Jacqueline van de Laar, business manager
“Since the beginning of 2020 I manage a team of eighteen professionals: consultants, architects and specialists. That was quite exciting at first – I’d became the manager of my colleagues. I was confident that they would be pleased for me, but these days I have to make different decisions or act in a different position than as a direct colleague, and that took some getting used to. Discussions about content can be difficult at times. So I always prepare myself well: ‘what do I think?’ rather than ‘what should I do?’ Sometimes that's a gray area.
I've been at APG for a long time now. Two years ago I took a sabbatical. When I came back I decided that I wanted to do something completely different. But that didn't happen. When my manager decided to step down, my current position became vacant. I did have some doubts at first. After all, I wanted something completely different: more actual interaction with clients or a job outside APG. But I also wanted to have more responsibility, to take part in policymaking and steering, so accepting this position was a very logical step for me. Don't let opportunities pass you by. It presents a challenge, and that sometimes made me wonder “can I do that?”
