The Aegon team at the recent BOT program

(Standing, left to right)
Daniel Van Druten, Manager Internal Audit;
Paul Mennink, Operation Manager Pension;
Tom van der Poel, Manager Project Support
(Sitting)
Marijn Meijberg, Actuary;
Fred Stapel, Head of Advertising & Sponsoring;
Patrik Timmermans, Manager Service Team Motor Collective

Since 1997, when the Building on Talent (BOT) program was developed to “solve” the problem of how to accelerate learning and improve the success rates of young high potentials, AEGON The Netherlands has regularly sent teams of five to six participants to the program.

In January this year, the six members of the AEGON team were very positive about their experience: “The course is extremely well-organized. All the different elements inter-connect perfectly and the program runs very smoothly.”

“BOT is popular with companies like AEGON as we try to keep its high standard by constantly adapting it to the needs of the market – often based on recommendations of participants themselves," says Professor Leif Sjöblom, the BOT Program Director. "For example, we are looking at ways to further develop the personal development content in the second module, and maybe even giving participants the opportunity to continue work with their coach after the program."

René Ydema, AEGON’s Director of HR, particularly appreciates the program for the broad business perspective provided to the participants. “This approach enables learning outside their own department and unit boundaries. Managers gain more insight in company-wide processes, hence supporting interdisciplinary team work and priority setting. The international character of IMD, the professional program set up, and the focus on personal development is key to gaining new insights. Participants return full of energy!"

The AEGON team at the recent BOT session was particularly impressed with the high quality of the professors: “Whether we were discussing global processes or change management, they went into depth and always managed to inspire us and facilitate learning so that you really get the most out of the program. Also, despite a wealth of experience, they are always on the look-out for ways of improving the learning experience.”

AEGON team participants feel that BOT is an opportunity to step back and look at who they are to get a broader perspective, a deeper understanding and an enhanced vision of how they function within a team, how they get results and what it is that they need to do to get them. Rather than simply learning theory, the course is more about applying theory as a means of improving themselves, their work and their environment. “It’s like a voyage of self-discovery in a business context. Questions are raised but there are no right or wrong answers; there is no ‘truth’. It’s all about asking questions that lead to discussion – often, you answer your own questions!”

Jan Hendriks, Director Service Center Bank AEGON The Netherlands, concludes: “We notice that participants become more effective managers after the BOT program. They learn when to react and when to let go and how to motivate their own teams. Even more important is the fact that they develop as a person by gaining personal insights in a different setting.”