PREMIUM Ambassadors

Oana:

I couldn’t have asked for a better team to work with during PREMIUM. We were tasked with developing a business plan for a startup company. The most interesting part for me was the complete novelty of the project which required thorough research in a field I had limited knowledge about and then we had to crystalize all the information in the business plan. Initially we worked on our own but then we realized we’d have much more to benefit if we worked in teams of two or three because we could learn from each other. There’s a difference from night and day between PREMIUM and uni teamwork projects because here everyone pulls their weight and you know you can count on your team members.

Vidya:

I was extremely thrilled to be part of the Philip’s team as I could use my combined background in law and counselling to contribute to the project in which we drafted ethical considerations for researchers at Philips in their interactions with patients with mental disorders. I also had the opportunity to work outside my comfort zone and come up with a creative end product. I was very lucky to have the best team to work with as the team was very professional, committed and passionate about the project and it was these qualities that saw us through the challenges. To contribute to the team and learn from the rest of them at the same time was a truly enriching experience!

Ariadni:

I was very excited to get a project related to my studies and interests. My teammates and I were assigned to create an evaluation tool for CUBE Design Museum that could also improve the dynamics of their teams. CUBE gave us a lot of freedom to be creative and experiment with the end product, which was not only a great opportunity to put our knowledge into practice, but also a very fun experience. This project had a lot of extra benefits too! Apart from learning how to work in a team in a professional and at the same time friendly environment, I also got the chance to see the Museum’s exhibition and participate in their Workshop about Design Thinking. All in all, it was a great experience that helped me develop as a person and professional and have fun at the same time.

Jannik:

I had the opportunity to work for Atos, an international IT company with more than 120k employees. My team had the task to develop a new knowledge management strategy for the consulting division of the company. Although challenging, it was a great experience with a lot of fun. We got in-depth insights into the company and had a steep learning curve. Our client took the project very serious, ensuring to stay in touch on a weekly basis and enabling us to interview key employees across Europe. Among the highlights were the possibility to attend various company events both in Amsterdam and in Eindhoven and the exposure to the most recent technologies used in the company’s innovation lab. The numerous events hosted by PREMIUM perfectly complemented the project and the free drinks should be mentioned as well. Overall a great experience.

Oana:

There are 3 mandatory and 6 optional workshops of which you had to attend three. The mandatory workshops are helpful for communication and learning to work in a team. However, the optional workshops were my favorite because of the out of the box approach, focus on creativity and also because of constant feedback from professionals.

Vidya:

The workshops were useful and fun, each workshop concentrated on a unique aspect. The first three workshops were mandatory and it helped us to use what we learnt immediately in team work and on the project. The other three workshops were more focused on personal development where there were a few personal takeaways for me to use in my personal and professional life.

Ariadni:

If you want to develop your skills and learn through an innovative and fun way, these workshops are the best! I loved every single one of them and I would like to participate in even more. Every workshop included not only information about the topic, but also creative and useful exercises. What sparked my interest the most was the talented hosts, whose skills to impart knowledge to others were incredible.

Jannik:

The workshops were very handy, not only for the project itself but especially for your professional and personal development. I recommend attending as many as possible. I learned a lot and got some good takeaways after every session. It is also a good way to get more acquainted with your fellow students. Evening workshops have dinner.

Oana:

Each team will have a mentor and a coach. The mentor will make sure your team functions accordingly and you are able to properly communicate, while the coach is your individual support during your time at PREMIUM. It truly helps to have someone that listens to you and provide guidance. Both the coach and the mentor help you look beyond the scope of the project, make sure you understand it is not just about delivering the finished product but it’s also a learning experience which is actually paramount. You will have someone to talk about your issues, achievements, strengths or weaknesses and how you can improve them.

Vidya:

Our mentor was very warm, friendly, and approachable and at the same time very skilled and effective in mentoring the team. Her immense knowledge in team management skills, team building skills the mentor possessed helped us structure our approach to the project better, and provided us with valuable guidance at crucial stages of the project. Her feedback on our team functioning and progress really helped us to improve ourselves. The competence coach sessions were extremely fruitful as we could analyse our strengths and weakness and come up with a plan with the Coach to work on a few areas over the course of the premium program while periodically checking our progress and improving ourselves.

Ariadni:

I miss the long walks while talking with my coach around the UM sports area and the team meetings with our mentor. Both of them were approachable and considerate, so I always felt that there was someone that could provide me guidance and support when I was confused. I was always leaving each coach session with a feeling of satisfaction and relief and I knew that I had learned something more about myself and what I want to do next. As for the meetings with the mentor, they were meant to guide us concerning the project at hand and at the same time help us develop our skills and communicate better with each other.

Jannik:

Ever wanted to get individual coaching while working on a personal development goal? Nothing more to say.