While you can find our entire team on this website, we think those short biographies don’t do them justice. This month’s colleague in the spotlight: Nienke Wierda!
What did you do before you joined Aexus?
“After studying photography, I set up my own company, working as a freelance photographer, and as a digital post-production artist at a media company, editing high-res images and working on nationwide campaigns.”
That is quite different from what you’re doing at Aexus. How did you end up here?
“When the company got in distress, I realized that I wanted to know more about the commercial side of things. I was really eager and loved to know more about strategy, change and business development. I therefore decided to look for a job in sales and follow a business economics program on the side. This combination would allow me to gain a lot of experience in a short amount of time. I then bumped into Aexus’ recruiter on LinkedIn. The international environment, helping young companies grow and the Aexus way of working sounded really appealing to me.”
What were your first impressions of the company like?
“I got the chance to follow Karim Ebied, whom I coincidentally already knew, around for one day. What immediately stood out to me, was the down to earth and hands-on mentality at Aexus. Hitting the ground running, but at the same time really knowing what you’re doing. Another thing I noticed is how flexible and dynamic the job can be. Helping foreign companies grow internationally really triggered me. I thoroughly enjoyed that experience, and happily joined the company soon after.”
So, what does a typical day at Aexus look like?
“As most colleagues before me stated as well, there isn’t really a standard day – which doesn’t stop me from trying to build up a routine. One thing is always the same, though: since the pandemic started, we are all working from home a lot more. To keep in touch with one another, the team I’m part of has a daily call to start the day off. Which, funnily enough, has made us even closer to one another than before, when we were still able to meet in person. After that, I perform some market research, try and set some meetings, and stay in close contact with my partner. I usually talk to two prospects each day, which happens mostly by video call these days.”
What do you like most about Aexus?
“That there is a lot of trust, I am really allowed to find my own way. But should I need any help, all my colleagues are willing to provide it. Instead of competing with one another, people are really involved. I like that. And, of course, I also enjoy being able to make a difference for our partners. Contributing to their growth and helping them reach their goals gives me a lot of energy.”
Do you have any plans for the future?
“I’d like to, at some point, have a team of my own. A little while ago, I started as a so-called ‘buddy’, helping new colleagues find their way within Aexus. I really enjoy it. And as for the short term: I want to keep developing myself. Two of my partners are from the healthcare field, and I’d love to learn even more about it!”
