Harry Berendsen – Summer 2012
Facebook – https://www.facebook.com/harry.berendsen
Twitter – https://twitter.com/harryberendsen
I am a 22-year old MBA student at Nyenrode Universiteit. Born in the Netherlands, I grew up in a Dutch household in the United States. I graduated from the University of Oregon in 2012, and after a fourth internship in a fourth function, I moved to a small city in Netherlands to pursue my MBA. Upon graduation from Nyenrode, I hope to begin working for a consumer electronics firm. Technology has long been a passion of mine, and I would relish the opportunity to learn and grow in this field. Companies like Sony, IBM, Google, Insomniac Games and Microsoft truly pique my interest.
But do those facts really describe me as a person? Do you, the reader, truly have a feel for me as an employee, colleague, or individual? I think not. Here’s an attempt to bridge that divide:
Interests
I’m 6 foot 6, (1.97 meters), and yes, I do play basketball. I began playing at age 5 when I first moved to the United States, and I’ve grown to love the sport – I will forever be a student and fan of the game. I’m also a football fan, (soccer, for the Americans), and I support Arsenal FC, in case you haven’t read through my post history. I’m also a big gamer, and I am enjoying the PS4. I enjoy exploring the link between business and my passions, (which may explain why Arsenal is my favorite club), and video games have recently begun to enter new business models like pay-what-you-want bundles and digital distribution platforms like Steam. One of my favorite games is Minecraft – an incredibly unique game with a fascinating business story.
Personality
You now have a small understanding of where I hope to work, and the things I enjoy doing. But who am I? Well, the first thing to realize is that I love to laugh. I can, and will, make fun of anything and everything. Never with the intention of offending or harming, only the intention of bringing a smile to someones face. As a tall Dutchman, I also communicate in a direct and straightforward way. I’ll tell you exactly what I’m thinking, no matter what you expect to hear. I work in a sprint-jog way – I prefer to balance periods of intense focus and dedication with relaxation periods to reduce stress, think about the big picture, and regroup before the next sprint. I’m opinionated and confident, always willing to offer my two cents. This used to be a liability, but coaching and hard work has helped me improve my communicative behaviors, and now I have a better understanding of when to simply listen.
Harry Berendsen 