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What does the company/organisation you work for do?

Network, sparring, and development for industrial and manufacturing companies; several of the companies with export in mind.
The purpose of our network activities is to get the participants to share experiences, challenges and especially creating business for and with each other.
The network meetings are being held as company visits with various manufacturing companies.

Facilitated matchmaking is a regular part of the programme to ensure that people with sparring and collaboration potential get time with each other. Our networking activities are also organised for Danish companies in selected emerging markets.

What do a few typical job assignments look like for you?

Organising and coordinating of events with host companies and potential collaborators. Preparation of weekly newsletters and content for e.g., LinkedIn, Instagram, and web.

Facilitation of networking events with everything that goes on before, during and after. Relationship works and sales.

Briefly describe your "journey" from university to your current job

” Journey” is a rather good keyword here. It was precisely my wanderlust that made me apply for the job as student worker at Andersen Consult, our mother company, when I returned home after my fourth semester in London.
I specifically searched for a company in Northern Jutland with international activity and profile. It was a good match, and I wrote several semester projects with companies that also are my customers today.
I went all in and also chose to do my ninth semester internship at the company. After a successful master´s thesis with a terrific study group, I was employed full-time.

From then on, things evolved quickly and after few months, I was pushed straight off the 10 metres diving board with responsibility for business delegations to, among others, Tanzania, Vietnam, Morocco, the Philippines, and Bangladesh with groups of Danish export companies who were going out into the world to find local collaborators. That experience toughened me up and provided valuable experiences and relationships. However, after a couple of years with this focus, it was obvious that it is the relations I am enthusiastic about. I was therefore offered the opportunity, together with my colleagues, to build AndersenB2B from scratch to where we are today. A wild journey where learning and development follow suit. But also, a journey where the SIV programme has had a far greater impact than I realised.

How does your typical working day look like?

I have two types of workdays. If I am BACK OFFICE, I am often sitting in a café or in my home office preparing, coordinating, writing, calling, planning, accounting, following up and making ends meet so our event programme is always full, and the networking events run smoothly every time.

If, on the other hand, I am FRONT END, you´ll find me facilitating meetings and events around the country at a wide range of exciting companies. A couple of times a year, this takes place in emerging markets in Asia and Africa.

What motivates you?

I usually say food and people…But here, of course, the answer must be people. Talented people who are enthusiastic about their profession, entrepreneurial people who work hard to succeed with their business, good relations that make my work meaningful.

What is the most important learning in your working life so far?

Communication between people is everything. Both the good and the bad.

How do you use your education and AAU expertise in practice?

I benefit every day from the linguistic foundation that was built during the programme. SIV also provided a commercial understanding, which was quite necessary for me coming from a general upper secondary school.

A high linguistic and communicative level, commercial understanding, and the ability to collaborate and solve complex problems are some of the most essential elements of my AAU professionalism.

What made you choose Aalborg University over another university?

I have always been in love with the city of Aalborg. And I still am. That is why the city drew me in first. But I am extremely grateful that it was AAU that was the academic setting for my studies. Especially because of the strong focus on group- and problem-based learning.

It was frustrating at first. But it ended up being the most important thing when I came out on the other side.

What made you choose the programme you did?

During my three gap years, I travelled a lot and like many other young people, I was bitten by a crazy travel bug that wouldn´t really let go of me again. So, I applied for a study programme that could take me out into the world. But I was honestly pretty lost. I ended up taking a test on the education guide where the SIV programme came up as a favorite.

When I read something about studying abroad, internships and then `international´ in the name of the programme, I was sold - and took the chance. Luckily, I did.

What is your favorite memory from AAU?

I had five amazing years at AAU where socialising and academics went hand in hand. Therefore, there are many festive memories from my time as a student that I will never forget. Tying a bow on everything with a master´s thesis where group work and collaboration with both supervisor and companies all came together must be the favorite.

What is your career advice for students and recent graduates when entering the job market?

Make sure you do plenty of collaborations with companies during your studies. You´ll gain valuable insight into the business world, you´ll build relationships which can help pave the way for your career later on, and your study projects will be more fun to work on. In the same way, I can only encourage you to get a relevant study job early on in your studies. It has a significant impact on your chances in the labour market after graduation. Volunteer work, board work, and hobbies such as taking photos, making videos, building social media profiles etc. are also great assets on your CV when you are looking for your first job.

LinkedIn should also be mentioned; it is a great platform to build a professional network while you´re still studying. Your profile and your competences are unique, and you can take chances and go all in on your dream job.

With the knowledge and insight you have today, what advice would you give yourself if you were to start studying at AAU?

Hang in there at the beginning when everything is new and overwhelming. Give your first study group a chance and remember to prioritise all the fun things that also come with being a student.

Sanne Kjeldsteen on LinkedIn