Partnership Manager of esn belgium

.Erasmus Student Network AISBL
Rue Joseph II 120 - 1000 Brussels – BELGIUM
www.esn.org
Liège, 29th of April 2019
Application for Partnership Manager ESN Belgium 2019-2020
Dear members of ESN Belgium,
Hereby I would like to express my motivation to apply for the position of Partnership Manager of
ESN Belgium for 2019-2020.
It all started with my bachelor’s degree in International Business Management studies, that allowed
me to live abroad for one year. Later, when I started my master’s degree in Management Sciences of
Social Enterprises at HEC Liège, I quickly realised I missed those international connections too much.
That Erasmus experience is undoubtedly what sparked my love for an international environment and
also what brought me to apply for ESN HEC Liège in May 2018. After I learned that my section was
looking for their first Local Representative, I decided to seize the opportunity to step up to another
level and learn more about ESN. During this time as a Local Representative, I got better acquainted
with the amazing other ESN’ers, the structure of ESN and also discovered its causes. As you might
suspect for someone who is specialising in social enterprise management, they immediately peaked
my interest, with the Environment and Sustainability Committee in particular. Once I became part of
this Cause Committee, the team and I agreed that one of our goals should become finding green
partners for the Belgian network. This became a great inspiration for me to apply for a mandate as
Partnership Manager for ESN Belgium.
As my CV indicates, I have worked multiple summers in large companies such as EDF Luminus and
Johnson & Johnson, both of whom asked me to come back again the next year. This professional
experience gives me a unique insight in how large companies work and allowed me to learn the ins
and outs of writing up and negotiating contracts. (Such as my employment contracts or sales
contracts at Johnson & Johnson where I was an assistant to the sales & tendering department.)
Furthermore, during my bachelor’s degree I completed an internship in a small international NGO
called Singa France, where one of my tasks was to pursuit funding.
Over the years, during my studies, international exchanges, internships and work experiences, I grew
to be perfectly trilingual Dutch, French and English. While most partnership contracts are currently
drawn up in English, I believe that being able to contact potential partners in their own mother
language can be a great added value in persuading them to work with ESN Belgium.
I envision my mandate as Partnership Manager to bring innovation and ambition to the Belgian
network. I will actively seek out new partners that are closely aligned with our causes. Since
travelling is part of the DNA of our network and because sustainability is a cause that I hold close to
my heart, my focus will be on complementing our current partnerships with greener partners and
especially more environment-friendly ways of travelling. Some examples are the SNCB/NMBS, Eurail
and Blablacar. Besides that, I also intent to implement the knowledge of the other Cause
Committees on different possible new partnerships. During AGM, when the International Board
presented their vision for the future, I asked them how we can ensure that our partnerships are in
line with our causes. They replied that we should always try to balance the pros and the cons that
each potential partner entails for the network. My aim would be to implement the same strategy.
Erasmus Student Network AISBL
Rue Joseph II 120 - 1000 Brussels – BELGIUM
www.esn.org
Next to the causes, another goal I want to set for my mandate is creating a more diversified income
for the Belgian network. I would try to achieve this by working closely together with the National
Board to negotiate deals that provide us with a stable source of income.
I am positive that my educational knowledge, professional experience and great motivation provide
me with an excellent background to support the Belgian sections and the future National Board
during the coming year as Partnership Manager and I hope that you are as excited as I am to work
together in the coming year.
I hope that you will take my application into consideration.
Yours sincerely,
Emma Roemans