Marlies Knetsch – Chairman 2025
My first experience with the VSAE was during the Intreeweek, Randy was my mentor and also a former VSAE Board member. He immediately made us all sign up for the VSAE so we could join the August borrel. Even though I was hesitant to join the borrel at first, I’m so glad I went. That night I met so many new people, I realized that VSAE has such an amazing vibe, I really felt at home immediately!
During that borrel I also talked to the then Internal Affairs, she told me about the first year committees and I signed up for the party committee. There I met my fellow Board member Yuri. The party committee was a lot of fun and made me realize that there are so many advantages to being an active member. You meet a lot of people, there are so a lot of fun events and little extras you get as an active member. When the party committee ended I really wanted to stay an active member, so I signed up to be a first year chair. I loved the idea of how a first year chair can make such a big difference in how the first years view the VSAE. Also as a first year chair you are able to join the first year events and motivate the non active members to become an active member as well. While being a first year chair I got to know Una better and learnt a bit what it means to be a Board member. The first year chair hazing a few months later was one of the first times I really interacted with the Board and they were having a good time and felt like such a fun group. After that I started thinking about doing a Board year and looking more into what the Board does besides going to the events.
For me deciding to do a Board year was difficult, I am already a really indecisive person. But of course deciding whether to do Board or not is a really big decision in general. The biggest reason why I wasn’t sure if Board was the right choice for me, was because I didn’t want to quit my other job. Luckily I can still easily keep working a few days per week besides the Board. As long as you are able to find a good balance between the Board and your personal life, you can do almost anything you want.
What I enjoy the most about doing the Board year is that you learn so much while also having fun. You can see the Board as a normal office job, since we’re in the boardroom almost 8 hours per day. But it doesn’t feel like work at all! Every day is different, and that variety keeps things exciting, some days you’re at the office the whole day and other days you only have events. But even the office days go by so fast. While some responsibilities stay consistent throughout the year, the workload shifts as different committees become active at different times. This means you're always working on new projects and challenges every few weeks, which keeps things exciting and entertaining.
At first when I heard I was selected to be chairman of the VSAE I wasn’t really sure what to expect. The role of Chairman can feel a bit vague, especially at the beginning. But that is also part of what makes it so interesting. As Chair you are responsible for keeping the whole association running smoothly and keeping the long term vision. You have to stay up to date with all your Board members and support them where needed.
Laura Wilde - Internal Affairs & Secretary 2025
In 2021, I started my studies and joined the VSAE so I could attend the introduction camp. Unfortunately, COVID was still around at the time, which meant doing a self-test and the bar closing at midnight. Despite that, the introduction camp was a lot of fun, and I joined the sports committee.
However, during my second year, I became a bit less active and didn’t attend many VSAE events. Of course, I had many regrets, because how fun is the VSAE?! So in my third year, I started going to the borrels again and ended up talking to Selma and Lobke about how I’d love to become an active member again. And after a coffee with them, I joined the Business Orientation Days committee. I got to meet a lot of new people and really enjoyed organizing such a large-scale event.
Last September, toward the end of organizing the BOD, I spoke a lot with Daan about doing a board year, and he enthusiastically shared all his experiences. This made me become more and more interested, though I also had my doubts. I really wanted to graduate this year, since I had already extended my studies for a year, and extending for another year just for writing my thesis didn’t seem ideal. But someone in the VSAE had written their bachelor thesis during their board year, and that got me thinking. If he can do it, why can’t I? And after giving it a lot of thought, I knew for sure: I’m going to apply and I’m going to write my thesis! (And I passed!!)
One of my roles within the board is Internal Affairs. As Internal Affairs, I’m responsible for forming committees, over a delicious cup of coffee or tea, and I honestly think it’s one of the most fun things to do, because I get to talk to so many members and meet so many new people. I’m also the first point of contact for all our members, and I’m always happy to have a chat or answer questions members might have.
Besides Internal Affairs, I’m also the secretary, which involves more behind-the-scenes tasks. I take the minutes during general meetings, maintain the database, and make sure emails are handled properly. What I especially enjoy is the balance between Internal Affairs and the secretary role, you play a big part in member engagement, but also a crucial role within the board itself.
We’re now halfway through the year, and I can honestly say I have no regrets at all. I’ve already grown so much as a person and learned an incredible amount. Think of communication, both one-on-one and on a larger scale, teamwork, but also knowing when and how to ask for help. I’ve become more confident and find it much easier now to approach people. And on top of that, you also learn how to take responsibility, how to present yourself, how to take initiative and come up with solutions. These are all skills that you develop during a board year and that you will carry with you for the rest of your life.
Aside from everything you learn during a board year, it’s also just an amazing time and full of fun new memories. Your board members become your new best friends, and the trips you go on together are unforgettable. But it’s also the small moments in the boardroom, the laughter you share, and the challenges you face together that make a board year truly special!
Now it’s your turn! If you’re interested in a board year, don’t be afraid to reach out, I don’t bite :). I’d be more than happy to answer any of your questions and talk through any doubts you might have. And if you want to see what a day in the office looks like, feel free to walk along with me or one of my lovely fellow board members for a day!
Ben Zeitner - Treasurer, Innovation & Marketing 2025
My time with the VSAE started basically on my second day in Amsterdam. I have not even fully unpacked yet, and then left for the Intro Camp, my first of many many VSAE events.
It was probably one of the best decisions I have made in my time in Amsterdam, since what followed was me being very very involved. Immediately after the introcamp I realized that what the VSAE does, creating a kind of a community/ family for all newly arrived, is truly amazing. Hence, in my first year as a student I did various committees and then at some point decided to do board.
I am not sure when it first crossed my mind, but due to the fact that I was quite close with the Board of 2024, I was able to see early on what they are doing.
I believe it was at their Cobo when then Tho, our lovely external affairs approached me drunkenly saying: “Ben if you do Board, I do Board.” That was probably one of those moments where I truly fully considered it for the first time.
Fast forward to now, I can say I definitely do not regret deciding to apply for Board. Yes it naturally has its ups and downs but I think it's so worth it. On the one hand, I got really close with my boardbesties and we managed even the difficult times together. Additionally, I got to meet so many other great people and became a more open person in general.
On the other hand, the experiences I have made on the professional side of things are priceless. I can now say that I do not fear at all having a meeting with a high executive of lets say deloitte for example, since I am prepared and became comfortable in these situations.
Regarding my position as Treasurer, I believe it is the best position within the board of course :) Basically, you will have an overview over every payment that goes in or out within the VSAE. Therefore, you are usually up to date about every decision that is made. To be a treasurer is no rocket science. Perhaps at the beginning it feels very scary and you deal with a lot money but after you get the hang of it and with an eye for detail it is truly satisfying. Especially when you have moments where you cannot find €10 when doing the weekly bookings for hours but then another time, you did everything correctly and you are done immediately and all the numbers add up. You do not even have to do the last entry. BEST Feeling ever. You will see what I mean once you take over.
Treasurering is not just the weekly bookings it also includes a lot of planning and money decisions. For most of the year the budget will be already set (by the past treasurer), but after/ during summer you start to plan for next year and have to make budget decisions. Shall we have one less sports event and then a borrel for example. Planning these things is a very cool part of being the Treasurer.
In addition to this, I am the Marketing Officer. Probably the perfect addition to a straight forward job. As the Marketing Officer, you can live out your creativity. Personally, I sometimes think that I am not the best at those things, but at the same time I really enjoyed creating a new template for instagram or leading the marketing committee. The possibilities are too some extend of course endless to what you can do and it gives you a lot of creative freedom.
Lastly, another aspect of being a board member that I really enjoyed is the freedom you have in general. When you start working later in your life, you will most likely always have a boss or someone above you that ultimately approves your decisions but can also decline them. However, as a board member you are that person. You can make big decisions and change things. Maybe you wanna create new committees, start a new initiative or like in our case decide to create a new website. You are the boss. It can be quite scary but is such a great experience at the same time and I feel like I grew a lot.
Thomas van Vechgel - External Affairs & Vice-chairman 2025
When I first started studying, I had no idea what the VSAE was all about. I actually became a member for a very simple reason: the exam bundle. It seemed useful, and I didn’t really think much beyond that. But after a while, some friends told me I had to come along to one of the VSAE drinks. So I did and that’s when the ball started rolling.
Not long after, I joined the VSAE padel tournament, and it was honestly such a fun experience. The atmosphere was great, and I noticed how everyone seemed to know each other, it really felt like a close-knit group. From that moment on, I started joining more and more activities.
A little while later, I became part of the committee for the Actuarial Congress. I found it so interesting and fun to work on that, for the first time, I started thinking about doing a board year. Coincidentally, I was living with a former board member at the time. He was able to explain what a board year is really like, especially what makes it so enjoyable. The variety, how much you learn, and all the fun you have as a team. That’s when the idea of doing a board year really started to appeal to me.
Eventually, I took the leap and now I’m part of the board as External Affairs Officer. That means I’m responsible, together with Yuri, for maintaining the VSAE’s relationships with companies. We stay in touch with all sorts of businesses and organize events with them. What I enjoy most is visiting companies at their offices, it’s super interesting to see the work environment, meet the people, and build your network in that way. Every conversation is different, and you come across so many inspiring individuals.
Besides External Affairs, I also serve as Vice-Chair. That means I support or replace the Chair when needed, during meetings, for example, or by temporarily taking over certain responsibilities. It’s a role that’s sometimes more in the background, but that’s exactly what makes it a great opportunity to learn how to support a team and keep an overview.
In addition to my main responsibilities, I also supervise a few committees, which adds even more variety to the work. You’re busy with so many different things in a single week, it can be intense at times, but mostly it’s just a lot of fun. What I really value about a board year is the freedom to make things your own. You can truly contribute to the association while developing yourself in so many ways, teamwork, planning, communication, and so on.
If you’re curious about what a board year actually looks like in practice, just let me know! Or even better: come and shadow me or one of the others for a day. That’s honestly the best way to find out if it’s something for you.
Yuri Voppen - External Affairs 2025
My VSAE adventure began at the 2023 introduction camp. During those days, I met so many wonderful people, whom I still talk to frequently. I knew right away that I was in the right place. I started with the one and only party committee, where we organized two successful parties with a great group, also together with my future fellow board member Marlies. After the summer, I felt it was time for a new challenge, and that became the Short Foreign Trip.
While I was on this committee, I never considered that my next challenge would be the board. So when I got a text from Daan a little later, asking for a coffee (completely optional :) ), I considered it a great honor and thought, let's see what they have to say…
Two months later, I was inducted as a new board member of the VSAE 2025. This decision-making process wasn't without its obstacles, of course. Like many econometricians, I made the decision after careful analysis. Is it even worth a year? How much time does such a board really take? How much free time do you have left over besides VSAE activities? But ultimately, I knew for sure: I'm not going to miss this opportunity! For me, it's a chance to make lifelong friends, to learn new things, but above all, a chance to organize lots of fun events and make a difference for fellow students and companies.
Besides my board duties, I'm still a passionate basketball player. Training three times a week and a match on the weekend: it takes some planning, but I manage to combine it all perfectly. For me, that also beautifully illustrates how versatile a board year can be.
But perhaps the most important question of all: what exactly do I do? As mentioned before, Thomas and I are responsible for the VSAE's external affairs. This means we maintain contact with various companies and organize various events with them. To discuss our collaboration, we regularly visit the companies' offices. This adds an extra dimension to the board year: you get to visit places you wouldn't normally visit, experience the company's atmosphere, and talk to the people who work there. This way, you not only learn how companies think but also build a broad and valuable network within the business community.
I also coordinate several committees, where I guide students in organizing events. It's always a great feeling when such an event is successful and you've achieved it together with the team. This makes the work so varied, and you learn so much. Collaborating with different groups, communicating clearly, planning, and so on. These are things I hadn't even considered last year.
And if you've read all this, it means only one thing: you're interested in a board year! So if you have any questions, doubts, or are just curious, feel free to send me a message. You can also always shadow one of us for a day; that usually works best!