Get to know our donors:
Saskia Velthuizen, Global Head of HR Technology at Vanderlande
Vanderlande is a company whose products you will find at no fewer than 600 airfields worldwide. Since it was founded in 1949, it has developed into one of the world’s largest suppliers of logistics solutions for airfields, (e-commerce) warehouses and mail sorting companies. It now has branches in 25 countries and employs 9,000 people.
Human Resources is not a specialization in which you encounter many TU/e students. Saskia rose to her current top position thanks to her interest in people and their position in an organization.
Thriving in high-tech environments
“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
“I didn’t specify any particular purpose for my donation. But if I had to come up with something, 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 society as a whole. That involves collaborating with many different people, including internationally.”
Personal growth
Saskia speaks from experience. After graduating, she was not totally sure 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 up for her.
“I very quickly learned something I had not learned before: 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 you deal with your managers and how you manage your career. These were soft skills that I didn’t develop in my degree, yet I really need them in order 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: “And early in their lives. 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 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 the case, 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’m making a donation with love.”