Susan van Ewijk, Netherlands
Can you tell us a bit about your educational background?
I started out by getting a Bachelor’s degree in Computer Science & Engineering at Eindhoven University of Technology. After that, I continued on to get a Master’s degree in Data Science & Artificial Intelligence at the same university, where I focused mostly on visualisation, process mining, machine learning, and AI.
What motivated you to apply for Visma’s Management Trainee programme?
When deciding what kind of IT job I was looking for, it was overwhelming to see how many software products exist. I liked Visma for being in business software but at a scale I hadn’t seen before. In the Management Trainee programme, I could spend a whole year deciding what kind of software fit me best. And, despite my technical background, I was eager for a role in which I wouldn’t necessarily be a developer. As a trainee, I was able to try different roles in different departments, and it helped me find the perfect job.
Can you tell us about one of the projects you have worked on?
For my second project, I wanted to join a team that differed from what I learned at university, so I did a project for a Sales and Marketing department. I not only had the opportunity to join customer meetings, but it also gave me insight into how the business side of software operates. For my project, I helped define a framework with which customers could more easily answer the question: “What is this product going to bring me?”
What has been the highlight of your time as a Management Trainee?
Without a doubt, living in Oslo and Copenhagen for two of my projects. Not only to immerse myself into a new culture, but also because I got to spend those times with fellow trainees. I had missed out on an international experience during my studies so it’s been amazing to have had the opportunity at work instead.
Ulrika Bremberg, Sweden
Can you tell us a bit about your educational background?
I studied computer engineering, specialising in data analysis, at Uppsala University. I’ve also spent two exchange years abroad, first at a college near Atlanta in the US, and then at the Technical University of Munich.
What motivated you to apply for Visma’s Management Trainee programme?
I was a summer intern in 2021, so I had already gotten a taste of what Visma had to offer. I heard so many great things about the trainee programme and the opportunities it provided afterwards. Also, I was interested in living abroad again, so the possibility of doing projects in other countries was a big plus. Lastly, the project setup of the programme sounded interesting to me – especially the mix of strategy and computer science.
Can you tell us about one of the projects you have worked on?
Currently, I’m working on a pricing project for one of Visma’s business units, which has been so much fun! I think it’s really cool that I get to apply a data-focused approach to a project that leans more towards business and strategy. Generally speaking, I’ve learned a lot from all the projects I’ve worked on. They’ve given me the chance to explore some product development and AI-related topics, and look into some finance and strategy.
What has been the highlight of your time as a Management Trainee?
The trainee group, without a doubt. Even though we’re spread out across different countries, we have become close friends. So that being said, the gatherings and the projects I’ve done abroad and living close to the others have definitely been my favourite parts! Also, I’ve had the chance to travel a lot and visit several offices across Europe and Sweden. I still can’t believe the cool opportunities I’ve already had in the first year after graduating.
Eemil Pulkkinen, Finland
Can you tell us a bit about your educational background?
I have a Master of Science in Industrial Engineering and Management from the University of Oulu. I majored in Project Management and did studies in Strategy and Business Analytics. One of my favourite courses was called “Problem Solving in a Business Case”. On the technical side, my studies included software and information engineering.
What motivated you to apply for Visma’s Management Trainee programme?
The environment of a big, rapidly growing software company such as Visma offers a lot of opportunities to learn and grow as a professional. I was able to experience that as a summer trainee which increased my interest in Visma. The programme itself had a really good track record in terms of opportunities both during and after the programme. I was really attracted by the possibility of actually trying different things before choosing a particular career path. Lastly, as a really nice bonus, very few graduate programmes offer the possibility to do projects abroad like I’ve been able to do this year.
Can you tell us about one of the projects you have worked on?
For my second project, I worked in Amsterdam with an ERP product that needed a rework in its pricing model after the company had made some changes in their strategic focus areas. I started by familiarising myself with the business landscape and then proceeded to assess customer needs, interview different stakeholders, and carry out profitability analyses. The hard part was to construct the new price model so that it took into account all the different factors, aligning the end result with the overall strategy. I found it really interesting to dive deep into the different elements while making sure that the bigger picture still made sense.
What has been the highlight of your time as a Management Trainee?
It’s hard to choose one single highlight, but getting to know all the other amazing Management Trainees in addition to having the chance to work on interesting business problems in different countries were definitely some of the best parts for me. Also, moving from Helsinki to Oslo after the trainee year ends is something I’m really excited about!
Marte Fosen, Norway
Can you tell us a bit about your educational background?
I have a Master of Science in Industrial Economics and Technology Management from the Norwegian University of Science and Technology (NTNU) in Trondheim. During my studies, I specialised in artificial intelligence and wrote my thesis on applied economics and optimisation.
What motivated you to apply for Visma’s Management Trainee programme?
I was attracted by the chance to explore various areas in business and technology. The programme offers five different projects, giving me the opportunity to discover what I enjoy most before settling into a permanent role. Also, the welcoming culture I experienced during my internship made me feel right at home.
Can you tell us about one of the projects you have worked on?
Right now, I’m working within e-conomic, a business unit stationed in Denmark. They’re constantly getting new customers and want to improve how new users are onboarded to their service, to increase both adoption and customer value. My job is to look at how things are done now, what the best practices are, and suggest what to do next. I also get to experience living in Copenhagen during the summer, which is a great bonus of having a project abroad.
What has been the highlight of your time as a Management Trainee?
It’s definitely the people. Both in terms of the Management Trainee group, as we have become a great group of friends who help each other and enjoy spending time together, and in terms of all other people at Visma. People are incredibly helpful, talented, and welcoming.
Emma Udsen, Denmark
Can you tell us a bit about your educational background?
I have a Master of Science in Digital Innovation and Management from the IT University of Copenhagen with a specialisation in big data. The programme was a great mix between business and tech that helps you navigate the intersection between the two.
What attracted you to Visma’s Management Trainee programme?
I had heard amazing things about Visma’s culture and people focus, which definitely caught my attention. I specifically applied for the MT programme as I found it to be a great opportunity to try out different areas, companies, and cultures in order to learn a lot and develop.
Can you tell us about one of the projects you have worked on?
I have had many cool projects, but the one project that stands out was getting to work hands-on with AI in the Norwegian company Tripletex. I worked closely with their Business Development team to investigate whether we could automate the extraction of customer insights from their many support tickets. This project entailed a lot of python coding, stakeholder management, and analytical tasks – all of which I found super exciting.
What has been the highlight of your time as a Management Trainee?
This is a tricky question for me to boil down to just a few sentences, but my highlight must be the connection we have in the Management Trainee group. We have had an incredible year together – having some super fun moments, helping each other, and being very supportive of each other. This is also another general highlight for me, as I have found every person I have collaborated with in the Visma organisation to be super helpful and supportive, which has been amazing to experience.
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