Business Strategy Internship

Business Strategy Internship

Posting Title: Business Strategy Internship
Duration: 4 to 6 months (start in September/October 2023)
Location: The Hague, the Netherlands
Compensation: €600 per month (for 4 days a week)
 

Do you want to help accelerate and upscale the positive impact of Dutch businesses to improve the lives of current and future generations? Ever wondered what it’s like to work for a UN initiative? Are you passionate about business strategy and engaging with stakeholders?

If you answered yes to all three, come join the UN Global Compact Network Netherlands as our new Business Strategy intern!

 

BACKGROUND

The United Nations Global Compact is the largest corporate sustainability initiative in the world. It has an unparalleled global reach and the exclusive opportunity to activate a diverse network of businesses to advance sustainable development in collaboration with investors, Government, UN, and civil society stakeholders.

The UN Global Compact Network Netherlands’ 2022-2024 strategy is based on three key pillars: Build, Reach, and Engage. At the moment we are working on a strategy refresh to enhance our growth ambition. You will be part of this process! 

 

POSITION SUMMARY

As our Business Strategy intern, you will work as part of a young, diverse, and ambitious team on the development of our strategy for 2024-2027. You will support on:

  • Near & long-term vision and strategic agenda – supporting the Executive Director in driving and prioritizing the vision and strategic agenda on a corporate level, based on outside-in trends & benchmarks and both internal and external analysis. 
  • Analyzing and assessing initiatives and programmes in our local network and comparing them with other local networks worldwide. Identifying improvements, opportunities, and threats.
  • Client satisfaction and feedback from Key Accounts and representative sectors.

 

DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

  • Current Strategy Analysis and Evaluation
  • Company situation analysis
  • New Strategy Draft 2025-2027: Compared to other networks in Europe
  • Support on engagement and activities developed by the team

 

QUALIFICATIONS

  • In the final year of an MSc University Degree in Business Management, Global Business & Sustainability, International Management, Business Analytics & Management, Strategic Entrepreneurship or similar
  • Excellent communicator in English, both verbally and in writing, Dutch is a plus 
  • Basic knowledge of strategy & business analysis methodologies
  • Analytically driven – strong quantitative and analytical capabilities
  • Flexible, team player with a can-do and eager-to-learn attitude
  • Curious & Innovative

 

SUPPORT 

During your internship, you will work with and receive professional support from Monica Pascual (Participant Engagement Manager) and Merei Wagenaar (Executive Director). You have the option to write your thesis on the topic of this internship.

 

RECRUITMENT PROCESS

Please include the below documents in your email to Merei Wagenaar, Executive Director of UN Global Compact Network Netherlands, wagenaar@unglobalcompact.nl before 1 September 2023. 

  • Cover letter (max 1 A4)
  • Resume

If you have any questions please get in touch with Monica Pascual, Participant Engagement Manager at pascual@unglobalcompact.nl. If selected for the interview round, you’ll be invited for an in-person meeting at the Malietoren (Bezuidenhoutseweg 12, The Hague) in September.

Women in Leadership: Unseen barriers and what to do about it

Women in Leadership: Unseen barriers and what to do about it

Women in Leadership: Unseen barriers and what to do about it

This year, UN Global Compact Network Netherlands is piloting two peer learning groups, one on Gender Equality and one on Climate Action. The goal is for the participating companies to learn more about these important topics, dig into the challenges that they are facing, and exchange best practices that can help overcome these challenges. This blog captures our companies’ peer learning journey.

After a session on inclusive work environments (hosted by co-lead Deloitte) and a session on equal pay (hosted by co-lead Oxycom), our third gender equality session covered the topic of women in leadership, hosted by co-lead AkzoNobel at their Amsterdam office. We were joined by colleagues from AkzoNobel’s global Women Inspired Network.

Women in leadership

We explored what is currently hindering women to move into leadership positions and how to help them in preparing for leadership roles, getting into those roles and staying there.

Bingo

The session started with a bingo game to get to know each other better, including some of the barriers people may face to reach or stay in a leadership position. Then it was time for some key facts and research. 

Are these on your bingo card of knowledge about women in leadership?

A book mentioned by Deloitte, “What Works for Women” (Joan C. Williams, 2014), explains the underlying mechanisms women have to deal with to get to a leadership position and stay there. To achieve balanced gender representation in corporate leadership, structural changes are needed. 

On the other hand, sisterhood between women is of great importance. The so-called Queen Bee phenomenon shows that women can express prejudices and stereotypes about other women. But, as women belong to the group to which the prejudices apply, they are more likely to be believed and such views are less likely to be considered as sexist. This type of behaviour can help to legitimize the current gender hierarchy.

What can encourage women leadership?

In smaller groups, companies discussed which policies and initiatives promote women in leadership. They mentioned coaching, mentoring, and sponsorships as ways for women to increase their skills, opportunities, and visibility within their organizations. Philips mentioned their Women’s Circle, Johnsen & Johnsen mentioned their I Am Remarkable program, and Deloitte talked about their Reverse Mentoring Program. The companies also underscored the need for male colleagues to get involved and support the plight for gender equality.

At the end of the session, Sirvan Canitez shared her journey to a top-management position at AkzoNobel as Commercial Director of Powder Coatings in South Asia. Her main takeaway to inspire other women is to keep challenging yourself. In response to criticism from colleagues who thought she was too eager or impatient, she had her argument ready: “if I work more than the regular employee, then it makes sense that I learn and can take on more responsibility more quickly.”

The next session will be on the 14th of September, on the topic of Recruitment & Retention of Women Employees.

The UN Global Compact Network Netherlands recognizes Eva Gouwens for championing the Sustainable Development Goals

The UN Global Compact Network Netherlands recognizes Eva Gouwens for championing the Sustainable Development Goals

The UN Global Compact Network Netherlands recognizes Eva Gouwens for championing the Sustainable Development Goals

The Hague, 26 June 2023 — Last week, Eva Gouwens was recognized as the 2023 local SDG Pioneer by the UN Global Compact Network Netherlands. An SDG Pioneer is a business leader working at any level of their company, using business as a force for good to advance the 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). 

“To me personally and to us at Fairphone, being sustainable has always meant to care about the planet, but also about the people affected by the products we make. I love that, at Fairphone, we work day in and day out on how to put the SDGs into practice in our business, in our products and services to make it easier for our users to put them into practice as well. We develop products that are made fair and kept in use longer – by making them easier to repair and recycle, but also by offering long support and a fair and sustainable design. Being named UN SDG pioneer for the Netherlands is a great honour and recognition for these efforts.” – Eva Gouwens, CEO at Fairphone

As the winner of the Local Round, Eva Gouwens will now compete in the Global Round along with other candidates for the title of 2023 UN Global Compact SDG Pioneers. The global winners will be announced this September 2023 during the UN Global Compact Leaders Summit.

“The SDG Pioneers programme recognizes the dedicated professionals that drive and innovate solutions through new technologies, initiatives and business models that can enable us to reach the Sustainable Development Goals by 2030. We hope their work will inspire others to advance the Global Goals by implementing our Ten Principles on human rights, labour, environment and anti-corruption,” said Sanda Ojiambo, CEO & Executive Director of the UN Global Compact

About the SDG Pioneers Programme

As a special initiative of the UN Secretary-General, the UN Global Compact works with companies everywhere to align their operations and strategies with the Ten Principles in the areas of human rights, labour, environment and anti-corruption. Launched in 2000, the UN Global Compact guides and supports the global business community in advancing UN goals and values through responsible corporate practices. With more than 18,000 companies and 3,800 non-business signatories in 162 countries and 62 Local Networks, it is the largest corporate sustainability initiative in the world.

For more information, follow @un-global-compact-network-netherlands on social media and visit our website at www.gcnetherlands.nl.

Mobility for the future of our planet

Mobility for the future of our planet

Mobility for the future of our planet 

Mobility is the ability to move people and goods in space (e.g. cities), for a purpose. Clean, innovative and efficient mobility is key to the world achieving the SDGs

SDG 7 – Conceives a shift from fossil fuels to cleaner solutions like renewable-powered electric vehicles for reduced emissions, pollution and oil dependence

SDG 9 – More sustainable and efficient transport infrastructure is the key to this goal, involving charging infrastructure, electric fleets and intelligent transport systems.

SDG 11 – Sustainable mobility is key to thriving communities in our cities. It reduces congestion while enhancing livability in cities. 

SDG 13 – Clean mobility of people and goods plays a key part in global GHG reduction strategies. 

Most UN Global Compact participants deal with transport and mobility as either their core business or as a secondary/tertiary opportunity for reducing their carbon footprint. As technology has enabled mobility innovation, we are seeing some promising trends evolve as the future of mobility, enabling:

𝐌𝐨𝐫𝐞 𝐜𝐡𝐨𝐢𝐜𝐞𝐬: Future mobility will be very much about humankind having the choice to move (at all) by having valid alternatives in the form of passenger and goods mobility/delivery that are the best-informed solutions, on cost, efficiency and convenience. As technology encompasses all modes, they become data-objects in a world of possibilities, combined into inter-modal journeys e.g. a journey on an e-aircraft, completed with an autonomous taxi.

𝐒𝐞𝐚𝐦𝐥𝐞𝐬𝐬 travel: With real-time data, connectivity and ubiquitous digital payment infrastructure, it would be possible to plan, book/call, and pay for a multitude of modes, in their best combination, effortlessly. E.g. now the contactless open-loop payments across the Netherlands allow mobility between NS and local transit, without a specialized transport-card

𝐂𝐨𝐧𝐯𝐞𝐫𝐠𝐞𝐝 𝐨𝐰𝐧𝐞𝐫𝐬𝐡𝐢𝐩/𝐮𝐬𝐚𝐠𝐞 𝐦𝐨𝐝𝐞𝐥𝐬: With autonomous vehicles, self-driven (e.g. car-sharing) and chauffeured (e.g. taxi) business models will converge. Smarter contracts and connected data from vehicles will allow for flexible leases/policies that will cover use for a few hours to a few years, across a variety of use cases. The integration of passenger and goods mobility use cases will spawn multi-purpose vehicles (e.g. delivery + taxi)

Going beyond the surface: As the cities of the future get more and more congested, particularly at the road level, new directions are being sought. Air taxis, electric boats and car tunnels are only the beginning of ideas for seeing cities in three dimensions. Mapping, traffic control, stations and routes will also expand to the third dimension.

𝐎𝐩𝐭𝐢𝐦𝐢𝐬𝐞𝐝: Intelligent use of the limited space we have in our cities, to have mobility solutions where they are most needed and justified, to right-sizing the vehicles we have on our streets (e.g. light electric vehicles, instead of big diesel vans), and to simply reduce the excess (and rarely used) personal vehicles. Powertrains, modes and solutions that prevail will have to confirm to (energy & cost) efficiency, no/low noise, safety, accessibility and carbon neutrality/negativity.

About the author

Mr. Rajarshi Rakesh Sahai is a business and thought leader with significant experience in electric vehicles, smart cities, energy, and business strategy. He has successfully led organisations in electric vehicles, shared mobility, mobility-as-a-service, Venture Capital and strategy consulting.

Photo credits: Salzburg Global Seminar/Christian Streili

Press & Communications Intern

Press & Communications Intern

Position title: Press & Communication Internship

Duration: 4 to 6 months (start in September/October 2023)

Location: The Hague, The Netherlands

Compensation: €600 per month (for 4 days per week)

 

Do you want to help accelerate and upscale the positive impact of Dutch businesses to improve the lives of current and future generations? Ever wondered what it’s like to work for a UN initiative? Are you passionate about press and communications?

If you answered yes to all three, come join UN Global Compact Network Netherlands as our new Press & Communications Intern!

BACKGROUND

The United Nations Global Compact is the largest corporate sustainability initiative in the world and has an unparalleled global reach and the exclusive opportunity to activate a diverse network of businesses to advance sustainable development in collaboration with investors, Government, UN and civil society stakeholders.

A key pillar of UN Global Compact Network Netherlands’ 2022-2024 strategy is to reach a critical mass of sustainable business and to become recognized as a center for excellence on the topic of sustainability. To achieve this, we aim to increase the visibility of our work in the Netherlands. In addition to addressing traditional media, we use the following social media channels: LinkedIn, Twitter, and Instagram. 

 

POSITION SUMMARY

As our Press & Communication intern, you will support efforts to increase our local network and UN Global Compact’s visibility to help reach and engage more Dutch businesses. You will help us professionalize our press relationship with local/regional/national media and press, and create related press/communication materials. Candidates should have exceptional communication and collaboration skills, be passionate about the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), and preferably have experience in or a strong connection to press and (social) media.

 

DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

  • Help finetune and implement our media plan to create more visibility for UN Global Compact NL and engage more Dutch businesses
  • Other duties and projects, as applicable

 

QUALIFICATIONS

  • In the final year of the University of Applied Sciences or University degree
  • Excellent communicator in Dutch and English, both verbally and in writing
  • Practical experience with Press/Comms and project management
  • Flexible and service-oriented team player with a can-do and eager-to-learn attitude
  • Bonus: an interest in design (e.g., InDesign, Photoshop, Premiere)

 

SUPPORT

During your internship, you will work with and receive professional support from Julia Kondrateva (Strategic Events Manager) and Merei Wagenaar (Executive Director). You have the option to write your thesis on the topic of this internship.

 

RECRUITMENT PROCESS

Please include the below documents in your email to Merei Wagenaar, Executive Director UN Global Compact Network Netherlands, wagenaar@unglobalcompact.nl before 1 September 2023:

  • Cover letter (max 1 A4)
  • Resume

If selected for the interview round, you’ll be invited for an in-person meeting at the Malietoren (Bezuidenhoutseweg 12, The Hague) sometime in September.

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