Marketing & Communications

Period: 1992-2001
Company: Randstad Netherlands
Country: the Netherlands
Job title: from Product Manager to Manager Marketing Research to Manager Strategy & Communications

Moving from branch level into my new role as a national Product manager I became responsible for developing flexible concepts for the industrial market. This required careful analysis of the market in order to get a full understanding of client needs. We developed a flexibility scan product, a consultancy format with which we could help clients improve flexibility within their company. It required close cooperation between local and national account management to make it a success. Working on nation-wide level in a matrix position was new for me and it gave me the opportunity to learn about functional leadership.

This role gave me great insights into our markets, which was extremely valuable in my subsequent role as Manager Marketing Research, Corporate Marketing & Communications within the Dutch Group Marketing & Communications team. I advised management about the development of the brand awareness, sector trends and market shares per industry. I also introduced motivational research for different occupational groups, clients and internal staff that was used for strategic management sessions. Product development was still part of the job.

Upon becoming Manager Strategy & Communication (internal and external) my focus was more strategic. Even so it was important to translate strategy into more practical day-to-day guidelines for the operations and with my team created a lot of free publicity. During this time you could compare my role to that of a Secretary to the Board, working as a kind of right hand of the General Manager.