For the past few months, I have been the treasurer of the board at Asset | International Business & Management. In this blog article I will explain more about my experiences as a treasurer.

With the end of my bachelor program approaching, it was time for me to plan ahead and decide what I wanted to do the year after. After coming back from exchange where my studies took a more practical turn, I found out that I wanted to develop myself more in terms of practical experience. Because of this, I applied for a board year at Asset | IB&M, the association where I had been an active member for the past several years and where I have always felt at home.

One of the first challenges after my announcement as candidate treasurer was to develop the budget for the upcoming year. This implied that over the course of the summer, it was my responsibility to make careful estimations of expected income and expenses. Since a lot of factors that are influencing the budget are still unknown or uncertain at that time, it is a very precise and careful job. However, it also provides an outlook into all the wonderful activities that we will organise that year.

Throughout the year, it is the task of the treasurer to see whether the association delivers on its budget. Since the association is run by and for our members, it is not allowed to make a profit and because we do not want to make a loss either, the treasurer has to keep track of the budget and realisation in a precise manner. Keeping oversight over all the activities that we organise and the financial implications these have can be quite demanding. However, it is even more rewarding as it shows me all the wonderful initiatives that our association, committees and members take.

As treasurer, it is my task to handle all the incoming and outgoing invoices. In addition to this, it is vital that the treasurer regularly checks the budget and realisations of the committees and see whether they are still performing according to their budget. Since we currently have 26 committees, keeping an overview of all the committees can be challenging at times but it is definitely a great insight in all the wonderful events that we as an association organise.

As regards to committees, it is not only my duty to regularly check their financial affairs. I also coordinate five committees which perform a broad spectrum of activities. Some of my committees organise informal events, whereas others organise a formal event or a study trip. Through my function of coordinator of these committees, I got to be part of the organisation of wonderful events.

My responsibilities as treasurer do not stop short of Asset | IB&M only. As treasurer of one of Asset’s departments, I am also the representative of IB&M in the Treasurer’s Meeting of Asset Tilburg, where we discuss the financial affairs of our faculty association. Last year, my responsibilities at Asset Tilburg were to check the finances of the Asset Lustrum, as well as handling the incoming invoices.

What drives our association and also me personally as a treasurer are all our active members. Currently, we have more than 150 active members who all strive to make our association even better every time they enter our rooms or show up to one of our events. It is not only very nice to see that a lot of members attend our events, but it is even more rewarding to see that so many people are enjoying themselves at our association.

I would conclude by saying that doing a board year at Asset | International Business & Management has enriched my life in various ways. Being part of the organisation of our events will provide you with skills that are very valuable now and later. Coordinating a committee will improve your teamwork and leadership skills.

If you are interested in a board year at Asset | International Business & Management, do not hesitate to contact me via treasurer@asset-ibm.nl or drop by room E114 for a cup of coffee!

MY EXPERIENCES AS A CHAIRMAN OF ASSET | IB&M

It is my honor to be the chairman of Asset | International Business & Management, as I have learned a lot these past months and it has proven to be the perfect step in the direction of my future plans!

Introduction

My name is Bart van der Lee. With 23 years old I am the oldest member of our board. In June 2016, I graduated cum laude from the bachelor International Business Administration and a year later I graduated from the master Supply Chain Management. During my bachelor studies, I went on exchange to Hong Kong where I was the roommate of my predecessor Timo. From September onwards, I will merge myself in the so-called ‘burgerleven’, start working and leave the student life behind me.

I started out as chairman of the IB&More committee in my first two years at Asset | International Business & Management. Then after exchange, I joined I*ESN for a year where I was part of the buddy system for all international students that are in the Netherlands for their full bachelor studies. The second half I was one of the barmanagers responsible for running the bar committee and managing the parties. After my time at I*ESN, I focused on graduating from my master’s studies after which I became chairman of Asset | International Business & Management.

Asset | International Business & Management as a company

Doing a board year at Asset | International Business & Management basically means the following: you are part of the board of a company that has 150+ members or employees that work in 27 different committees or teams. As the board of this company, you need to provide both guidance and support, control the budget, plan all events that the members organize and finally involve each and every member into the informal and close culture of Asset | International Business & Management. The chairman in this story can be seen as the CEO of the board with all corresponding tasks and responsibilities. Similar to the managers in a company, we as a board are dependent on the motivation and work of our members when it comes to successfully organizing events and executing our policy. That is why we organize social activities, as well as trainings and events, to give our members a great time and boost their personal development.

Being CEO of this company

Usually no one knows exactly what I or my predecessors actually did throughout the year,  since the chairmen are either not at Asset or working. To elaborate further: I work half of my time within the board of Asset | International Business & Management and the other half of my time, I work within the General Board, or the umbrella organization, of study association Asset. Within Asset | International Business & Management, I am responsible for chairing all meetings and the Department Members Meeting, retaining good relationships with the University and, especially, the Academic Directors Jeroen Kuilman of the MSc. International Management and Vincent Wiegerinck of BSc. International Business Administration, Finally, I have to keep an overview of everything that happens within the board and committees.

In the General Board you on the one hand function as the board of a large holding preserving the interests of the umbrella association. Additionally, you also represent Asset | International Business & Management in discussions with the other departments which leads to a dynamic environment in which you have to carefully think about whether you approach different discussions from either a general board member position or from Asset | International Business & Management. Finally, you also have a portfolio within the General Board. Mine is called the Events Portfolio which means that I am responsible for the alumni contact, the coordination of the Food For Thought Committee, the contact and involvement within the EBT board and finally the coordination, in combination with the EBT, of the Business Night committee which is the grand opening of the Economic Business weeks Tilburg. As you can read, my daily tasks are dynamic and diverse and focus on being the manager of different project teams.

What I have learned at Asset | International Business & Management

Being a board member provides you with a load of experience and tons of fun all packed within a dynamic year. Being chairman provides you with valuable management skills and other soft skills required to run a small company. It is important to keep an overview of all different tasks related to your function and also the tasks of your fellow members to ensure continuity in the board, the different board functions and the committees.

I hope I have provided you with some more insight into what I do as the chairman of Asset | International Business & Management. If you want more information, contact me at chairman@asset-ibm.nl

Introduction

In spring 2016, I had been living in Tilburg for eight months, and enjoyed the student life. About one year ago, April 11th, I chaired a committee that organised the Asset Conference. It was the first experience I had with organising such an event. The days just before the event were intense, and afterwards there was ample spare time. I focused on the upcoming exams from my master supply chain management and looked forward to the summer holidays and future employment opportunities.

April

Things turned out quite different than how they were supposed to go. During my brief time at Asset (Association for Students Studying Economics in Tilburg), I met a lot of great and ambitious people. A new friend which I met during the organisation of the Asset Conference, asked me whether I was interested in a student board year. Without doubt, a board year would be a great experience, but till that moment I had not really considered it. After some thoughts, I realised that this could be a great addition to my development. Especially, the position of chairman at Asset appealed to me.

May

After a meeting with Evert Hoogsteen, the acting chairman of Asset at the time, I got a better idea about what the position would entail. Looking back, I still did not know a lot about what I would face during my board year. However, it was clear to me, that it would be a challenging and fun position. I wrote a motivation letter and updated my curriculum vitae. I had two interview rounds and in the beginning of June I was informed that I was the candidate chairman of Asset. I quite well remember the phone call of Evert Hoogsteen at that time. People do not see me as a nervous type, but at that moment I was. At the end of the conversation, I asked whether the news that I would be the new chairman of Asset, was to be kept secret. With some hesitation the response was: ”Yes we should try to keep it a secret until your announcement four weeks from now”.

“Soon, I experienced that there was no point in trying.”

June

Soon, I experienced that there was no point in trying. In June I attended the announcement drinks of the departments and other associations in Tilburg. Already at the first meeting, I got congratulated by people I did not even know. Even though I met quite a lot of new people during my first eight months in Tilburg, I got to know at least double that amount in that single month. However, this was only a forerunner of what was yet to come.

July

The summer months were a period in which the board members of Asset got the opportunity to get to know each other and the period in which the transfer of responsibilities took place. During this period, I was introduced to strategic partners of Asset: other study associations, student fractions and representations of the employees of Tilburg University.

Furthermore, the policy for the upcoming academic year had to be written. This was a joint effort with other members of general board of Asset; all the chairmen of the Asset departments. They spend half their time on leading their department and the other half on Asset general tasks. As chairman, it is my task to lead them, amongst others in the weekly general board meeting that I chair.

August

In August, I took a few weeks off and when I came back, I started to realise what a unique organisation Asset actually is. With 6000 members, it is not only one of the largest student associations in Europe, but it also has a structure that is unlike any other study association. Seven Asset departments, each with their own board and committees, provide services and organise events for their specific target groups. Besides this, the 43 full-time board members of Asset work together on overhead tasks and organising services and events for all students of Tilburg School of Economics and Management (TiSEM).

September

At the start of the academic year, the students return to the university. At that time, the committees of Asset are starting-up. About 600 members start working 2-14 hours per week on the organisation of activities and services that contribute to one of the three pillars of Asset: study support, career development and social cohesion. In September, the former board members were thanked for their efforts. From that moment, I was responsible for what happened at Asset.

Not more than two days had passed and I experienced what this meant. The treasurer and promotion coordinator of Asset told me that we came short on promotional giveaways. If we would order the same day the products would be delivered in time. However, this would result in exceeding the budget with a few thousand euros. Looking back at my decision to order, I realise that during the year this was not the decision with the most impact. However, at that moment, it felt as a major one.

“Connecting students and employers is our core business.”

October

With the novelty of the first month of the academic year gone, it was time to take steps with regards to the approved policy. A great part of the policy was targeted at enhancing the collaboration with Tilburg University. Already, we had presented our policy to the management team of TiSEM and the executive board of Tilburg University during lunch meetings. Now, it was time to put our ideas into practise. The management team of TiSEM informed and instructed the academic directors on the policy. However, a lot of work and lobbying still has to be done by the departments in their contacts with the same academic directors. This required coordination from me as well. Fortunately, I had time to do so, since the other general board members of Asset take up a lot of tasks to make Asset run smoothly.

A good example was the organization of the Asset Inhouse Days. This was executed by the acquisition coordinator and the external affairs officers of Asset. Many students get the chance to visit over fifteen companies located all over the Netherlands. Connecting students and employers is our core business. An event like the Asset Inhouse Days is a serious source of income for our association, and a great way for students to get a good insight in multiple companies

November

November is a month in which a lot of formal events are organized by the various departments. One of the great privileges of being the chairman of Asset is that you can join any of about 100 formal events organised, but you are never obliged or expected to. These formal events include company visits, symposia, development days, recruitment events, study trips and business dinners. The same counts for the large amount of social activities and parties that are organised by departments. One of the events that the chairman of Asset is required to join is the yearly gala of Asset. However, that is definitely not a burden. This party is one of the highlights of the year where Asset members have a great time together.

December

I realised that time was running extremely fast. The opportunities that came with my position were great. I for instance had dinner with the CEO of Wolters Kluwer, Nancy McKinstry. Also, I accompanied the Dutch secretary of state for education, Sander Dekker, through the Asset premises. Furthermore, I interviewed the Dutch minister of Finance, Jeroen Dijsselbloem. Those are experiences to never forget. Additionally, the position of chairman of Asset, gave me the opportunity to help with setting up a new study association for data science, to be member of the lustrum project team of Tilburg University, and to work on the idea to build a Tilburg Talent Platform. With the Christmas break ahead, I was busy with completing tasks and looking forward to the second half of the academic year.

Though, not before attending the COdE, a bi-annual cantus for all active members of Asset. With about 400 students attending, all with a heart for Asset, this was yet another reminder of the size of Asset and what we are capable of.

January

After some rest, I could not wait on getting back to work. With some fresh ideas formed during my break it was time to review the plans made in the beginning of the academic year and set a new course. During the first semester all board members are trying to find their way in the organization, and learn to manage their tasks. Some issues arise and I was able to help solving them, which is motivating and honourable work. Having managed the internal affairs, there was ample time to focus externally. The chairman of Asset is the face towards external parties, and building relationships, seizing opportunities and representing Asset’s interests externally is real fun.

These relationships span a larger area than just Tilburg. In the SEBO, which is the national consultative body, I discuss topical matters with the chairmen of the larger economic study associations all over the country. It is a positive moment to join forces as we are all facing the same challenges: digitalization, enforcement of our career events’ supply, and the possibility to engage our students even better in the activities we organize.

February

Asset is a very important stakeholder in Tilburg University and vice versa. Therefore, I have been in contact with the persons in the highest positions in Tilburg University, such as the executive board, various directors and the management team of TiSEM. With the latter, I have regular meetings to build on the collaboration plan which was started this academic year. The collaboration plan focusses on improving skills of students and preparing them for the labour market. The more students participate in activities organised by Asset, the more success will be realised. Besides this plan, we envision many opportunities to cooperate between TiSEM and Asset.

“All serious events aside, there are also heaps of informal activities to join in Tilburg.”

March

Asset in its current form exists for five years now. One of my four predecessors proposed a trip with the five people that chaired Asset, and off we went to Riga. It was fun to see how much we differed in some ways and how much we were alike in other aspects. It was interesting to discover how much Asset has changed in the past years. At the start a lot had to be discovered and new ways of working had to be found. Later, there has been more room to look externally and ahead. To quote advisory council member, Afrom van Berg (Chairman Efact, predecessor Asset, 1995 – 1996): “The steps that the organization makes, the professionality that is added every year again is very impressive. You have come a long way”.

All serious events aside, there are also heaps of informal activities to join in Tilburg. That varies from, a dinner with our Alumni association or the gala of another association. All in all: a great and varied supply of activities. Tilburg may not be the Randstad, there are plenty of chances to seize – if you are willing to do so.

April

And here we are, April. A few weeks ago the first edition of the Business Night (successor of the Asset Conference) took place. A great success, with yet another auditorium filled to its full capacity (650 people) by an Asset organised event. The Business Night is also the opening of one of the largest recruitment events in the Netherlands: Economic Business weeks Tilburg (EBT), which is a limited company of Asset with its own full-time board whom I also had the pleasure to work with. Successes like the EBT or the Business Night come with other great spin-off effects. We discussed future options in our collaboration with the University together with Rector Magnificus Emile Aarts. And many other study and student associations congratulated us with our achievement, which is a valuable sign of mutual involvement.

Many departments will leave the country at the end of this month to go on one of more than ten study trips organised by Asset. The end of my assignment comes in sight. Yet, there are still four months in which I can try to further exploit the projects that I have personally chosen to start and work on, and I look forward to convey all the information, experience and relationships that I have gained this year to my successor.

“Showing my agenda, barely makes sense due to the fact that no week is alike.”

Closing

I often get the question: “What does the chairman of Asset actually do?” Each time, I struggle to answer this question, first of all since it is hard to tell in a few sentences, and secondly, because the tasks are hard to specify and would require me to go into a lot of detail. The above only shows a broad picture of what it entails. Showing my agenda barely makes sense due to the fact that no week is alike.

If I would have to give it a try I would describe it as follows: I am working on a strategic level. Half of my time, I coordinate and facilitate the internal organisation of Asset, through weekly board meetings, individual conversations with board members, and answering various questions. The other half of my time I operate externally: enhancing the relations with employees of Tilburg University, other associations, the student fractions and many others. These meetings often take place in a small or one-on-one setting. If opportunities to intensify collaboration or to start new projects reveal, I try to make plans to seize the opportunity. Where possible I try to use the information and relationships gained externally to facilitate the internal organisation.

I can imagine that this still sounds fuzzy to you, and if that bothers you, do not hesitate to contact me 🙂

Joep Paumen

chairman@asset-tilburg.nl

linkedin.com/in/joeppaumen