Also contributing internally
Donya is involved in TNXTO's day-to-day operations and project activities four days a week as a working student. "As every project is different, I also have many different tasks depending on the project I am working on," she says. "For instance, I deal with data collection and analysis, but I also go along to work sessions at the customer's premises."
Besides project work, Donya is also actively involved in the company's internal knowledge sharing. Together with the other working students, she takes responsibility for TNXTO's online magazine, which features upcoming trends and developments.
"This gives me the opportunity to contribute creatively to internal and external knowledge sharing. This variety of tasks gives me the opportunity to develop a wide range of skills and deepen my professional experience."
Work and pleasure
What Donya particularly appreciates at TNXTO is the collegiality. "In the beginning, it was challenging to get used to the dynamics of the projects, but with the help of my colleagues, the projects were managed well," she explains.
On her first working day, for instance, she was assigned a coach. "This is a colleague with whom I have weekly contact to discuss my week and any challenges."
Moreover, there is also time for relaxation alongside work. "There is an informal atmosphere in the office, where the combination of professionalism and fun in the workplace makes for a nice working environment."
Many activities are also organised outside working hours. "We have a vitality activity every month and the other day we all went sailing in Amsterdam. This creates a good bond between colleagues and is also very sociable! Soon we are going away together for a weekend, which I am already looking forward to."
So Donya can look back on a fine start at TNXTO, where she will be immersed in the world of strategy consulting as a working student in the coming months. "I am looking forward to the upcoming projects and what else I can learn!"