The ROI story of Laurens Kruit
Laurens Kruit joined Ushio as International Account Manager via Velde. What has this brought him personally and what is his contribution to Ushio’s ambition?
What were your expectations beforehand?
When I first heard about Ushio, I was looking for a new challenge. After 20 years with my previous employer, where I had seen and done it all, I knew it was time for something new. I was already a little further into my 50s, and it was now or never. I was looking specifically for roles in international account management, and when I saw the job opening at Ushio, it jumped out at me. What appealed to me was their approach to business. They were looking for a relationship builder, not just a salesperson. That fit exactly what I was looking for. Their Japanese background and the size of the company, with some 5,500 FTE worldwide and 49 subsitaries. I expected to use my experience in building lasting customer relationships in a new industry and new environment, which really appealed to me.
What is the reality like?
Once I started at Ushio, I found that many of my initial expectations matched reality, although of course adjustments were necessary. The company was smaller in the Netherlands than I had thought, as many operations had just been moved to Germany. This gave a smaller scale feeling than expected, but that was not necessarily a negative. I appreciated the direct lines of communication and the opportunity to really have an influence within the company.
During my application process, I gave a presentation on how I saw my assignment at Ushio. For that, I did an analysis of the available information. That presentation is still up to date. So my expectations are pretty much in line with reality.
– Laurens Kruit
What is your Return on Investment?
This year at Ushio has brought me a tremendous amount personally and professionally. I have learned to switch quickly between different client types and market sectors, which has increased my adaptability. Professionally, I have contributed to important projects in Turkey and Norway, which has strengthened my position within the company. These projects have made it possible to increase Ushio’s presence in these regions.
In addition, the hybrid work environment has given me the flexibility to better balance my work and personal life, something very welcome. The diversity of clients and daily interactions with different cultures make my work even more interesting. In summary, my move to Ushio has offered not only a new set of challenges, but also significant personal satisfaction and professional growth. I am truly in my place.
Valuable ROI conversations
What I wanted to say: I really liked the personal approach of Aryan, Consultant at Velde. He is good at listening, but also at asking a lot of questions, in a respectful way.
Also, the fact that he stayed in touch throughout my first year. I found those ROI conversations very valuable. They gave me a chance to share my experiences and opinions. They helped me structure my thoughts and give feedback on what works well and what can be improved.
Contact Aryan
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