Author: Bram Bakker
Date: 10-02-2023

Since September 6th, I have the opportunity to be the chairman of Asset | Economics and fulfil a role in the board of Asset | Tilburg. In this blog, I will tell you more about my experiences and give you an overview of what I do. 

I will start by introducing myself. My name is Bram Bakker and I am 21 years old. I grew up in Vlissingen, a beautiful city in the dutch province of Zeeland. I started studying in Tilburg 2,5 years ago and I am in my third year of the bachelor Economics and Business Economics. I became active at Asset | Economics in my first year, joining the Multimedia Committee. The next year I joined the Study Tour Committee. We organised the study tour to Malta. 

My role as chairman is difficult to explain. There are some set tasks, but most tasks are variable and will come up during the year. Not having a fixed set of tasks is a challenge, but your very flexible at the same time. No working day is the same. Because you don't have so many fixed tasks, you can take on many individual projects. These projects differ a lot and are not assigned to a specific board member. A good example for this is a CV training I organised together with Student Career Services.    

Some set tasks as chairman are the contact with the university, representing Asset | Economics within Asset and prepare/lead the weekly board meetings. Next to these clear tasks I also coordinate multiple committees like the Activities Committee and the Sports Committee. 

The contact with the university consists of multiple aspects. I have meetings with the Academic Directors from the Bsc Economics, Bsc Economics and Business Economics and Msc Economics. During these meetings we speak about improvements for the program and career development. We always look where we can help the different programs. We do this together with Student Career Services. They are the organ within the university who provide career development events. Next to the different programs I also have contact with for example the planning department. This is to arrange rooms on campus for events.

Representing Asset | Economics is a task you have within the weekly board meeting with all other chairman, but also during the week. There are a lot of meetings and discussions where you have to think what is best for Asset | Economics. These meetings and discussions are often random and not planned. 

Preparing and leading the weekly board meeting is not a very demanding job, but a difficult one. Leading these meetings is the difficult part of this. You have to introduce most discussions and give some background information. Afterwards, you have to lead the discussion and make sure everyone has the opportunity to say what they think. 

Next to being the chairman of Asset | Economics, I’m also the acquisition coordinator for Asset | Tilburg. 

As acquisition coordinator you are the external affairs officer for Asset | Tilburg and you are the coordinator of all departmental external affairs officers. You have weekly meetings with all externals to talk about company contact, career events and our career platform. Next to the weekly meeting you will have contact with all externals during the week. You will fix inter departmental problems and also problems with the university or companies. 

This portfolio is one of the most demanding portfolios within the board of Asset | Tilburg. I spend on average about 60% of my time on this portfolio, so that means I do not have a lot of time for Asset | Economics. You will have to find a balance between both functions to keep both boards happy. 

All in all, I am really happy with my decision for a board year. Next to making a lot of new friends, I also grew massively as a person. It is not always easy or fun, but you learn so much. Like they always say: “From mistakes you learn the most!”. Last, a board year is so much more then working for an association and representing that association. It is making memories and friends for life. 

Hopefully this article has given you some insight in what it entails to be Chairman of the board of Asset | Economics. If you have any questions or want to know more, do not hesitate to contact me by phone (06-37163840), or by mail: [email protected]