In this blog, Julie Coers, VYP Field Manager at Venturn, shares her personal story. She talks about her search for the right career, her love for the maritime sector, and why she gets so much energy from guiding Young Professionals.
From Drenthe to Rotterdam: a search for my place
I am Julie Coers, born and raised in Drenthe: a small, familiar world where life moves at a slow pace and everything feels close by. After secondary school, I moved via a short stop in Groningen to Rotterdam to study. The city was big, busy, and completely different from anything I knew, but that is exactly what made it so valuable. Rotterdam became the place where I developed myself, gained new perspectives, and learned to follow my own path. The city taught me to stay curious, embrace new environments, and discover where I can thrive the most.
After graduating, a period of searching began. That journey took a while. I needed time to settle down and explore which direction suited me best. What am I good at? What gives me energy? What kind of organisation feels like a place where I can grow? I changed jobs a few times because I realised I was not in the right place, or because I was looking for more challenge. It was a period of trial and error, falling down and getting back up. At times it was confusing, but ultimately it was incredibly formative.
Looking back, I realise how important it is to have the space to figure these things out. Sometimes I even think: if only I’d had a traineeship like the Venturn Young Professionals (VYP) programme. Two years in which you are allowed to discover, learn, make mistakes, and above all, grow.
Through a former VYP participant, who also happens to be my best friend, my attention was drawn to Venturn when they were looking for a Field Manager. It felt unexpectedly logical: an industry I had secretly fallen a little in love with, combined with a role that matched how I work with people and what gives me fulfilment.
The role of a Field Manager: witnessing growth up close
As a Field Manager, I guide Young Professionals throughout their two-year journey. I am involved in their assignments, their development, and the sometimes-unpredictable process of trial and error that comes with starting a career.
That may well be the most rewarding part of my job: seeing people transform. Watching someone who enters the programme still searching for direction gradually grow, gain confidence, find their place, and ultimately flourish like a butterfly. Not because everything comes naturally, but because learning sometimes requires discomfort. Challenges are not always easy. They take time, effort, and occasionally uncertainty.
Yet it is precisely through that process that you see something meaningful change over two years. Someone enters as a caterpillar, curious and cautiously exploring, and leaves as a fully developed butterfly entering the maritime industry. Ready to continue growing, discovering, and finding their own path within a sector that is constantly evolving.
And every time, it feels special to see someone spread their wings and move on to the next phase of their journey.
A sector full of contrasts: from coal terminals to boardrooms
What makes my work so special is that the diversity starts with something very simple: everyone’s dream assignment. Every Young Professional starts with an assignment that aligns with their interests, ambitions, and curiosity. That unique choice forms the foundation of their career.
Because of that, I find myself in the most diverse environments.
One day I am standing with my boots in the coal at an industrial terminal. The next day I am walking between containers while discussing someone’s assignment and development. And on another day, I am putting on my heels for a meeting in a corporate office.
That variety, from rugged port environments to formal boardrooms, demonstrates how broad this industry really is and ensures that no two days are ever the same.
Memorable highlights
One of the highlights that always stands out is the annual ski trip with the group. Stepping outside the daily routine, spending time together on the slopes, having a drink halfway through the day, and discovering in an informal setting what truly drives someone. It is often outside the office walls that you get to know who someone really is.
Another memorable moment was the etiquette dinner. It briefly felt like I was back in my student days, but what struck me most was the level of engagement from former VYP participants. No fewer than fifteen alumni returned specifically to meet the new group, share their experiences, and show where they are today. But more importantly, they shared how they got there.
That made the evening so much more than a formal dinner. It demonstrated that the programme does not end after two years; it grows into a network and a community that people continue to be part of. A shared foundation that remains long after someone has completed the programme.
Why this role is right for me
These are the moments when I realise how valuable this work is. I get the opportunity to be close to people during an important stage of their careers. I can challenge them, support them, encourage them, sometimes slow them down, and sometimes push them forward.
And every time I am reminded that growth is never linear. It is about searching, trying, stumbling, getting back up, and moving forward stronger than before.
I am proud to contribute to a programme that helps young professionals find their own path while supporting organisations in their development. It is a role that suits me, an industry where I feel at home, and a field in which I continue learning every single day.
Finally: one story, two audiences, the same message
Whether you are at the start of your career and still searching for direction, or you are an organisation looking to attract young talent but unsure how to do it effectively: know that you do not have to navigate that journey alone.
For Young Professionals, the Venturn Young Professionals (VYP) programme can be a valuable place to discover where you belong, which role suits you best, and how you can develop professionally within the maritime industry. You do not need to have all the answers yet. The programme offers space to grow, experiment, and learn. I would be happy to guide you along the way.
The same applies to organisations. There is no shortage of talent, but there are often a shortage of the right match and the right support. If you are looking for young talent that truly fits your organisation and would like support in guiding, developing, and successfully integrating this new generation, I would be happy to explore the possibilities with you.
Whatever your question may be, it ultimately always comes down to people, development, and connection. And that is something I am proud to be part of.
