Bram Wijs

After graduating in Business Administration from the University of Groningen, Bram Wijs completed his master’s in Finance. “Finance is the foundation on which creative ideas and ambitions are built. I wanted to work in insurance because I experienced its importance first-hand after a serious car accident. I want my work to positively affect people who are insured.” Having many interests, Bram decided to explore different roles as a Finance & Risk trainee at NN.

Self-discovery

“The accident changed my mindset. I learned what’s really important in life. You can achieve things that may seem out of reach if you put in the time and effort. After my accident, I learned to ski and started running, taking it small step by small step. And I participated in the NN-sponsored Dam-tot-Dam run, which, at first, I thought to be impossible. It also taught me that I don’t just want to make the most of my own life, I also want to give back to society.” This aligns perfectly with NN’s “supporter of change” drive.

About his traineeship, Bram says, “Working on different assignments in different business units, I gradually discovered what I wanted to do. At NN, you find a lot of great places to work, from banking to pensions and insurance. Based on what drives you, you search and apply for your assignments, and get to know the different fields of expertise.”

Back to base

After his traineeship, Bram returned to his first rotation. “I enjoyed my first rotation the most and have a great connection with the team and the manager. So we stayed in touch and I returned after finalising my traineeship.”

“Our department is primarily responsible for the liquidity of the entire company. We manage the cash strategically available to the company. Our work includes intercompany banking and investing in financial markets, while constantly ensuring NN’s liquidity, even in potential worst-case scenarios. The market dynamics make the work fascinating as we’re closely looking at world events that affect our work, like changing interest rates due to rising inflation or the US presidential elections.”

Leadership development

The traineeship focuses on personal and leadership development. “A valuable lesson I took away is about communication. Everyone has their own frame of reference which affects how people interpret what you say. You need to adapt your message to the recipient to be effective.”

Bram aspires to fulfil a lead role at some point. “I like the dynamics of working and sparring with people. In a lead role, you are involved in increasingly more important topics and I would like to contribute to the decision-making process as I believe you can best drive change this way. I believe in a soft leadership approach and that leadership is less about expertise and more about how you can advance your team. To motivate people, you need to help them shine.”

Shape your career

“What amazed me is the freedom and the authority you get as a trainee. You work on serious projects. How you get from A to B is up to you, but you get all the support you need. This approach boosts your confidence and you become a better version of yourself. You’re in the driver’s seat to shape your career.”

Dare to ask

Bram concludes, “My advice to (future) trainees is: dare to ask. It leads you to paths you’d never have considered. You’ll find that people like to harness their strengths and help you. As a young professional, you have the chance to learn from experts.”