S&L at Work: Martijn Heinen

Introduction

Let me begin by introducing myself before I start telling where I work, what I do and how Tilburg University and Asset | Strategy & Logistics helped me to get where I am now. My parents named me Martijn by birth, 24 years ago. However, I am more commonly known as Heinen. I was born and raised in Eersel, just below Eindhoven. Hereafter, I made the big step towards the city and went to study Econometrics & Operations Research in Tilburg. When I finished my education in October, (2015) I directly started working for Capgemini Consulting. At this company I also wrote my graduation thesis. At Capgemini I am supposed to work as a Finance and Risk consultant with a focus on Data Analytics.

Capgemini

Capgemini is a global company with 180.000 employees worldwide, spread over more than 40 countries. Capgemini consists of three parts: Capgemini Consulting, Capgemini and Sogiti. Consulting is the Digital Transformation and Strategy brand of Capgemini and is located in Utrecht Leidsche Rijn. We help other companies through their digital transformation. This transformation is more than implementing an IT solution. We believe that an IT solution is just a way to achieve the required goals. For the solution to work it is important to establish a mind-shift among the personnel. This mind-shift is usually the most challenging part of our work.

As mentioned before I started with an internship, making my first real working day different. Due to the 6 months of experience I could skip the largest part of the introductions given on the first day. On day two all practical information was given, such as how to declare hours, how to get an assignment and how to compensate expenses. On the third day we needed to make sure that everything worked as it should: Are we able to reserve a room, do the mail, laptop and phone work? Lastly, an introduction round was made to meet all the important people; secretariat, staffing and business support. Normally this is done by a consultant who joined the company a few months ago. Since I started with my internship at the same time she joined Capgemini she left the task to me. This immediately expressed the culture of Capgemini, as you are not judged based on your position or rank. You’re judged on your skills and knowledge. This is why input and feedback is always valued. Even a consultant who is fresh out of university can criticize the presentation of a vice president and receive a compliment. This open culture really speaks to me.

Part of this is also that we are free in what we do and how we develop ourselves. If you spot an opportunity you are free to act on it. However, freedom also has a downside. Nobody is actively concerned with you and Capgemini expects you to be proactive in getting assignments. Some experience this as unpleasant as once in a while you need to ask whether they need help with a project to get the better assignments. However, when you have done some assignments you will build a reputation on which eventually they will come to you to ask for assistance instead of the other way around. For example, many within Capgemini are aware that I wrote my Master and Bachelor thesis about Customer Satisfaction and my first assignment was also related to this subject.

Despite that I am used to the work, the environment and the people, I still need to, but never will, get used to the dynamic business. In numerous occasions it happened that on Friday I received a call leading to an assignment from Monday morning onward. The most special to me was a call on Tuesday to be on the clients site in one hour (with a 45 minute drive). Where, in the morning, I thought it would be a quiet day, two hours later I was on an assignment.

Help of S&L

S&L, and also Asset, helped me to get where I am now. S&L brought me in contact with Capgemini during the Consultancy Day from which which resulted in an internship and  consequently, in a job. My education brought me the hard skills that I need for the work I do now. Besides that, I developed myself and my soft skills during my board year as chairman of Asset and later as TRIP4You committee member. Presenting, convincing, and the ability to place yourself in the shoes of another are just some examples of the competitive edge that Asset and S&L provided me with.

A glimpse of the future

Lastly was asked to give you a glimpse of my desired future. Where do I see myself over 10 years? To be honest I do not know. Currently it is already hard to give an estimate of my activities for the coming two weeks, I can be working in Germany, England or simply Amsterdam. Consultancy is a branch where the long term is always vague. I see a beautiful future for me at Capgemini and would love to be a Principal Consultant in ten years. Still a transfer to a former client is not unusual. Although travelling through Europe and sometimes the world is just (everyday) business I would love to keep my home located in the Netherlands, Utrecht to be precisely.