The "E" of entrepreneurship, one of the TEC for Society skills, was the focus of fourth-year SPECO Sportmarketing students Strategic Accountmanagement from Fontys Economics University Tilburg on Tuesday, Jan. 14. At their closing "TECxposition," they presented their insights into what is important for the account manager of the future through research posters.
With this, the research groups gave an insight into how this commercial field is developing: the successful account manager is an 'up to date knowledge broker', through 'permanent self-development', has a focus on strategic cooperation (partnerships), knows how to guard the balance between energy consumers and energy providers, and is fit in body and mind. The latter topics were emphatically chosen by students who realize that "hard work is very important, but you also have to feel good. The first "Strategic Account Management Award" went to the group with a convincing and attractively designed poster presentation on "burnout," its origins, taboo and prevention in the commercial profession.
Resilient professional
Jury chairman Prof. Willem Verbeke (emeritus professor Erasmus University Rotterdam) presented the Strategic Account Management Award to Aniek van Iwaarden, Roanne Kievit, Koen Andri and Daan van de Laar, also on behalf of the teachers and co-jury members Nanny Kuijsters and Michel van Agtmaal. Prior to the presentations, Verbeke provided an inspiring guest lecture, in which he explained the "how" and "why" of the successful knowledge broker, a theory that the students delved into during the elective course through his book "The Resilient Professional. The foundations for the development model of ExploreMe.eu contained in this book formed the basis for the literature review and a personal reflection of the students on their position as starting account managers.
ExploreMe approaches the profession of commercial manager in a holistic way, focused on deploying acquired knowledge and experience (the "knowledge broken") in order to serve clients innovatively and successfully. Or as Verbeke puts it, "you are not born a commercial manager, it's about abilities that you can develop.
The literature review clarified some sub-processes. In addition, and based on results from the ExploreMe self-test, students formulated follow-up steps for themselves to be able to perform even better during the graduation internship and the first job and to work better with clients and colleagues. This approach ties in perfectly with TEC for Society at Fontys, which focuses on developing relevant competencies and skills by future professionals in order to respond to current and socially relevant challenges.
The news release
Author: Caren Braat