Why Hein chose the EMFC programme at the UvA

‘The EMFC at the University of Amsterdam was a very natural choice for me. I had already completed a Master in Accountancy & Control there, and the campus is a great place to study. I’m also fascinated with issues around digitalisation, data and leadership, and these are all an important parts of the EMFC curriculum.'

Learning and growing with other ambitious professionals

'The EMFC is challenging and intensive. The diversity of students is one of the programme’s real strengths and means we learn a lot from one another – supporting each other in busy periods and pushing each other during assignments. The programme also leaves loads of room to share experiences and actually work together. We all have demanding full-time jobs and are motivated to grow professionally, and being part of a group like that is really rewarding.'

Turning classroom insights into impact at work

‘Courses and assignments are consistently linked to real-world practice, making it easy to apply what you learn directly to your own work from the very start. For example, there was an assignment on accounting information systems (AIS) where we had to describe processes in our own organisations, and then in lectures we got tools to improve them. In the Operational Excellence course you also learn how important it is for a financial business partner to interlink strategy, operations and IT. The programme has equipped me with insights and skills that are helping me to engage with the business more effectively.

The EMFC lecturers have longtime experience in the industry and are knowledgeable about the latest trends and technologies shaping the finance function. In the Strategic Finance course, for example, we had guest lectures by professionals who work closely with finance departments, such as from HR and marketing, which was very interesting and educational.'

Developing soft skills

'The programme also has a big focus on soft skills like strategic thinking and persuasive presentation. For instance, in the lectures on leadership, an important component was a 2-day training on effective collaboration with other organisational disciplines. This has helped me solidify my position as a strategic business partner and enhanced my ability to make a positive impact.'

Stepping up as a strategic business partner

'There’s no question in my mind that EMFC has made me a stronger business partner. I can genuinely advise at strategic level now and proactively contribute to internal collaboration. And because I understand the implications of data and technology, I’m able to help drive my organisation’s digital transformation. The programme has given me a solid foundation on which to continue building my career.’