Paula Alonso Campos

Paula Alonso Campos has been on quite a journey. As an economics undergraduate in her native Spain, she did an exchange in Poland. After graduating, she worked to save up and went on to do her master’s in Data Science & Marketing Analytics at Erasmus University Rotterdam. "I received a scholarship from NN, which opened doors to people who made me aware of the value of the traineeship. Their enthusiasm and the emphasis on personal development triggered me."

Exploring options

The opportunities in data and AI are huge, and Paula wasn’t sure what role she aspired to. "After my master’s, I wanted to explore the options. I’m a people person and I’d like to bridge the gap between people and tech."

The opportunity to do just that arose during her first assignment as a Business & Transformation trainee. Paula worked as a data scientist in the Advanced Analytics & AI team, developing and building a tool with generative AI. She was also trusted with the organisation of the Data & AI Community event that is held twice a year. "Organising the event has taught me a lot. I quickly grew my stakeholder and time management skills. As I was simultaneously working on my other projects, I needed help and involved other trainees. We all benefited from the exposure to the speakers, who are often senior managers and executives."

Flexibility and responsibility

Paula’s current assignment is implementing an AI solution at NN in Prague, where the AI lead is her former scholarship mentor. During her study, Paula had moved cities and countries a lot. As she’s building her life in the Netherlands with her boyfriend and didn’t want to start from scratch again, she’s working hybrid. "They have been very flexible and I go to Prague once a month." When she’s there, she plays volleyball in a local team, having been introduced by another trainee. "I really like sports and getting to know new people."

She also likes a challenge. "As the project lead, I’m responsible for the planning, resources, and the project’s success. I also help develop other AI use cases at NN Czech Republic. And I’m training people and creating AI awareness to drive adoption." But embracing new technology doesn’t always come easy to people. "You need to understand people’s motivation to be able to change their attitude."

Developing personally and professionally

"I never expected to be a project lead after just one year. NN gives you the resources to succeed: from there you can take off and fly. But you’re not thrown to the wolves. We get a lot of training and support from coaches and mentors. And the emphasis on personal development means you learn to reflect, address your weaknesses, and grow your strengths. The people at NN are very pleasant and give you a lot of guidance," says Paula. "Thanks to the traineeship, I’ve become far more assertive and confident. I would like to continue working in AI, but at the interface between people and technology."

"I was surprised by the level of support and encouragement I received from my colleagues, managers and mentors. I was surprised by how quickly I connected with my colleagues."

Lasting connections

The training at the beginning of the traineeship was a very positive experience. "During my studies, the atmosphere was extremely competitive. I was worried I’d find the same at NN. But during the first training, we bonded and shared personal experiences, which really surprised me," says Paula. "We’re not the same, but we share traits. We’re result-driven and curious, but we’re also socially aware and care for each other." The connections built during the traineeship are lasting. "We catch up, even when people are abroad. It’s a fantastic traineeship for post-graduates who want to explore different paths and develop themselves."