Sabien started working at Deloitte in June 2019. ‘I have studied various disciplines related to the public sector, including Political Science, Crisis & Security Management, and Military Strategy. But it never crossed my mind to work for Deloitte. Most of my co-students started their careers in the public sector or at NGOs. The Amsterdam Zuidas was a different world. That changed when I found out that Deloitte actually does very challenging projects in the public sector, especially in the field of crisis management. I like working on societal issues. But I’m also interested in a job in a large, international organisation, where I can learn a lot. In an environment that is continuously changing and has a focus on personal development. That is why I decided to apply for a job at Deloitte, two years ago.’

Preparing organisations for a crisis

Sabien works within the Resilience, Crisis & Reputation team, which is part of Deloitte Strategy, Risk, and Transactions Advisory. ‘We help organisations prepare for major events with a huge impact, in every way we can,’ Sabien says. ‘We set up procedures, write playbooks, and train people with unique and challenging simulations. With the help of e.g. deepfakes, we are able to provide leaders with simulations that are very close to real life. That is what makes Deloitte unique. We help organisations regain control by facilitating overview, creating structure and improving processes in the aftermath.' Currently, the team is working for various organisations within the public sector. ‘For instance, we contemplate on effective crisis response after disruption of public transport, and we support various COVID-related challenges’, Sabien says. ‘We offer both strategic support and immediate crisis response. What can organisations do in case of a crisis? What are the responsibilities and tasks? I’m glad that these types of projects help us to contribute directly to preventing and solving problems that trouble people in daily life. Also, we train professionals at all levels, from members of the board to helpdesk staff.’

Making the public sector more resilient

‘We take on different roles in each project’, Sabien continues. ‘That’s very challenging. As consultants, we participate in short and long term projects, and sometimes work on more than one project at a time. Every project is about making an impact, along with new tasks and responsibilities. Sometimes the focus is on advice, at other times it’s on project management. For instance, for one of my projects I’m setting up a crisis management structure, but I’m also frequently in charge of the emergency number. In the case of a crisis, that means that two of my colleagues and I contact the right stakeholders and manage the situation. But I’m also working on a project that involves the transition of security systems. These are tangible challenges to work on, and by doing so we actively contribute to making the public sector more resilient.’

Creating a connection

The dynamics of the job are challenging, according to Sabien. ‘We are continuously focused on mutual alignment. That requires stakeholder management skills, as well as flexibility and agility. Deloitte is all about collaboration, so that must be part of your DNA. The job interviews at Deloitte did not feel like a job application at all’, she smiles. ‘I went to a lot of coffee meetings to see if there was a connection. It’s all about the match between people, teams, and organisation. Our team is very close and very multidisciplinary. You can learn so much from each other, and not just during a project. We all have different backgrounds, but it’s social engagement that unites us.' Would you like to know more about the activities of the Resilience, Crisis & Reputation team within Strategy, Risk, and Transactions Advisory? Please contact Sabien van Gelderen (svangelderen@deloitte.nl [svangelderen@deloitte.nl] / 06 5008 8528).

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