Written by Consultancy.co.uk
The Next Organisation has added a new force. Although, new? Judith Nuijt has been on board since December. She did her graduation research at the Bussum-based consultancy. Now that the research has been completed, however, she has signed a contract, so she can immediately move on as a junior consultant. We asked Judith some questions about her research and her choice of The Next Organisation.
Congratulations on your graduation. For your thesis, you investigated how healthcare organisations are working on inclusivity. What are your main findings?
"I looked at four subsectors within healthcare in the Netherlands: the pharmaceutical industry, hospitals, medical laboratories and paramedical practices. The majority of respondents indicated that inclusiveness is an objective within their organisation."
"However, there were still very few respondents who indicated that the organisation can already be seen as inclusive at the moment, or is making the transition to an inclusive organisation with an inclusive business model."
"In addition, the majority experienced barriers in that transition. The main one was the lack of an idea how to make this transition. There is no clear roadmap and respondents are not very sure what the next steps are. However, they could mention some success factors, in particular having a clear goal/vision and standing behind this with all employees."
"In short, it seems at least that while the intention for the change to a fully inclusive organisation is there, the lack of know-how limits the actual transition for the time being."
After masters in Veterinary Medicine and Business Development and Entrepreneurship, you now choose consultancy. What attracts you to the sector?
"I really enjoy working on a complex question. Figuring this out completely, drawing up a plan of action and implementing it. This is of course very much reflected in veterinary medicine but I also find it in consultancy."
"I wanted to throw myself into the deep end after my master's and dive into a completely new sector, and in that, working in a team was also important. That eventually became consultancy!"
What was the deciding factor in your choice of a boutique like The Next Organisation?
"The atmosphere in particular really appeals to me. The Next Organisation has a very close-knit team in which people work together with a lot of fun."
"I also really enjoy working on sustainability issues. Finding the synergy between sustainability and a positive business case. We are working on that a lot at The Next, which really appeals to me."
"And finally the diversity of assignments and the focus on your personal development. Because of this, there are many opportunities and possibilities, I learn a lot and can develop myself well within this sector."
What kind of guidance will you get as a starter within The Next Organisation?
"You get the chance to work with many different projects, where you are given different roles and tasks. As a result, you see and learn a lot. You also receive training and refresher courses several times a year, including in interview techniques."
"In addition, you are paired with an older colleague, your coach. With this, you have a weekly start each week in which you go through what you are going to do that week, or what you might run into."
"With your coach, you also set your six-monthly and annual goals, giving you a clear idea of what you are going to work hard on that year. At the same time, you then also get the opportunities to develop further in that area."
"I really like the guidance so far. Consulting is a new sector for me but I am being guided through this world in a very pleasant way!"
Finally, you've been around at The Next Organization for about eight months now. What have you noticed most about the culture within the agency?
"It is a very flat organisation - open and transparent. Everyone is approachable and ready to help. There is hard work but also plenty of room to catch up with each other and have fun. I really like this balance."
