{"id":6441,"date":"2015-10-14T10:09:29","date_gmt":"2015-10-14T08:09:29","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.erasmusmagazine.nl\/en\/?p=41295"},"modified":"2025-12-19T11:22:21","modified_gmt":"2025-12-19T10:22:21","slug":"de-voorzitter-rik-bross","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.erasmusmagazine.nl\/en\/2015\/10\/14\/de-voorzitter-rik-bross\/","title":{"rendered":"The president: Rik Bross"},"content":{"rendered":"
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Voorzitter Rik Bross van EFR.<\/span><\/p>

\n\t\n\n<\/svg>\n<\/span>\n\tImage by:<\/span>\n\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\tMichel de Groot<\/a>\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t<\/p>\n<\/figcaption><\/figure>

In the regular feature The President EM<\/em> interviews the leader of different student organizations. In this first edition of this feature, we\u2019ve spoken with Rik Bross from EFR.<\/p>\n\t

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Name: Rik Bross<\/strong><\/p>\n

Age: 23<\/strong><\/p>\n

Degree: Economics & Business Economics, fifth year<\/strong><\/p>\n

Association: Economic Faculty association Rotterdam (EFR), the study association of Economics.<\/strong><\/p>\n

Number of members: around 5300<\/strong><\/p>\n

President since: 11 September 2015 (official)<\/strong><\/p>\n

Motto: \u201cI want to stand among the group members to support them\u201d<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\t<\/div>\n

Why did you want to become president?<\/strong><\/p>\n

\u201cEconomics in Rotterdam is a fantastic programme, but it\u2019s rather theoretical. If you want to gain experience, you need to go and find it yourself. Doing an internship was one option I considered, but eventually I chose the EFR. It\u2019s a huge organisation, for which I am now responsible. What\u2019s more, it\u2019s even better now that I\u2019m working with peers and I\u2019ve already learned an awful lot. And I\u2019ve only just begun.\u201d<\/p>\n

Did you have any doubts about applying?<\/strong><\/p>\n

\u201cOf course. I only recently became an active member of the EFR. And I didn\u2019t know whether I\u2019d enjoy certain things, like all the networking, for example. But developing strategies and policy, working with other people and motivating them seemed so appealing that I eventually applied in May.\u201d<\/p>\n

Do you work long hours?<\/strong><\/p>\n

\u201cBoard members get to the office at around nine o\u2019clock in the morning. One day a week you can arrive later, at around eleven. Usually we go home at seven or eight in the evening. And we\u2019re busy most weekends too.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\t

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\n\t\tHet fenomeen \u2018bestuurderskilo\u2019s\u2019 is een begrip in onze kringen. Dus geregeld sporten, en proberen gezond te eten.\n\t<\/blockquote>\n\n\t<\/figure>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t<\/div>\n

Do you look after yourself properly?<\/strong><\/p>\n

\u201cHa ha, yes I do, because the phenomenon \u2018executive kilos\u2019 is well known in our circles. So I do sports regularly and try to eat healthily.\u201d<\/p>\n

What are your tasks as EFR president?<\/strong><\/p>\n

\u201cMy work involves lots of small things. I chair meetings, give talks at openings and events \u2013 obviously, the vice president and I are the face of the association \u2013 but ultimately my main task is to maintain a constant overview: know what\u2019s going on, both professionally and personally, so that you can take fast decisions.\u201d<\/p>\n

What are your strengths?<\/strong><\/p>\n

\u201cI think they would be related to motivating and keeping the team together. That\u2019s also the nicest challenge of being president: making sure that people work hard, but not too hard \u2013 alternating between keeping your foot on the accelerator and pushing the brake, when necessary. People mainly see you as president when you do something in public, but that\u2019s the side I find less interesting.\u201d<\/p>\n

Did you make any specific preparations for the role?<\/strong><\/p>\n

\u201cI did think about taking a course in English, because I was a bit concerned about my proficiency. But I needn\u2019t have worried. What\u2019s more, you usually give presentations to first years who also don\u2019t speak English as a native language\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n

What do you feel makes the ideal president?<\/strong><\/p>\n

\u201cThere isn\u2019t one type of president. You have to be true to yourself as much as possible. Discover how you want to lead the organisation. As long as everyone in the association does their job, it\u2019s fine.\u201d<\/p>\n

How would you like people to describe you as president in a year\u2019s tim<\/strong><\/p>\n

\u201cFor me, the opinion of my seven fellow board members is the most important. If I\u2019ve managed to keep the group together, if they have felt appreciated and felt I was a good president, then I\u2019ll be satisfied. And hopefully, in ten years\u2019 time we\u2019ll be having a drink together at each other\u2019s weddings.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\t

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De redactie<\/h2>\n\t\t\n\t\t
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