Willem Vasbinder

During a six-month journey across Southeast Asia and Australia, Willem Vasbinder made a career-defining choice. 

"I knew I wanted to work in insurance, but I never really got a clear picture of what the various roles entailed. So when a friend of mine, who was doing the two-year NN traineeship, told me about his experiences, I just knew I had to grasp this opportunity."

A journey across the globe

Willem studied Industrial Engineering & Management at the University of Groningen. Yet it was finance that really captivated him. "My father works in finance and I have always been fascinated by his work," says Willem. So he went on to do his master’s in Finance & Investments at the Rotterdam School of Management. After his graduation, Willem and his girlfriend went travelling. "I applied while I was in Southeast Asia and returned just five days before the selection day."

First-year rotation

Willem talks about the different projects he was involved with at Group Finance. "In the Finance Transformation team, you deal with a wide range of projects, like the group-wide implementation of the Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive." Willem also worked in the Performance & Analytics team, which has given him an in-depth understanding of all NN’s business units.

Personal development

"NN’s approach to personal development has been an eye-opener. During the training weeks, we learned to analyse and reflect on our behaviour, which really helps you evolve. I looked at second-year trainees oozing confidence. And after just one year, I feel the same." The trainees are a tight-knit group and second-year trainees act as buddies for the juniors. "A buddy helps you find your feet. I’m a buddy myself now."

Working in a different culture

When choosing his six-month abroad assignment, Willem was led by senior trainees’ feedback and the potential to explore the risk side of insurance. "My manager really knows how to coach trainees and she’s specialized in risk."

Willem really enjoys living and working in Madrid. "The Spanish are very relationship-oriented and making connections is easy. I play football in one of my colleagues’ teams and I play padel. I also learn a lot about myself. One of my main hurdles is curbing my impatience and adapting to the culture. My mentor helps me steer in the right direction. I have learned to explore different routes and look for collaboration at an early stage in the projects."

Multifaceted role

In Madrid, Willem contributes to the estimates and calculations related to the solvency capital requirements. In addition, he’s involved in providing so-called risk opinions. Willem illustrates, "In insurance, you can’t just launch a product. You’ll need to assess the risks involved. Instead of just accepting or rejecting a plan when it’s presented, we aim to be involved at an early stage, so that we can propose solutions to potential risks. It makes the process more efficient and you reduce resistance."

Drive to grow

"I am a sponge for information and like to rapidly expand my knowledge, which helps me grow my career step by step. It’s not my ambition to hold a C-suite role overnight, but I will always be looking to grow towards ever greater responsibility."

"In this traineeship, you really get a feel for what the different roles entail and what energises you. Managers across the international organisation are keen to help you out and you build a network that opens doors. The traineeship offers amazing opportunities. You just need to take them!"