Maaike van der Hulst
As chairwoman, I am responsible for policy, communication with the university, and other parties such as financial study associations. That may sound boring, but it’s actually incredibly fun. I represent the association to these parties, which allows me to accomplish a lot. After all, we work closely with the university to promote our events. In addition to these tasks, I coordinate the two most exciting committees within our association: the alumni committee and Asset Financials Investments. With the alumni committee, we organize three great events per year for our former members so they can stay in touch. The schedule includes two annual dinners for a group of more than 50 alumni and a networking boat event. Furthermore, Asset Financials Investments holds weekly meetings to improve its portfolio, where I participate as a coordinator.
In this article, I will elaborate on my responsibilities as chairwoman of Asset | Financials.
Who am I? I am Maaike van der Hulst, 23 years old. I was born and raised in Zoetermeer, a beautiful city in the Randstad. In September 2020, I started my bachelor’s degree in Business Administration at the Vrije Universiteit in Amsterdam, where I had a great time. However, due to COVID-19, I never lived in student housing there. That’s why, at the end of my studies, I decided to look for a university where I could pursue a master’s in Finance and also experience student housing. After starting my studies, my housemates took me to the Asset Kick-off party. In January, I joined a committee at Asset | Accounting & Finance: the Financial Business Dinner, the largest event we organize, together with three other committee members.
Why did I choose a board year? Before I became an active member of Asset A&F halfway through the first year of my master’s, I never had a clear idea of what a board year at a study association entailed. Because of this, I had never seriously considered it. However, when I got involved with Asset | Accounting & Finance during my master’s, I quickly discovered how social it was and how many people you get to meet. Shortly after joining, I went to the lustrum event, where I initially knew no one but quickly made friends. It was a great way to take a break from studying, as the Master’s in Finance is quite challenging.
Moreover, during formal events with companies, you get the opportunity to explore the job market. After attending the lustrum event and nearing the end of my master’s thesis, I felt like I had missed out on fun activities during my bachelor’s. I had only experienced half a year of it, and I wanted more. I also felt that I could develop myself further before entering the job market by interacting with various stakeholders such as companies, the university, and the management team. Finally, companies find it highly valuable to see a board year on your CV because of the responsibility you carry for an entire year.
What does the role of Chairwoman entail? As chairwoman, I am responsible for overall policy. This means I review our event schedule with the university during monthly meetings. I also keep them updated on how events are progressing, and we assist each other where needed. Additionally, I communicate every two months with financial associations across the Netherlands during our FAN meeting, where we share tips and coordinate policies with partners. I also coordinate two committees: the alumni committee and Asset Financials Investments. The alumni committee organizes elegant dinners and a fun activity each year for graduates. I also have weekly meetings with our investment club, Asset Financials Investments—a group of 45 enthusiastic students who manage their own portfolio and attend guest lectures from companies. Together, they maintain a stock portfolio and regularly pitch new stocks during meetings. Additionally, they participate in case competitions and workshops. On behalf of our association, I arrange these guest lectures and maintain corporate contacts.
These are two very different committees, which makes coordinating them both exciting and diverse! Besides my roles within my own board, I also hold a position on the general board of Asset, known as Asset General. Here, I serve as treasurer, managing all the financial transactions within Asset. And let me tell you—that’s a lot! Asset General itself organizes a few events each year, such as the Asset Kick-off, Asset Pre-Carnival, Big Informal, and the Champions League. I handle the bookkeeping and payments, ensuring that we can afford certain expenses—like extra beer during Pre-Carnival! This role takes about one to two days per week because I attend the General Board meetings every Tuesday. In these meetings, we discuss topics such as event organization, budgeting, and Asset’s overall promotion.
What have I truly learned this year? Many people ask me why I chose to do a board year after graduating. One reason, as I mentioned earlier, is for the great parties and unforgettable memories—but of course, it’s also about personal development. You don’t learn everything in lecture halls, even after completing a master’s degree.
Being responsible for an event, communicating information effectively, and speaking in front of large groups—including companies—are all valuable skills. A board year teaches you a great deal on both a personal and professional level. You also face challenges that require you to manage stress effectively and maintain oversight. Additionally, you learn how to work intensively with a team and how crucial good communication is. We constantly keep each other informed about what we are working on and any challenges we face. This helps us stay sharp and support one another. You also realize the importance of setting boundaries when things become overwhelming and learning to ask for help when needed.
Advice for my successors. At first, a board year can feel hectic, and it may take some time to find your rhythm. But don’t stress about it too much. You always have your fellow board members to support you, and it’s completely normal to have a learning curve at the beginning. Everyone makes mistakes, and as a board, you grow from them. Most importantly, don’t let the busy schedule make you forget to enjoy all the wonderful experiences you gain. Take time to reflect on what you have already achieved—you have plenty to be proud of!
Sem van de Heijning
Introduction: Who am I? My name is Sem van de Heijning and I am 23 years old. I originally come from the beautiful village of Reusel and moved to Tilburg at the beginning of the past academic year. Due to the pandemic, I barely attended university during the first three years, which is why I only became familiar with what was then Asset | Accounting & Finance in November 2023, after accidentally signing up for the CityTrip of that year. After much hesitation, I decided to go, which led to me joining the CityTrip committee from February onwards. By the end of this academic year, I hope to have completed my Master’s in Accountancy and then work at a reputable accountancy firm.
Why did I choose a board year at Asset | Financials? After being a passive member of Asset for three years, I thought it would be fun to meet new people here in Tilburg. Eventually, I joined Financials because I was studying Accountancy, which immediately brought me into contact with many new, nice people who were studying the same thing. I quickly started attending almost all informal and formal events because they were always very enjoyable. This also gave me a better understanding of what Asset | Accounting & Finance was all about and what was happening in the rooms. Although I had serious doubts about whether a board year was right for me, I have absolutely no regrets. Initially, I thought a board year wasn’t for me; it seemed too busy, I doubted whether I wanted to take on this responsibility, and I had to move out of my familiar environment to Tilburg. Because I had not passed part of my Master’s Thesis and the working life was not yet for me, it was worth it for me to do a board year. Hearing countless positive stories and the support of friends and family encouraged me to apply. With my background in Accountancy, I didn’t hesitate about which position to apply for, and the role of Treasurer seemed to suit me best.
“Finances play an important role, so as Treasurer, you are involved in everything.”
What does a week as Treasurer look like? As Treasurer, you are responsible for all finances within Asset | Financials. At the beginning of the year, you set up the budget, which you continue to update throughout the year. What I find very interesting about this is that almost everything costs money, so you are involved in all decisions. Sometimes you have to be strict and unfortunately reject fun but too expensive ideas. On the other hand, you can also bring good news if there is room in the budget for, for example, a spontaneous drink. Working with numbers is also really the most enjoyable part of my tasks. Additionally, I coordinate four committees: Sports, Investment Night, CityTrip, and Active Members Weekend committees. These involve approximately weekly meetings where you work together towards the events. By coordinating these committees, there is a nice balance between working with numbers and organizing events with a group of people. With the Investment Night committee, you work all year towards a large formal event where you can be very proud afterwards when you have organized a beautiful event. The nice thing about the smaller informal events is that there is much less pressure, and you often organize a fun event for active members.
“A board year is, in my opinion, a unique experience.”
A board year is, in my opinion, a unique experience where you carry a lot of responsibility on one hand, but also have a lot of room for personal input. It offers you the opportunity to build a large network both formally and informally. You meet so many new, nice people and really make friends for life. Working together and especially socializing with other departments on the floor is also very enjoyable. You see each other every day, and if you get along well with everyone, it makes the days much easier. Additionally, you have a fun drink, dinner, or activity every week.
Final words. I never expected to learn so much on a personal and professional level during a board year. It is a busy year, but you experience so much. It is a year in which I have built many friendships and had a lot of fun. I have never regretted my choice for a moment and would recommend it to everyone.
