What is your current position, and what do you do?

I work for the Dutch Ministry of Foreign Affairs, as a Senior Economic Officer at the Consulate General in Chicago – a Dutch economic and diplomatic mission in the United States. I am primarily responsible for promoting and representing Dutch business interests in the US Midwest: thirteen states that, combined, are roughly the size of Western Europe, with an economic output similar to Germany. I am also responsible for Cultural Affairs in our region, which is mostly a representative role.

In practice, this means that I assist Dutch companies, start-ups and knowledge institutes with their expansion here. This can be through sharing our network, organising specific missions, opening doors that would otherwise remain closed, visiting conferences under a Dutch banner, and government to government support. We also have the strategic mandate to conduct studies or act on trends we observe here. That makes it possible to alert relevant stakeholders in the Netherlands to new opportunities.

A typical day starts with calls or virtual meetings with the Netherlands. The afternoon will generally be filled with a combination of composing strategic documents, meetings with local partners and brainstorming sessions about upcoming events or studies. Of course, there is also some administrative and organising work that has to be done every now and then. The evenings are often used to expand our local network by attending different events. Think about a demo day hosted by a start-up accelerator, or a tour of the Art Institute for the Consular Corps, and pretty much everything in between. But, to be honest, not one day is the same!

How has the corona virus pandemic affected your work? How do you deal with it?

COVID-19 has had an enormous impact on the businesses and organisations we typically work with, therefore our work has also been affected tremendously. My typical day does not exist anymore.

We work hard to inform and assist Dutch businesses that are active in our region in any way we can. Imagine providing the most updated information about government support packages, emergency VISA assistance, organising specific webinars, and offering tailor-made advice through our local network of experts.

The essence of the work has also changed. We are using this time to try and look ahead, creating our strategic outlook for the following years. A part of that is attempting to assess how the current crisis impacts our most important sectors, both in the Netherlands and in the US. At the moment, this situation is still developing, but we already see some developments that could pick up after COVID-19 in which Dutch expertise could offer preferred solutions.

What do you like most about your job?

Besides the opportunity to work in another country? It is an incredibly dynamic, rewarding and diverse job, which you might not expect when thinking of working for a government! Launching new strategic initiatives, building and expanding the network, attending events and conferences, travelling around the region, meetings with governors and mayors – it is all a part of the job. Furthermore, doing something with all those impressions is encouraged. There is always room for new initiatives and ideas, for which, in turn, you have full responsibility.

Additionally, the feeling that you can contribute to people’s successful navigation of moving their business or projects to another country, is very rewarding for me, and provides a sense of purpose.

How did you get your job?

In 2017, while I was doing my MSc at the UvA, I applied for an internship with the Dutch Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Boston – where the Dutch government maintains a Science and Technology (Innovation Attaché) Office. This exposed me to an entire ecosystem of innovation and start-ups. I returned to the Netherlands feeling inspired and, after graduating, I took a temporary job at DutchBasecamp, a non-profit in Amsterdam that helps Dutch start-ups with their internationalisation.

I later accepted a Technology & Innovation Graduate role in the Global Management Development Leadership Program at Liberty Global, the largest international telecom company in the world. Based in Amsterdam, I focussed on the improvement of strategic project performance and, later, internal innovation and corporate venture capital.

When I saw the vacancy for my current job, I was hesitant to apply. Even though it seemed to fit exactly with what I wanted to do and my background, I did not have the adequate number of years of experience. I decided to try anyway and, after a three-step application procedure, I was hired! I have no doubt that my previous experiences helped me land the job.

What are the most challenging aspects of your job?

It can be challenging to work across cultures. People often assume wrongly that the US, as a western country, is not that culturally different from the Netherlands. However, there are huge cultural difference to navigate if you want to be successful!

Another challenging aspect is working with stakeholders in different countries. Even though I am Dutch and maintain a relevant network in the Netherlands, it can be hard to properly inform, make aware, and work together efficiently because of the distance and time difference. COVID-19 has actually made this challenge a little bit easier to overcome, as everyone has to work entirely digital.

What is it like to work in a country different from your own?

I think it is a very valuable and fun experience to work abroad. Personally, I have been drawn to living and working in a different country for some time: it feels like an adventure. It is a unique chance to really familiarise yourself with another part of the world, and as an added benefit it is easier to travel to destinations that normally would likely not be on your radar.

From a professional point of view, I also believe it is something that pulls you out of your comfort zone and really forces you to learn and adapt at a quicker pace. For example, you must adapt to different cultural norms and expectations, or learn to balance work and private life in a completely new environment.

You’ve worked in the US for a few years now, what kind of similarities and/or differences do you see in (corporate/public sector) cultures between the Netherlands and the US, and how do you deal with them?

Most of the differences are subtle, but there are certainly rules to live by and differences to be aware off. Take a look at a meeting in the US, for instance.

First, a meeting in the US always starts with small talk, but you should not expect coffee or a cookie. Talking about sports is a big yes, but under no circumstance talk about politics. Setting up the meeting can also be tricky: in the Netherlands it is customary to set up meetings well in advance, while Americans value their flexibility. This can sometimes lead to misunderstandings. After small talk, the ranking manager often does most of the talking in the US, even if they are not the expert on the matter.

People in the US also tend to be more polite, or less direct. This is very noticeable in business culture: meetings are always great or amazing, even if they were not or if there is no interest to work together in the future. How would you know this? Simple: you never hear back or there is no follow-up.

How do you apply the knowledge and skills you gained during your studies in your job?

My studies at the UvA helped me a great deal professionally so far. My MSc was very international, with about half the students coming from other countries. There was also a lot of attention for the cultural aspects of moving business to different countries. These two things combined definitely provided me with a good basic toolkit to adapt and succeed while working in a foreign and international environment.

What career advice would you give students and fellow alumni?

My career advice would be to not be afraid to take risks and step outside of your comfort zone while you are still young. It is very rare to know exactly what you want to do straight out of college, so do not be afraid to take the time to experiment to really find purpose and pleasure in what you do. Work for a non-profit, start your own business, explore the private sector, work in a different country, and try out the public sector. If there is ever a time to do this, it is now. And yes, I do firmly believe that this advice still stands during these strange and difficult times.

We thank Tyrone for joining the series, and for the insights he gave us into his job and the public sector in the US Midwest.

Any questions?

If you would like to ask Tyrone any questions, you can do so via LinkedIn. 

We hope this month’s alumnus was an inspiration. What kind of Economics and Business career would you like to know more about? Let us know, and we will try to arrange an interview with alumni who have experience in that field for a future instalment of Alumni in the Spotlight!