Two years ago, Virginia González Pouso started her journey as a Venturn Young Professional. What followed was an educational adventure full of growth, personal development, and new insights into the maritime sector.
“My time at Venturn started with two international projects that fit perfectly with my International Relations background,” she says. “I felt welcomed at the organization since the very start regardless of my basic Dutch language skills, which were really improved during the traineeship”.
Working in a new sector, in a different language and environment, made the experience both challenging and rewarding from the very beginning.
The All-in-One Traineeship
The Venturn Young Professionals traineeship gave Virginia the opportunity to further develop herself in a sector that’s constantly evolving. “Throughout the programme, I have developed my soft and hard skills through three challenging projects, various trainings and a Dutch language course.”
Virginia brings light into how quickly the programme finishes. “Two years have passed incredibly fast. From pitching ideas with confidence, to apply Lean principles, to viewing project management from different angles, and benefiting from the coaching sessions. Doing all of this in a fully Dutch environment, while learning the language at the same time made the journey even more rewarding.”
These experiences formed the foundation for the next step: applying these skills in practice across different organizations. 
Training and Development
During the traineeship, Virginia participated in monthly training sessions. Each of which brought her a step further to professionalization and making decisions with confidence: “A good pitch really gives you a solid starting point in any meeting. It is key to find the balance between the personal touch and the professional touch on communication. By communicating clearly and consistently you establish a strong position within the organization you work for”.
Of all the trainings, three really stood out for Virginia: Scrum, Pitching, and Design Thinking. “I really enjoyed the Scrum and Design Thinking sessions. They were not only engaging but also gave me practical tools to approach projects more effectively. With Scrum, I learned how to break down complex work into manageable tasks, prioritize effectively, and collaborate in short, focused iterations. Design Thinking added another valuable layer by emphasizing user needs and creative problem-solving. It encouraged me to think more from the end-user’s perspective. You start to recognize what works in a team, while creating a balance between structure, focus, and space for creativity.
On the other hand, the pitching training has truly made a difference in my daily work. The way you present your ideas strongly influences the level of engagement and effort others invest in them. Introducing yourself effectively puts you one step ahead within the organization.”
Beyond the office
The informal moments and teambuilding also make the traineeship complete and create professional bonds with your colleagues. “The Regatta training, the ski trips, and the team outing to Antwerp were real highlights. They provided me with a great opportunity to get to know each other in a different way, while sharing insights about the industry in a variety of settings, all within a supportive environment.”
First experiences at Venturn
In her early stages at Venturn, Virginia was involved in internal improvement projects, as is typical for every Venturn Young Professional, designed to ensure the right skills and momentum are built from the start. Her assignments within Venturn were varied: from working as a data analyst on the Terminal Excellence Business Simulation Game abroad, to improving the SharePoint experience for participants, and contributing to onboarding materials such as blogs and manuals.
“Starting with international projects really gave me momentum and highlighted the relevance of what Venturn does for the industry: leading by example.”
This variety of projects provided a strong starting point for her assignments at clients.
Terminal Operator abroad
Virginia started her traineeship taking a short period assignment on the role of Security Consultant at a Terminal Operator abroad. Her job was to guide the implementation of an assessment as part of Venturn Advisory. This assignment required from Virginia a very good understanding of an internationally recognized Cybersecurity Framework, as well as tailored recommendations and implementation procedures.
“In this role, I was responsible for creating structure and translating the Cybersecurity Framework into clear, practical guidance, making international standards accessible and actionable in day-to-day operations.”
This position required strong communication skills. “Intercultural communication skills were essential to ensuring the project ran smoothly, requiring me to continuously adapt my communication style. This is where I truly put my adaptability into practice in a professional environment.”
Portbase: Enhancing Insight into the Supply Chain
Virginia continued her traineeship at Portbase as Junior Consultant. This assignment required Virginia to develop a strong understanding of the NIS2 Directive and its translation into Dutch legislation, to effectively advise on its implementation. At the same time, she worked on developing tailored cybersecurity frameworks and policies based on well-established international standards.
Her assignment revolved around enhancing the internal communication over security topics. “Security topics needed to be a top priority, while ensuring all employees were aware of the upcoming changes under the new legislation.”
This position required strong communication skills. “It required me to continuously adapt my communication style and tailor how I conveyed messages across different departments, including both management and development teams, in both English and Dutch.”
Port of Moerdijk: Exploring the Harbour
After nine months at Portbase, Virginia moved to Port of Moerdijk, taking on the role of Junior Consultant. Her job was to be involved on the implementation of the NIS2 Directive across the organization, while preparing and implementing assessment sessions focused on increasing awareness and embedding a culture of resilience throughout teams.
“In this role, I was responsible for ensuring that the team’s strategy was closely aligned with existing projects, while also taking the implementation of NIS2 into account.”
This role required strong communication skills to ensure messages were clearly understood and easily accessible across different departments, tailoring them to each audience. Virginia adds “this role demanded a high-level overview of projects, along with regular meetings with managers to maintain alignment and strategic direction.”
The Next Step: Security Intermediate Consultant
After completing her traineeship, Virginia decided to strengthen her security skills further. “I gain a lot of energy from turning complex security topics into clear guidelines and policies.” Virginia is open for a new challenge across industries. Nevertheless, Virginia remains curious about the future. “The different roles I have pursued across various organizations have given me a strong overview of the directions I could take. For now, I am focused on awareness and policymaking; guiding people through compliance is something that truly energizes me.”
Virginia shares an insight for young professionals seeking a similar path to the one she has followed: “The VYP traineeship helped me discover my passion within a sector I was already familiar with” Virginia reflects. “I have learned what energizes me, how to approach projects effectively, and the importance of presenting yourself well. That combination of learning, working, and exploring has truly shaped who I am today. My studies provided me with the necessary knowledge to perform in a professional environment, but working on full-time projects across different organizations, combined with monthly trainings, gave me the skills to apply that knowledge in a fast-paced setting.”
