At Venturn, we believe that good consultancy doesn’t end when the assignment is finished. In fact, it is the way knowledge and responsibilities are transferred that determines whether a project is truly successful. This became clear during our collaboration with Van de Reijt, a logistics-focused fertilizer wholesaler. Here, Venturn Young Professional (VYP) Ruben van Selm handed his work over to his colleague Vincent Dijkstra. The result: a smooth transition and lasting progress.
Ruben van Selm: Starting the VYP Program
Ruben van Selm (27) has been part of the Venturn Young Professional (VYP) program for a year and a half. Before joining the program, he completed a Master’s in Supply Chain Management at Erasmus University Rotterdam. Venturn approached him for the traineeship, and the curriculum turned out to be a natural next step. The combination of soft skills such as communication and personality profiling, and technical skills like project management, proved valuable at the start of his career.
“The idea of joining a group of trainees and growing together made the VYP program the right choice for me.” – Ruben
The Assignment
Van de Reijt is a fertilizer wholesaler with a strong logistics operation, both at its terminal and beyond. Around two years ago, the company was acquired by fertilizer producer Fertiberia.
Ruben worked on improving the Terminal Operating System (TOS) and designed a new interface between the TOS and a major customer’s ERP system. He also played an active role in setting up and testing a new ERP system within the company.
“This assignment taught me how important it is to first experience processes directly before trying to improve them.” – Ruben
Ruben’s approach combined process insight, a structured method of project management (supported by his IPMA D certification), and direct involvement in operations. This formed the foundation for further digitalization of Van de Reijt’s supply chain.
Handover to Vincent Dijkstra
After completing his assignment, Ruben handed over his responsibilities to fellow VYP participant Vincent Dijkstra. Thanks to a thorough transfer, including a week working on site together, Vincent was able to quickly get familiar with the work. He also gained valuable insights into Ruben’s approach and lessons learned. This structured transfer of knowledge is a deliberate part of the VYP program: learning from each other and building on previous experiences is essential.
“I was able to build on the experiences of both Ruben and Joris, which helped me quickly adjust and become familiar with the organization.” – Vincent Dijkstra
Vincent also benefited from the knowledge shared by Joris van Diermen, the VYP who worked at Van de Reijt before Ruben. This ongoing knowledge stream helps our consultants deliver value faster with each new assignment.
Becoming Familiar with Operations
At the start of his assignment, Vincent worked with Ruben and the leadership at Van de Reijt to create a personal development plan. This allowed him to take part in daily operations and learn the processes not only in theory, but also through direct experience, which enabled him to identify opportunities for improvement. Based on this, he helped define shared goals and continued working independently on improving the IT and logistics processes within the company.
“The learning plan helped me quickly get to know the company and contribute to further improvements in a meaningful way.” – Vincent
Continuity as a Strength
This case demonstrates how the Venturn Young Professional program works in practice: an intensive learning journey for young professionals connected to real client projects. Continuity is key. By ensuring structured knowledge transfers, we retain valuable insights and maintain impact even after a consultant’s assignment ends. This creates long-term value for both our young professionals and the organizations we support.
Building Sustainable Growth Together
At Venturn, client continuity is a top priority. Through knowledge sharing and close cooperation between our young professionals, we ensure that projects are not only completed successfully but also deliver long-lasting impact.
Want to learn how we can support your organization with our fresh talent and structured approach? Feel free to contact us. Together, we will build sustainable growth.
