Are you an alumnus of Erasmus University Rotterdam and ready to advance your career? Then you do not want to miss this unique event! On Thursday 4 June, we look forward to welcoming you to Campus Woudestein for the very first Alumni Career Day: a day full of inspiration, personal growth and valuable connections.
Perhaps you are looking for your first job, or maybe you have been working for a few years and want to know how to get the most out of it - or is it time for a change? We are happy to help you get started at this event.
Get inspired by renowned speakers and choose from a wide range of topics that align with your personal ambitions. Whether you want to learn about networking, salary negotiations, or how to take the next step in your career: there’s something for everyone! The event is also a perfect opportunity to connect with fellow EUR alumni.
Programme
| 12:00 – 12:30 | Walk-in & lunch |
| 12:30 – 12:45 | Welcome & opening |
| 13:00 – 14:15 | Session round 1 |
| 14:30 – 15:45 | Session round 2 |
| 16:00 – 17:00 | Plenary session: Failure stories (Ronit Palache) |
| 17:00 – 18:45 | Closing & networking drinks |
The workshops are offered partly in Dutch and partly in English.
Plenary session:
Ronit grew up in a close-knit Jewish community near Amsterdam, surrounded by tradition, books, and high expectations. Curious and outspoken as a child, she dreamed of becoming a journalist and eventually built a successful career in publishing. She worked for a powerful and controversial Dutch publisher, rising quickly to become his right hand. She helped shape major successes, including Fifty Shades of Grey, and appeared to be thriving in the literary world. But her failure was not visible from the outside.
Over time, she became complicit in a toxic work culture. Her boss was erratic and intimidating, often belittling staff and creating an atmosphere of fear. Instead of speaking up, she adapted. She accepted his outbursts, stayed silent when colleagues were mistreated, and slowly absorbed his negativity. She told herself this was the price of ambition. Success became her identity, and she ignored the warning signs: insomnia, panic attacks, and a growing moral discomfort.
The true breaking point came when the company decided to publish Mein Kampf. As a Jewish woman, she felt a deep personal conflict. Although she initially tried to rationalize the decision, she realized she had failed to stand firmly for her values long before this moment. For years, she had chosen loyalty and career over integrity.
Her real failure was not leaving sooner. It was remaining silent, prioritizing success over courage, and losing herself in the process. Leaving the company was frightening—but it marked the first time she chose her principles over fear.
During this failure session, she will discuss:
- How ambition and success can slowly blur your moral boundaries
- Why staying silent in a toxic environment can feel easier than speaking up
- What it takes to recognize your breaking point — and choose integrity over fear
Sessions round 1:
Starten met netwerken - van starter naar zichtbare professional
Als Erasmus-alumnus heb je de kennis, maar word je ook gezien? In deze sessie ontdek je wat netwerken écht betekent, welke vormen bij jou passen en hoe je jouw netwerk in kaart brengt met het Netwerkcirkelmodel. Als ervaren netwerker en introvert combineert stijlstrateeg en ondernemer Sascha Bertus strategie met de kracht van geloofwaardige aanwezigheid. Want: je netwerk groeit niet door hoeveel mensen je kent, maar door hoe geloofwaardig je verschijnt. Deze sessie is voor ambitieuze professionals die klaar zijn om zichtbaarder te worden in hun vakgebied.
Sascha is stijlstrateeg en founder van House of Appearance, auteur van het managementboek Verpak je Succes en host van de podcast Wat trek je aan?. Al meer dan twintig jaar adviseert zij professionals en (future) leaders over hoe zij hun uitstraling in lijn brengen met hun rol en ambities. Zij werkt brancheoverschrijdend, van corporates als ABN AMRO, KPN, Rabobank en VGZ tot wetenschappelijke instituten zoals de KNAW. In de media duidt zij regelmatig hoe beeldvorming en uitstraling de publieke perceptie beïnvloeden.
Do you find it difficult or awkward to ask for a higher starting salary or a raise? You’re not alone. Many professionals struggle to confidently advocate for their own value. In this workshop, you’ll gain a practical introduction to effective salary negotiations, learning how to approach compensation conversations with clarity, confidence, and strategy in both hiring and performance review settings.
After completing this workshop, you will be able to:
- Develop a confident and value-driven mindset around salary negotiations
- Understand common negotiation tactics used in compensation discussions
- Feel empowered to communicate your worth and negotiate your salary effectively
Kousar brings a unique blend of expertise and real-world experience to the session as an experienced negotiation trainer and dedicated freelancer. With a deep passion for the art of negotiation, he has guided individuals and teams through the complexities of negotiation for many years, helping them develop effective strategies and techniques.
As a freelancer, he constantly negotiates with various parties, which keeps his skills sharp and relevant. This practical experience allows him to tailor interactive and practical training sessions to meet diverse needs, ensuring that participants gain valuable, applicable skills.
Hoe zorg je dat je niet alleen ‘doorgaat’, maar ook echt energie en voldoening uit je werk haalt? In deze workshop ontdek je hoe je meer regie neemt over je werk en bewust keuzes maakt die bij jou passen.
Thema’s die in deze workshop aan bod komen zijn onder andere:
- Wat betekent werkgeluk concreet in deze fase van je loopbaan?
- Energie managen in plaats van tijd
- Jobcrafting
- Grenzen stellen en eigenaarschap vergroten
Je loopt naar buiten met concrete inzichten en praktische handvatten die je direct kunt toepassen in je werk.
Demi is coach en trainer voor zorgprofessionals, gespecialiseerd in werkgeluk, veerkracht en persoonlijk leiderschap. Met een achtergrond in Gezondheidswetenschappen en ervaring bij o.a. Erasmus MC helpt ze professionals duurzame keuzes te maken en regie te nemen in hun loopbaan, met inzichten en tools die direct toepasbaar zijn in de praktijk.
Sessions round 2:
DUO for a JOB is a mentoring programme that connects young people with a migration background to volunteer mentors aged 50+. Over the course of six months, mentor and mentee work together toward a clear goal: finding a job or getting into education.
In this workshop, Marjolein will:
- Identify the most common barriers young people especially from migrant backgrounds encounter when searching for work
- Share practical tips and tricks you can actually use
- Explain how mentorship, and DUO for a JOB's approach in particular can make a real difference
Marjolein has been working at DUO for a JOB for over two years as the programme coordinator for Rotterdam. Every day, she witnesses the struggles young people face. Finding a job is never easy, and having a different cultural background can make it even harder. But these struggles are not unique, and that's exactly what makes them worth talking about.
Het kan behoorlijk frustrerend zijn als je niet goed voor jezelf kunt opkomen, zowel in je professionele als in je persoonlijke leven. Zo kunnen anderen bijvoorbeeld misbruik maken van je goede intenties, vind je het lastig om nee te zeggen, of wil je je mening of idee delen in een groep, maar ben je bang dat anderen het niet met je eens zijn. Assertieve communicatie is een essentiële vaardigheid, niet alleen voor je relaties, maar ook voor je carrière. Denk bijvoorbeeld aan het vragen om een salarisverhoging of het sturen van je collega’s richting een bepaald idee.
Na deze workshop kun je:
• Reflecteren op je eigen sterke en zwakke punten op het gebied van assertieve communicatie.
• Je eigen set van assertieve rechten formuleren.
• Principes van assertieve communicatie toepassen in een rollenspel.
Met uitgebreide ervaring in uiteenlopende omgevingen combineert Albi zijn achtergrond als performer met een sterke focus op assertieve communicatie. Hij stelt deelnemers in staat essentiële vaardigheden te ontwikkelen zoals actief luisteren, heldere uitdrukking en non-verbale communicatie, afgestemd op hun individuele behoeften en persoonlijke kwaliteiten. Zo leren zij communiceren met zelfvertrouwen, helderheid en impact. Albi helpt je een persoonlijk communicatierepertoire op te bouwen waarmee je je in elke situatie, van teamoverleg tot klantgesprek zeker voelt en authentieke verbindingen opbouwt.
Nowadays, we rarely land a job-for-life after graduation. Most of us will (have to) go through a number of career cycles. What can you do to keep your career aligned with your interests?
In this workshop you will learn how to take a proactive role on defining your career goal, setting direction, and steering your career and take home practical tips to strategically navigate your career.
After an exciting biomedical research career throughout Europe, Chiat returned to NL to focus on the support of researchers in broad career development. Since 2016 she has been consulting academic employers to set up career programmes and talent policy. As a professional, she combines employment with freelance work.
Tickets
Tickets cost €15 per person*, including lunch and a networking reception. Half of this amount goes towards scholarships for future master’s students. With your contribution, you help talented students achieve their ambitions and make education accessible to all. Discover their stories and get inspired here.
* Please note that all ticket sales are final and tickets are non-refundable. We appreciate your understanding.
Registration
You can register for the event on this webpage.
- More information
This event is organised by: ESHPM, ESHCC, ESL, ESSB, EUC, IHS/ISS and EUR Alumni Relations
