Boomerang Interview with Julia de Vries
Written by: Els Oosthoek, September 2025
They left, grew, and came back: these are the stories of our boomerangs.
For Julia de Vries, it feels like she’s come full circle. In April 2025, she returned to Rvdb as Talent Manager, just as the Rotterdam office was expanding. “I first started at Rvdb as an Interim Professional, back when it was much smaller. Now I’m back in a completely different role, but with the same sense of positivity and enthusiasm that I remember so well.”
After earning her degree in psychology, Julia began her career in recruitment. “My start in recruitment was very valuable, but I wanted to broaden my skills in HR. That’s how I ended up at Rvdb.” Her first assignment took her right back to a familiar place: her old internship at Deutsche Bank. “That was pretty exciting—suddenly I was back there, but this time representing Rvdb. You really take the plunge, but that’s also how I learned so quickly.”
That was followed by assignments at Nespresso and Bol.com. “Those were formative years; both were great professional organizations that challenged me in a positive way. Through the peer review sessions and the development program, I learned a lot about myself and the profession. And even though I was from Rotterdam and was mainly working around Amsterdam at the time, Rvdb always felt close by.”
In 2019, Julia decided to leave the Rvdb. “I wanted my psychology studies to play a bigger role in my work and wanted to work closer to home.” Her background in psychology continued to draw her in. “I wanted to focus more on the people-oriented aspect of the job, so I started working as a reintegration coach. There, I learned an incredible amount about conducting conversations and providing guidance. That helping aspect is truly a part of who I am.” Still, working with people who were ill sometimes felt difficult. She continued her career with the City of Rotterdam as an HR advisor, where she further developed her skills in policy and consulting.
Throughout all those years, Julia stayed in touch with Rvdb. When she heard that a branch was opening in Rotterdam, she started to get excited. “The idea of working with young HR professionals again, at a place where I myself once started out, immediately felt right. And when I heard they were looking for a Talent Manager, I knew: this is a perfect fit.”
Since her return, Julia has been working with Milou Papendorp to further develop the Rotterdam office and the associated HX community in Rotterdam. “It’s great to be building something new here. That also requires an entrepreneurial spirit: building a team, a network, and a culture. It really feels like we’re creating something together.”
Although her role is now an internal one, Julia still recognizes the Rvdb DNA in everything. “The atmosphere, the commitment, the enthusiasm—it’s all exactly the same. At the same time, we’ve made great strides in professionalization and operational management. We’ve grown, but without losing our warmth.”
As a Talent Manager, Julia guides interim professionals in their professional and personal development. “I believe in people’s intrinsic motivation; that’s always my starting point. My role is to help them discover and strengthen that motivation.” It’s her first management position, and Julia is clearly enjoying it. “Learning to lead is, of course, very much ‘learning by doing.’ That suits me perfectly. I think my style is typical of an Rvdb manager: I’m someone who builds trust, fosters connections, and provides room to grow. I don’t need to be in the spotlight, as long as my team thrives. And I truly believe that, especially in your first few years on the job, you’re already capable of so much more than you realize. My heart is truly with this target group.”
With her return to the Rvdb and her workplace in Rotterdam, it feels as if everything is falling into place. “I started out as a young professional with a great thirst for knowledge. Now I get to mentor other young professionals through that same process. That feels special. I’ve come full circle, and I’m far from done learning.”
