Maaike Thijssen, Lead of the Business Team at TenneT, plays a key role in energy transition and offshore grid development. With her background in Business Administration at Radboud University and extensive experience in sustainable transformation, she is committed to contributing to a more sustainable society. In this interview, Maaike shares her experiences from her studies, the skills she applies in her work, and her vision for the future of sustainability.
The driving force behind sustainable change: Maaike Thijssen on her career and impact at TenneT
Name
Maaike Thijssen
Current position
Lead Business Team at TenneT
Vooropleiding
Can you talk briefly about your time at Radboud University? What did you study and what were your experiences?
I studied Business Administration at the Radboud Management Academy. I enjoyed that time immensely. My group, Group 56, consisted of diverse, inquisitive and incredibly fun students, which broadened my horizons with valuable insights from their organisations. Studying for exams together reinforced the group feeling, although the drinks at De Heeren van Sint Anneke after every last exam of the period also contributed to this, of course. The lectures were fascinating and time flew by, as most lecturers managed to keep my full attention, even after a long working day. This was partly because I could easily relate the cases and theories to my own work experience.
I chose this study because it matched my position as HR/Recruitment Director and later Manager Transformation. I wanted to learn to organise better from multiple perspectives, with people at the centre. The versatility of the programme appealed to me because it focused on creating positive impact on employees, processes, results and our environment.
The programme started with exciting subjects such as Systems Theory, which immediately confirmed that I had made the right choice. Conducting studies within my own organisation, such as for strategic management, gave me valuable insights, for example when examining the strategic process of my then employer.
How do you see the impact of your education at Radboud University on your career and what skills do you apply in your work?
As a Manager Transformation, the programme provided me with valuable models and theories, which I used as a basis in the background. This allowed me to give better-supported advice, and the knowledge gained strengthened my self-confidence as a consultant. Subjects such as Analysis and Design of Organisations, provided by Dr Armand Smits, and of course the lectures by Dr Jan Achterbergh, supported me in designing and optimising organisations to achieve goals as efficiently and effectively as possible.
Although in practice it is not always easy to implement changes or apply new knowledge immediately, the insights helped me have more informed conversations with managers. By asking targeted questions, I was able to contribute constructively to the development of the organisation.
What does your role as Business Team leader entail?
As leader of the business team, I work with an incredibly fine and driven team on strategy, culture and communication. We provide insights, advice and practical support to help the Management Team with organisational challenges and improvement initiatives. I work at TenneT, a European transmission system operator (TSO). TenneT promotes energy transition with the aim of a sustainable, reliable and affordable energy future. TenneT designs, builds, maintains and operates more than 25,000 kilometres of high-voltage connections in the Netherlands and large parts of Germany, and facilitates the European energy market through 17 interconnectors with our neighbouring countries.
I work within the Large Projects Offshore business unit, which plays a crucial role in the energy transition. Our unit is responsible for both the current and future development of the offshore grid and the implementation of the 2GW programme. We work on the development and realisation of DC interconnectors and the connections of offshore wind farms in the North Sea, both in Germany and the Netherlands.
What do you enjoy most about your work?
What I like most about my job is the constant complexity and growth required to achieve our goals. We have to constantly adapt and keep working efficiently and smartly in a changing environment. It is also important to me to work for an organisation that actually contributes to making society more sustainable.
Before joining TenneT, I enjoyed working for 11 years at BAM, a construction company committed to sustainability and change within the construction industry. They focus on less pollution, less use of materials and more attention to biodiversity and well-being. Their work on energy transition, climate adaptation and infrastructure maintenance is essential, and I feel the same drive now at TenneT. That I get to contribute to realising the ambitions around energy transition is just fantastic.
How do you see the future in sustainability?
The road to a sustainable future requires perseverance and structural change. Time is running out, and this is becoming increasingly clear. I hope we can collectively play a role in further developing a sustainable living environment and respecting nature. Researchers, civil society organisations, businesses and other stakeholders will have to work together in inventive and entrepreneurial ways to find solutions. Readers of this talk are probably already aware of this, but since you asked me for advice for current students, I want to highlight this. It ties in with my advice to students who want to contribute to a sustainable future: work together, learn from each other and set high goals. I am convinced that we can achieve more than we imagine.