In celebration of International Women’s Day and in anticipation of the upcoming Women in Business event, we’re excited to highlight the inspiring journeys of six remarkable female IBA alumni. In this first edition, we sit down with Jolien Peeters, the Faculty Director of the Faculty of TSHD. Jolien began her IBA studies in 2005 and later pursued a master’s degree in Strategic Management. Now, with over four and a half years of experience as the managing director of TSHD, she plays a crucial role in the School’s leadership team, overseeing operations and the implementation of policies set by the board and the dean. Let us delve into Jolien’s experiences and insights.
Let’s go back to 18-year-old Jolien. What excited you about studying IBA? What were your expectations for the program?
I had always had an affinity for business management and business administration. I also considered public administration (bestuurskunde) because I was interested in government and education. However, I felt a stronger connection to IBA. I’ve also always loved languages, so I found IBA appealing because I could study in English and also take a foreign language during my exchange. That made it really appealing for me. Additionally, choosing Tilburg felt like the right decision.
Then you were accepted and arrived in Tilburg. Can you describe how that experience was?
I immediately moved into a student house and joined Vidar right away. For me, that was very important to create a sense of home. My first year was quite carefree. I partied a lot and enjoyed the immense freedom that came with being a student. I’ve always been a very active student: I competed in rowing, participated in various committees, was part of the university council, went on exchange, and worked as a student assistant in several places at the university. This involvement helped me feel deeply connected to the university and the student life. (…) Looking back, I’d say that being active would truly be my motto for all students. While the material in the books is interesting, you really learn things in practice. You learn how to relate to others and how to apply the knowledge you gain in real-life situations. It doesn’t matter where you do this—whether you become a manager of cashiers at Albert Heijn, work as a student assistant here, or organize the TOP-week. Everything is valuable, and you can learn from every experience. There’s so much about yourself to uncover that you might not know when you’re 18.
Are there specific courses, projects, or internships that you found particularly valuable during your time at IBA?
The exchange program was very valuable for me. You get to know yourself in a different way and encounter challenges that you wouldn’t face here. Even in Spain, the culture is different, and you learn that things you take for granted aren’t necessarily the same for everyone. It also teaches you the importance of putting in effort, especially when everything is new and different. You have to make new friends and settle into a new environment, which requires additional skills.
Many students experience a sense of uncertainty after graduating, often asking themselves, “What now?” How did you experience this?
We tend to rationalize everything, but often your gut feeling—or your heart, however you want to call it—knows before your head does. Sometimes, when considering a company, you think, “Oh, that sounds interesting,” and other times you immediately feel a “no” for other companies or roles. Follow that feeling; it’s usually right. (…) It doesn’t have to be grand or fit the standard definition of success.
What advice would you give to current IBA students?
I think three important things are: first, be active and use that to get to know yourself better. Discover what interests you and what doesn’t. Have the courage to follow that, as we just discussed. Additionally, appreciate the network you already have. You’re surrounded by so many interesting people who are great to connect with, and these connections can be valuable later on. It’s important to recognize the worth of that network as you build it now. In ten years, you might find yourself reaching out to one of the people you’re hanging out with at the bar right now.
In the context of the Women in Business event, do you have any advice for our female readers?
One thing that has really helped me is having the courage to express what you enjoy and where you want to go. In my current role, I also find it valuable to know what people's interests are and how I can help them find joy in their work. So, speak up! It’s standard advice, but grabbing a coffee with someone really works. Everyone loves to talk about their own job, so just say, “Hey, your job seems really interesting; can you tell me more about it?”
Finally, while it may sound cliché, it’s crucial to remember that you don’t need to have all the skills for a new job when you start. You’ll learn them as you go. You don’t need to meet 100% of the requirements right from the beginning; what matters is that you have the potential to grow into the role. So, be brave enough to step into something even if you’re not fully ready yet.