When the world shut down due to COVID-19, Hedwig had just graduated with a degree in Food & Business in Nijmegen. She worked at a call center and with the GGD for a while. In 2021, Volkers invited her for a job interview.
Hedwig was still living in Nijmegen when the pandemic hit. “I graduated at the end of 2019, and
shortly after, the world shut down. I was working in hospitality and was part of a student rowing
club, but everything stopped.” Hedwig moved back to her parents' house in Amersfoort, took
various jobs, and continued to apply for positions with great determination.
“In 2021, I received a message from Volkers via LinkedIn. They were looking for someone for
the position of Client Service Manager. I didn’t know Volkers at all, but the interview was really
enjoyable, and I thought, why not give it a try? Now, three years later, here I am.”
Hedwig started in sales, where she supported colleagues with major projects. “For example, I
helped prepare presentations for clients.” She also got to know Artwork Connect, Volkers'
artwork management system. Her interest in Artwork Connect led her increasingly towards IT
and process optimization. “I also got to help with the implementation of the new ERP system for
Volkers. And since September, I’ve been part of the IT team.”
As an Implementation & Optimization Manager in the IT team, Hedwig is responsible for setting up Artwork Connect for new clients. She also assists clients with questions about Artwork Connect, whether it's about using the system or developing new features. “Together with my colleague, I handle these kinds of questions. I have more knowledge of the front-end, and my colleague specializes in the back-end. So, we make a good team.”
Optimizing (digital) processes, both for clients and within Volkers, is another aspect of Hedwig's
role. These can be small projects, like organizing a personal inbox, or large projects. “We’re currently working on setting up a new ERP system to replace the one we use for graphic orders
from printers. We’re building this new ERP system ourselves, and it needs to integrate with the
ERP system we already have for retailers and manufacturers. Together with my colleague Robin, who is responsible for sales to printing clients and uses the current ERP system, I am figuring out what’s needed for the new system.”
Hedwig has enjoyed working at Volkers for three years now. “The culture here is very open. You
can say anything to anyone, as long as it’s well-founded. And because it’s not a big company, you know everyone, making it easy to have a chat. You also feel that it’s a family business, with Rick and Paul Volkers putting their heart and soul into the company. That helps create a sense that we’re all working towards something together.”
She has already gained considerable knowledge and experience in IT, Volkers' internal systems, lithography, packaging, and business processes. She’s quite proud of this. “And I’m still learning every day by listening to colleagues and clients. Or I do my own research to gather knowledge. I also recently obtained my certification in Lean process optimization (a systematic approach to reducing or eliminating activities that don’t add value to the process).”
Hedwig wants to get even better at what she does now. “Helping people make their work more enjoyable and easier, getting them excited about seeking improvement. Making an impact on the user's life. That’s my goal. And personally, I’d like to tackle Alpe d’Huez again sometime.”
According to Hedwig, one of the reasons for Volkers' success is that it’s a family business. “As a family business, you might be more focused on the next generation and think more long-term. Hedwig also mentions that Volkers hasn’t stood still over the past hundred years. “We haven’t been typesetting for a long time. You see a shift towards systems and data instead of focusing on making printing plates. The secret to Volkers' success isn’t really a secret; it’s just about adapting to the current landscape. Standing still feels like going backwards.”
