The story of Elena

Elena: ‘I want to use my skills to make societal impact’

After completing her one-year master’s in European Union Studies, Elena Rodriguez wasn’t quite ready to leave the Netherlands. Today, she works as a Business Developer at Circle Economy, a sustainability NGO in Amsterdam.

'I worked in the MICE industry, which stands for Meetings, Incentives, Conferences, and Exhibitions for about two years,' says Elena. 'It was a really fun first job, but I realized I wanted something that matched my personal values and was more internationally oriented.'

At Circle Economy, Elena helps governments and companies put circular strategies into action. 'We develop tools to accelerate the circular economy, and provide technical assistance and expertise,' she explains. 'It’s my job to make sure those tools get adopted. So, I spend a lot of time listening to clients — current and potential — and figuring out what they need. I also do a lot of proposal writing. The writing skills I gained during my master’s definitely help with that.'

Elena moved from Spain to the Netherlands for her master’s. 'It really taught me how to look at complex, multi-layered stakeholder environments from different angles,' she says. 'That’s obviously vital in European politics, but in my current job, I rely on those analytical skills just as much.'

Glad I persisted

Like many of her classmates, Elena originally planned to pursue a career in Brussels. But after graduating she chose to stay in the Netherlands. 'One year wasn’t enough,' she says. 'Especially with COVID, I felt I’d just arrived. I really liked the country and the lifestyle here. As a non-Dutch speaker, the job pool is smaller, and searching can take three to six months. For my first job, it took me two months, for my second five, but I’m glad I persisted. Every rejection helped me improve for the next interview. And I learned that you’re not expected to be perfect — you’re allowed to grow into your role.'

Proactive

A proactive mindset helps, she adds. 'Opportunities don’t come served on a plate — you must go out and connect with people, show up to events. Even then, your career might not follow the clear path you expected, but it’s often the unexpected turns that lead to the most rewarding opportunities.’