Having joined Wittenborg in 2011, Wang Helped the School Grow and will Be Missed by Colleagues

In the 11 years Daphne Wang worked as Wittenborg’s Senior Financial Administrator, the school grew significantly, and part of this success was due to her hard work and dedication, as well as her expertise in the fields of finance and accountancy. Having recently decided to pursue other ventures, Wang will be missed by her colleagues, who organised a farewell lunch for her on 27 June.

Originally from China, Wang studied English at the Beijing Normal College of Foreign Languages. In 1997, she moved to the Netherlands to study for a bachelor’s degree in Business Economy at Saxion University of Applied Sciences, where she was one of the first Chinese students ever to enrol.

While studying at Saxion, Wang had English lessons from Peter Birdsall, who would eventually become Wittenborg’s president. Years later, she met the school’s CEO Maggie Feng through a common friend and ended up getting a job at the institution. “The fact that I already knew Peter influenced my decision to work for Wittenborg, and I am glad I made that choice, because I had a wonderful time there; that is why I stayed for such a long time,” she says.

As Senior Financial Administrator, Wang was responsible for all kinds of financial work in Wittenborg’s operational area, including the preparation of detailed reports and statements. In her view, the most rewarding – as well as challenging – aspect of this job were the many opportunities for gradual and continuous learning, and she adds that she always tried to do her best when performing her tasks.

“I will really miss all the nice colleagues I had at Wittenborg; we were like a big family, and I am very happy about how much the school has grown over the last years, with so many new students and staff members. I hope that Wittenborg will go on growing and getting stronger, and I wish all the best to everyone there,” she stresses.

President of Wittenborg Peter Birdsall highlights that the school went from approximately 150 students when Wang joined to 1,200 students enrolled last year. “Daphne walked into Wittenborg when we had just moved to the Aventus Building, and she left shortly before we moved to the Brinklaan building, so that is a nice synchronicity. We were a small team when she joined and we have now become a quite large team; it has been a great run, with plenty of memorable moments. It is a big jump to go from one company to another after 11 years, and I wish her the best of luck and much success,” he said.

According to Student Registrar Florian Oosterberg, among Wang’s most admirable qualities was her dedication to work and Wittenborg, as well as her honesty and straightforwardness. “We worked together for more than eight years; she was friendly and had a good dose of humour. I will miss Daphne as a part of the Wittenborg team and wish her all the best!”

HR & Immigration Administrator Mahesan Suntharesan described Wang as an extremely knowledgeable and amiable colleague, adding that during the period when he worked at Wittenborg’s Finance Department he viewed her as a mentor. “Daphne taught me a lot, not only about financial procedures, but also about skills that are important for both my professional and personal life. She has strong work ethics and puts in a lot of effort, and she encouraged me to learn the Dutch language so that I could have more opportunities and integrate easily into Dutch society. Among other things, Daphne advised me to always remember the following Dutch saying: ‘Een dag niet gelachen, is een dag niet geleefd’, which means ‘A day without laughter is a day wasted’. I am sure she will be successful wherever she goes, and I am rooting for her.”

WUP 17/8/2022
by Ulisses Sawczuk
©WUAS Press

Maggie Feng Now Part of Organisation Aimed at Giving Visibility to Highly Qualified Women

Because Wittenborg sees diversity and inclusion as essential elements of social progress, the school has been involved in multiple initiatives that seek to promote these values. In line with this approach, Wittenborg CEO Maggie Feng recently joined SER Topvrouwen, an organisation that is part of the Social and Economic Council of the Netherlands (SER) – an advisory body to the Dutch government that discusses and monitors social and economic policies.

Composed of women who occupy leadership positions in large Dutch institutions and corporations, SER Topvrouwen is aimed at giving visibility and helping accelerate the advancement of female talent. Among other contributions, the organisation has created a database of highly qualified women, open to professionals who have relevant work experience in business, public or semi-public organisations, active in management, directorship or executive positions. By accessing the platform, companies and institutions can search for female candidates with the right profiles for their open positions.

The initiative is connected to a legislative proposal approved in 2021 by the Dutch House of Representatives, which establishes quotas in order to improve gender diversity on corporate boards.

According to Feng, the actions implemented by SER Topvrouwen have produced positive results, with highly qualified female talent gaining visibility and companies becoming more diverse when compared to the pre-pandemic period. However, she stresses that there is still much work to be done towards gender equality. “Many organisations are starting to understand the value of diversity and inclusion, but they do not always manage to implement it. There are cases of women who started working in top positions and lost their jobs after one or two years because companies were not ready to push through change; sometimes it goes against their DNA. So, we have taken some steps, but there is still a long way to go until we really change society.”

Working Towards Inclusion

On 22 June, SER Topvrouwen organised a large event at the AFAS Theatre, in Leusden, with the title ‘SER Topvrouwen United 2022: Celebrate Diversity, Embrace Inclusion’. The programme included panels, lectures and other activities featuring prominent women who discussed their experiences in the field of inclusive leadership.

Having attended the event, Wittenborg’s CEO highlights that the prospects for female professionals are very positive, adding that young women need to be aware of their potential. “Students must know that being a woman is no longer seen as a disadvantage in the job market and, in many cases, it can be seen as an advantage. So, it is important to keep in mind that companies and organisations are ready to take female professionals on board, and this means great opportunities for women to develop into leaders if they have the right qualifications, even if they start in junior positions,” says Feng.

She also points out that Wittenborg has taken concrete actions to promote diversity, inclusion and gender equality, as well as to inspire younger generations. “One example is the Tech Women MBA Scholarship, which offers a 5,000-euro discount in tuition fees for female students. This means that we are putting our words into action, which is a great privilege because it sets Wittenborg apart from many organisations. Diversity is an essential part of us, and we are very proud of it.”

WUP 11/8/2022
by Ulisses Sawczuk
©WUAS Press

Wittenborg Graduate Ayabulela Noxonywa Says Sector Needs More Inclusion

“The winemaking industry has an immense impact on the local economy of Franschhoek Valley, and Franschhoek – known as the food and wine capital of South Africa – relies heavily on the hospitality sector, boasting award-winning restaurants, hotels and vineyards. Yet, the industry is not really inclusive for the women of colour who work in it,” stresses Ayabulela Noxonywa, who recently completed a BBA degree in Hotel & Hospitality Services Management at Witenborg’s Bad Voslau study location.

Having met a significant number of South African women of colour who work in vineyards, Noxonywa decided to write her graduation assignment on the roles of these women within the industry, as well as the barriers faced by them. According to the student, what sparked her interest was the perception that, every time she visits Franschhoek Valley’s vineyards, women of colour are responsible for wine tasting duties, while the winemaking tasks are predominantly performed by white men.

During her investigation, Noxonywa adopted a qualitative approach, having conducted in-depth interviews with two women of colour – one a soon-to-be qualified sommelier and another who recently graduated as an oenologist and viticulturist – as well as a white woman who works as a wine lecturer. The study finds that women in general are marginalised in the South African wine industry, a situation that is even more pronounced when it comes to women of colour.  

“Unfortunately, Franschhoek up until today does not have any women of colour working as winemakers. However, a major turn of events occurred nationwide when Carmen Stevens was the first woman of colour to be appointed as a qualified winemaker. Eventually, this sparked the formation of the first female-owned winery in South Africa.”

Noxonywa highlights that, although the South African government does offer training programmes intended to provide minorities with equal opportunities, women of colour who want to go into winemaking are faced with hindrances that include the lack of access to land. “A possible long-term way to address these inequalities could be to actively encourage women of colour to take the winemaking courses by offering incentives, such as making it easier for them to attain government land for winemaking purposes.”

Regarding her career goals, Noxonywa plans to get more experience in the tourism and hospitality sector, and eventually start her own business in the future. “I would love to gain more experience in Europe before going back home or starting my own entrepreneurial venture, especially because Europeans count for more than half of the international tourists that visit South Africa. I have considered working as a winemaker because my passion for hospitality began when I was doing the wine training and I was lucky to have my practical experience at an agricultural company in South Africa,” the graduate says.

WUP 8/8/2022
by Ulisses Sawczuk
©WUAS Press

HBA Student Anna Egger Highlights Emancipation of Women from the Region

Being originally from South Tyrol (Italy) and having worked in many hotels where women were in leadership positions, student Anna Egger felt intrigued by this situation. For this reason, she decided to write her graduation assignment on how South Tyrolean women lead the hospitality businesses they are part of. Egger recently completed an HBA degree in Hotel and Hospitality Services Management at Wittenborg's study location at the ITM college in Bad Voslau (Austria).

The student points out that, in general, women still face gender inequalities and do not have the same opportunities to rise to top management positions at the workplace as men. However, she stresses that a positive development can be seen in South Tyrol, where more than 10,000 women-owned businesses were registered at the end of 2020, almost 30% of them being active in the hotel industry.

“In South Tyrol, there is hardly a hotel that is managed without a woman, and female managers have a positive impact on the growth of the hotel industry. These women in leading positions have always inspired me through their passion, ambition and courage. Apart from wanting to learn more about this topic from a scientific point of view, I have set myself the goal to become a female hotel leader and to start my own business one day. So, the study was also intended to serve as a personal source of inspiration for my future career,” she says.

Among other objectives, Egger’s study was aimed at defining the leadership style and characteristics of female hotel leaders in South Tyrol, analysing the values, philosophy and visions of their hotel businesses, and investigating if these women had experienced any gender barriers during their careers. In order to collect data, the student interviewed eight female owners of hotels in the 4-to-5-star range.

According to the research, female leaders in the South Tyrolean hotel industry have a participative and employee-oriented leadership style, valuing flat hierarchy and humanity. “The data shows that they have strong soft skills, such as empathy and sensitivity. They can put themselves in the position of the employees and show interest in them through appreciation and praise. For this reason, these female leaders are also team-oriented, cooperative and loyal,” Egger says.

Moreover, the respondents were asked how their female leadership style and characteristics differ from the male leadership style. In their answers, they described males in leadership positions as more impulsive, tough and risk-taking, as well as colder, more distant and less detail-oriented than women. However, the respondents highlighted that men have specific qualities as leaders, such as being more direct and clear, promoting change by taking risks and embracing innovation, and being more persuasive and assertive.

Egger points out that, to her surprise, the study did not show any significant gender-specific barriers for women in the South Tyrolean hotel industry. “The results indicate that, in the South Tyrolean hotel industry, women are as respected as men. This testifies to the strong emancipation of women in the local hospitality sector, in what is a role model for other industries and countries. However, this conclusion must be viewed critically, because the respondents have a certain stability, since they are their own bosses and not employed hotel managers. Therefore, they can reconcile family and work with more ease than other females in leadership positions.”

Regarding her plans for the future, the student says that she would like to gain more experience in management, climb to higher positions and eventually run her own hotel. “In August, I will start working as an assistant executive manager at a hotel where I already worked as a receptionist. I am looking forward to taking on this new challenge, which will help me develop important leadership skills,” she says.

WUP 2/8/2022
by Ulisses Sawczuk
©WUAS Press

The summer break has arrived, a time which many people like to use to really get stuck into a good book. But with so many choices out there, it can be hard to pick something. That is why, in this article, we will present you with some reading recommendations - both fiction and non-fiction - from Wittenborg staff members.

Hanna Abdelwahab, Education Support Administrator, recommends 'The Lights in the Tunnel' by Martin Ford

"In this book, Ford addresses three misconceptions held by conventional economists: (1) technological advancements will always lead to more prosperity and more jobs, (2) automation affects only low-paying or low-skilled jobs, and (3) machines cannot replace humanity. Ford says that technological advancements will cause mass unemployment, that knowledge jobs are also facing the threats of being automated and that robots don't have to be humans to replace humans. Despite the heavy subject, it's an easy read and very compelling."

Iryna Bernatska, Corporate Relations Manager, recommends 'The Last Empress' by Anchee Min

"What do you call it when an official's daughter from the poorest province becomes the ruler of China? I would call it a miracle. This historical fiction novel, which features a strong female lead, introduced me to a new world of beautiful stories, created by real people and written by masters of the pen."

Maike Nuyken, HR Manager, recommends 'Grilled - Turning Adversaries into Allies to Change the Chicken Industry' by Leah Garcés

"This is a book about creating change and making an impact against all odds. It illustrates how business can be a force for good and how we sometimes need to adjust our mindset to be able to make progress. It is also the story of a strong and inspiring female leader. A very inspirational and hopeful book. I would recommend it to anyone interested in activism, sustainability, or CSR."

Vanessa de Oliveira, Associate Professor of Applied Sciences, recommends 'The Silent Patient' by Alex Michaelides

"Alicia, a famous painter who was married to a fashion photographer, stopped talking and started treatment in a psychiatric clinic. Theo Faber, a criminal psychotherapist, uses his curiosity, know-how, and determination to understand what lead her to that point. What results is a psychological thriller that blurs the boundaries between victim and villain. I recommend this if you like a good thriller with surprise twists."

Marius Zürcher, Marketing & Communications Project Manager, recommends 'The Tanning of America: How Hip-Hop Created a Culture That Rewrote the Rules of the New Economy' by Steve Stoute

"Although ‘The Tanning of America’ is theoretically a business book, it can also change your perspective on the world at large. At its core, the book is about how hip-hop culture, with its focus on authenticity and aspiration, fundamentally shaped the Millennial generation, and about what the implications of that are, given that Millennials are now are the most influential generation in the world. It is therefore an essential read if you want to understand the present and the future a little more. For marketers, its core lesson is one that I too like to highlight continuously: authenticity is everything."

Adeyemi Banjo, Senior Lecturer, recommends 'Kane and Abel' by Jeffery Archer

"This novel, a relaxing yet exciting and engaging read, chronicles the lives of two men born under very different circumstances, on two different continents, who meet with explosive consequences. It’s a story about two very ambitious men, one born in the US and the other in Poland, how they navigate through life and marriage. It is about the challenges they face, and tough decisions they must make to survive, especially when their paths cross."

Myra Qiu, Process & Quality Manager, recommends the 'Remembrance of Earth's Past' series by Liu Cixin

"I highly recommend this amazing and deep sci-fi series, which covers things such as physics, astronomy, neurosciences, informatics, ecology, culture, military science, sociology, mathematics, psychology, and philosophy. The internal logic of the book is rigorous, and the author's encyclopaedic knowledge is impressive."

Ulisses Sawczuk, Copywriter & Journalist, recommends 'Meditations' by Marcus Aurelius

"This book contains a series of reflections on life that were written about 1,800 years ago by Roman emperor Marcus Aurelius. Apart from being an emperor, Marcus was trained in Stoic philosophy, and one of Stoicism’s main purposes is to provide people with the tools to develop their virtues and face the challenges posed by life. The book contains plenty of useful advice on how to approach problems and hardships, as well as discussions on human nature and how it connects to the universe. Moreover, it is a fascinating work that enables the reader to get a glimpse into the mind of a historical character and see that human beings always have to overcome the same kinds of obstacles, no matter what era they live in."

Thi Ngoc Tram La, Research Centre Intern, recommends 'I am Gifted, so Are You' by Adam Khoo

"This book is both practical, as it teaches you the study techniques of the author (himself a brilliant student in his time), and inspirational. I read it in high school, and I believe it turned me from a decent student into a great one. It changed my life."

Peter Birdsall, President, recommends 'The Boys in the Butterflies' by James Birdsall

"This book, written by my late uncle James Birdsall, reflects on his and his brothers' experiences as refugees in England during the Second World War, when they were evacuated to the countryside to escape the bombing by the Nazis. The story sowed the seeds of my lifelong passion of nature and especially butterflies and moths; however, the story is relevant again as Europe is once more plunged into war and a refugee crisis after the Russian invasion of Ukraine."

Aydan Ismayilova, EU Project Coordinator, recommends 'The Secret Lives of Color' by Kassia St. Clair

"This book, which tells the stories of 75 different colours, is an easy but nevertheless profound read. It will make you see colours from a totally new perspective. It will also provide you with plenty of new ice-breaking stories to tell."

WUP 30/7/2022
by Marius Zürcher
©WUAS Press