Interview Bob Dullaert – Integrand Amsterdam

December 18, 2020 by Zora Westerhout, Integrand Amsterdam

Bob Dullaert has been on the board of Integrand Amsterdam since September. In addition, he studies Economics and Business Economics and is following a minor in Entrepreneurship. Last year he held the position of Events Coordinator and was also part of the Talent Pool Committee. In the coming semester, he will become Chairman of Integrand Amsterdam.

How did you like the position of Events Coordinator last year?

First of all, very much. I found it a very interesting challenge, especially with the current circumstances surrounding the coronavirus. In particular, with all the measures, you had to take into account many restrictions at Integrand. Especially with the role of Events Coordinator, it was very interesting, as we had to think carefully about what kind of events we could still organize that would be relevant for both students and companies. Many companies couldn’t or didn’t want to participate in physical events anymore. We then thought of solutions and made the transition to interesting digital events, where we could create extra value for both parties, especially during these times. It was a big challenge, but it was very educational.

Besides the Events role, you are also on the Talent Pool Committee. What exactly do the Talent Pools involve?

The Talent Pools are divided into three sectors: finance, technology, and law. At the moment, there are 50 ‘top students’ per Talent Pool. In the upcoming semester, our goal is to grow to 100 top students per pool, so companies can offer higher guarantees regarding the number of students attending their events or the events they organize for these Talent Pools. This makes the Talent Pools more interesting for companies, which is also beneficial for students as it results in better events and training opportunities being organized for them.

Who exactly are these ‘top students’?

We have specific minimum requirements. The student must be at least a third-year university student (bachelor’s or master’s level), must have a grade point average above 7.0, and must have relevant extracurricular activities. In addition, for the Finance and Technical Talent Pool, it is required that you are proficient in the English language.

What does Integrand organize for these Talent Pools?

Think of training sessions like personal branding – what are your talents, how can you develop and apply them in an internship or later in your career? Additionally, events with companies that are interested in speaking to motivated students, such as a specific event for the Finance, Technology, and Law Talent Pools.

What is the added value for students in being part of a Talent Pool?

We have established the Talent Pools for two reasons. First, we want to increase the added value of Integrand by offering students something extra. You can sign up for the Talent Pools if you meet the mentioned requirements. We offer extra training and events for these selected students, so they can develop even further and get more out of Integrand. Second, in addition to these training sessions and events – where you learn a lot – you receive a special certificate from Integrand that demonstrates your participation. In short, the added value is in self-development through free training and events, which gives you an extra boost for your future career.

Last week, you gave the first two training sessions, provided by High Potential Academy, how did that go?

These training sessions were provided for all three of the Talent Pools and were very successful! The focus was on personal development around talents. Many students responded positively, saying they liked that we organized these extra sessions and that it was a valuable learning experience. In February, we want to organize a specific sector event for all three Talent Pools, for example, a law-related event with a law firm and a finance-related event with a consultancy firm for the Finance Talent Pool.