Nicole de Vries
Nicole in numbers
19
years at Vattenfall
6
different functions
21K
longest run
About Nicole de Vries
Nicole studied Food, Dietetics and Management at the HAN University of Applied Sciences in the Netherlands and began her career in the food and healthcare sector.
“I qualified as a dietitian and initially began my career in the food industry. I moved to the energy sector as I wanted to try and use the marketing skills I had developed in a different and more sustainable sector. I thought I would do it for three years and then go back to the food sector but I’ve stayed in energy ever since.
I’ve also moved from marketing into sales. Although I had some reservations about making that switch, I was given a lot of encouragement and I find I really enjoy it.
I’m a natural networker and love connecting with people so my role is a very good fit for me. It is all about building long-term relationships and looking at the whole energy journey of a large customer. For example, one client I secured began with a regular energy supply contract, but they then switched to renewable energy and we’ve also worked with them on installing EV charging points.
“I qualified as a dietitian and initially began my career in the food industry. I moved to the energy sector as I wanted to try and use the marketing skills I had developed in a different and more sustainable sector. I thought I would do it for three years and then go back to the food sector but I’ve stayed in energy ever since.
I’ve also moved from marketing into sales. Although I had some reservations about making that switch, I was given a lot of encouragement and I find I really enjoy it.
I’m a natural networker and love connecting with people so my role is a very good fit for me. It is all about building long-term relationships and looking at the whole energy journey of a large customer. For example, one client I secured began with a regular energy supply contract, but they then switched to renewable energy and we’ve also worked with them on installing EV charging points.
Practising what we preach on sustainability
The fact that Vattenfall ‘practices what it preaches’ on sustainability really helps when I’m talking to potential customers about how we can help them achieve their own ambitions. Since I started in my role the team has grown and I now coach colleagues which I really enjoy as you learn a lot about yourself as well – they grow and I grow!
Vattenfall’s flexibility and understanding as an employer is very important to me, particularly as I co-parent two teenage daughters.
My work colleagues are also like a big family. As well as a WhatsApp group for business topics we also have one to share our personal news and life events. I love running and a team of us from work took part in the ‘Dam tot Dam’ event in Amsterdam which was great fun!”