A Career Path with Various Turns
In 2015, Daan Hermans first set foot at Energiedirect, part of Essent. He started as a marketer, advanced to senior marketer, and then became a team leader at Essent. Now, nine years later, he is Head of E-mobility. Daan explains, "I have clear ambitions to grow personally, but I leave the direction somewhat up to fate. Opportunities come my way, often because colleagues point them out to me. They know me well and know what excites me. If I feel good about it, I take the turn."
Horizontal and Vertical Responsibility in E-mobility
The step to Head of E-mobility was an opportunity that Daan embraced: "What makes this role so exciting is that it encompasses everything. It’s like a startup within Essent. I find both commercial and operational aspects fascinating, and I enjoy building and expanding a team. I didn’t fully know what I was getting into, as everything was new.
"Everything is covered in my role. My responsibilities are both horizontal and vertical. I coordinate with colleagues in ICT, Operations, and Activation, and I confer with E.ON and the Board. In the beginning, I knew the entire operational process from start to finish and even contributed to call script content."
The Golden Combo: Content and Leadership
Daan spent several years as a team manager. He enjoyed that role for a few years, but now he’s consciously choosing a new step. Daan says, "I really enjoy helping colleagues grow and coaching them. Building something together as a team and improving over time. But I also really love the content side of things. As a team manager, at some point, I missed having a close connection with the content. With E-mobility, I have a great combination of content and leadership."
A Growth-Oriented Culture
The growth culture at Essent is very positive, according to Daan: "If you want, you can go in any direction at Essent. HR, L&D, and Recruitment offer everything you need to grow personally at a pace that suits you. There are talent programs and leadership trainings. If you want to take a course, that’s almost always possible. Supervisors genuinely encourage it. And if you express that you have growth ambitions, your colleagues are happy to support you. It’s a great culture if you ask me: open, informal, and no hidden agendas. But, of course, you have to take the lead yourself. You need to take the initiative."
Not Done Growing Yet
Daan is not about to stop growing anytime soon. He might not have a detailed plan, but he has a general idea of where he’s headed. Daan on his ambitions: "I’m enjoying my work in E-mobility, but I want to keep growing in the future. I don’t know exactly where to yet, but I’m sure there will be opportunities at Essent."
Inspired by Daan’s story? Do you also want to grow in an organization that gives you room for development? Check out our job openings here.