Get to know our donor:
Saskia Velthuizen, Global Head of HR Technology at Vanderlande
Imagine working at a company whose products you will find at no fewer than 600 airfields worldwide. Since its start in 1949, it has become the world’s largest supplier of logistics solutions for airfields, (e-commerce) warehouses and mail sorting companies. It now has branches in 25 countries and employs 9,000 people.
Saskia is their Global Head of HR Technology. HR is not a specialization in which you encounter many TU/e students. But for Saskia this is exactly what she wanted. She rose to her current top position thanks to her interest in people and their roles in an organization. In 2021 we celebrated TU/e’s 65th birthday. During that year we organized a fundraising campaign called “Heroes for Heroes”. Saskia was one of the hundreds of people that donated to give the heroes of tomorrow more and better opportunities to find and strengthen their talents.
Thriving in high-tech environments
Saskia explains how she benefitted from her time at TU/e: “In my career, I hardly use my degree at all, but thanks to my time in Eindhoven, I feel very comfortable in high-tech environments.” Saskia graduated at TU/e, specializing in what was then called “Technology and Society”, a combination of business studies and physics: “I had a great time at TU/e and learned a lot. As I advanced in my career and my life, I wanted to give something back. Simply because I have a soft spot for TU/e. It really is a formative institute for generations of students, playing a very important role in lots of people’s lives.”
Investing in development
“If I had to choose a goal for my donation, I’d invest in TU/e students’ social and emotional development and communicative skills. The students are clearly well-equipped technically and conceptually, but you need more if you want to be an effective professional or entrepreneur. For example, you need to be good at presenting and working with others not only in business, but in society as well. That involves collaborating with many different people, including internationally.”
Personal growth
Saskia speaks from experience. After graduating, she was unsure what she wanted to do. She explored a range of different organizations, ultimately opting for a traineeship at ABN AMRO. It was there that a new world opened for her.
“I very quickly learned everything associated with leadership and effective collaboration. I learned all about Covey’s “7 Habits of Highly Effective People”, practiced my influencing skills, learned how to deal with managers and how to manage your career. These were soft skills that I didn’t develop during my study, yet I really need them to do my work effectively.”
More than just science
Saskia is pleased that she was able to catch up on her skills. She wants more students to have the same opportunity: “As early in their lives as possible. Because a good basis in emotional development and soft skills gives people the capacity to hold their own in organizations. Even when they encounter new challenges. It improves lives, both at work and privately, especially for new entrants to the labor market. In the past, scientists or technical professionals were able to withdraw a little, and work in isolation. In today’s world, you’re expected to collaborate and influence organizations. Not only locally, but also nationally and internationally.”
A great future
When she looks around her on today’s campus, she sees a different, more diverse picture than when she was a student: “There’s a different type of student. They look more creative and exude self-confidence. I’ve no idea if that’s my impression or reality, but it feels like that. And I think that’s great. It gives me great confidence in the future. With my donation, I’d like to give an additional boost to the new generation. That’s why I donated with love.”