Sabrina Türker

Tech trainee Sabrina Türker thrives on bridging business and IT, which is why she did her master’s in Business Informatics at Utrecht University. But tech was not her first or only interest. "I studied biology in Leiden and did a minor in economics." That’s how she developed her fascination with the financial market. As a Tech trainee at NN, she can combine her interests and explore different roles. "But what won me over was NN’s focus on personal development," says Sabrina.

Trying new things

Sabrina’s hobbies and the NN traineeship share common ground. "I love hiking and started hip-hop and street jazz three years ago. Now I’d like to learn to play the saxophone. It’s about discovering myself and trying new things, which is what this traineeship also enables me to do."

Another thing she and NN have in common is her hometown. "I’ve had an international upbringing, as I have a Colombian mother and a Turkish father. But I was born and raised in The Hague, where I still live."

Building confidence

Just two weeks into the traineeship, Sabrina and her fellow trainees participated in an exciting training week abroad. "The theme was ‘discover the leader within you’. I learned a lot about myself and what type of leader I am. The training gave me the confidence that I can lead. The positive feedback I get from my coaching sessions and manager helps me grow my confidence even further."

"We’re a relatively small and tight-knit group of trainees. That first training has really cemented our connection. Doing things together helped create fantastic experiences and memories. And everyone is genuinely interested in each other."

Personal attention

She continues, "What strikes me most about the NN traineeship is the personal attention we get. We get individual coaching and have a buddy, a trainee manager, and a mentor. There are so many people you can ask for help. When I started the traineeship, I was slightly worried about a big-corporate culture. People in suits. But it’s nothing like that. I found a welcoming environment and people are very friendly, caring, and encouraging."

Shaping your career path

Sabrina feels the traineeship delivers on its promises. "It’s been a real eye-opener that we get to shape our journey based on our interests. And that’s not exclusive to trainees. I hear the same from NN employees." Her first rotation is at NN Life & Pensions in Rotterdam, where she is working at the interface between business and IT. "My assignment is about convincing people to harness data and AI." How do you drive such behavioral change? "I’ve learned not to re-invent the wheel. So, I’m assessing what’s been done so far across NN. And I talk to experts of other business units like Non-Life and Banking about their data-driven approach." An added benefit is that Sabrina quickly gets to know NN as a whole.

Career outlook

"I’m quite ambitious and result-driven. When I look back on my traineeship in two years’ time, I expect to have worked on exciting projects and produced meaningful results. But more importantly, my aim is to grow as a person, as a leader, and as an NN employee."