Jan Willem in 't Anker

"You plot your own course"

Jan Willem in 't Anker joined Heerema just five years ago as a trainee, and now leads a team of 100 people. As Production Manager Structural, he oversees the work performed on all steel parts of a platform, from drawing and welding to safety and quality control.

Jan Willem has experienced how diversity is truly the spice of life at Heerema. He got to work on the preparations for the offshore phase of a project, flew to a platform in a helicopter, worked as a coordinator and provided administrative and logistical support.

He assumed his current position at the age of 29. A demanding job, but his work experience had prepared him well. Jan Willem is grateful for the support received and for having been able to learn from mistakes, too. Being a very young manager has never been an issue. Jan Willem believes leadership is about respecting and being honest with people, and acknowledging their good work.

Jan Willem participated in the first level of Heerema’s own Leadership Development Program, which focuses on self-development and introduces employees to talented colleagues from elsewhere in the Heerema Group. Jan Willem did ask himself in the past if he wasn’t progressing too fast, but has always felt trusted and supported. He intends to stay in his current position for a couple of years, out of loyalty to the department but also to be able to see the impact of his decisions.

“Even as a management trainee, I was already given plenty of freedom. At Heerema, there are no classes or set steps. Instead, you plot your own course. You have to take initiative, but if you show your ability to get things done, you can progress quickly. They really believe in preparing young people for the future.”