{"id":16169,"date":"2025-10-31T12:35:45","date_gmt":"2025-10-31T11:35:45","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/rvdb.nl\/boomerang-interview-with-anouk-kat\/"},"modified":"2026-07-08T12:49:47","modified_gmt":"2026-07-08T10:49:47","slug":"boomerang-interview-with-anouk-kat","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/rvdb.nl\/en\/boomerang-interview-with-anouk-kat\/","title":{"rendered":"Boomerang Interview with Anouk Kat"},"content":{"rendered":"\t\t
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Boomerang Interview with Anouk Kat<\/strong><\/h1>

Written by: Els Oosthoek<\/em>, October 2025<\/p>

They left, grew, and came back: these are the stories of our boomerangs.<\/em><\/p>

Then<\/span> Anouk Kat <\/span>during<\/span> her<\/span> s<\/span>study<\/span> Work and Organizational Psychology <\/span>to<\/span> VU Amsterdam at <\/span>search<\/span> went<\/span> to<\/span> her<\/span> first<\/span> job<\/span>, <\/span>was<\/span> Rvdb<\/span> actually<\/span> not<\/span> on the schedule. \u201cA <\/span>girlfriend<\/span> had <\/span>a<\/span> time<\/span> ago<\/span> applied for<\/span> for<\/span> the traineeship <\/span>and<\/span> I<\/span> d<\/span>eight<\/span> then<\/span>: <\/span>late<\/span> I<\/span> it <\/span>also<\/span> once<\/span> try<\/span>. I <\/span>had to<\/span> write<\/span> thesis<\/span> still<\/span> finish<\/span> and<\/span> I wanted<\/span> then<\/span> on a trip. But <\/span>at<\/span> Rvdb<\/span> said<\/span> she <\/span>just<\/span>: \u201cWhich <\/span>month<\/span> want<\/span> you <\/span>start<\/span>?’ In <\/span>June<\/span> have<\/span> I<\/span> signed<\/span>, in <\/span>January<\/span> am <\/span>I<\/span> started<\/span>.\u201d<\/span><\/span> <\/span><\/p>

Her first assignments got her off to a great start right away. \u201cIn 2.5 years, I completed seven assignments\u2014all projects from which I really learned a lot. I didn\u2019t want to limit myself to a single industry; it was the variety that I enjoyed. And through that traineeship, I discovered just how many interesting organizations there are beyond the well-known names.\u201d <\/p>

Already on her second assignment, Anouk ended up at an international company. \u201cI found that exciting\u2014suddenly everything was in English. But precisely because I did that right away, it now feels completely normal. At Rvdb, you really get support with that. In the beginning, you have a lot of contact with your talent manager; they help you discuss situations or reflect on the choices you make. And in the peer support group, you really get to know each other\u2014not just professionally, but on a personal level as well. It\u2019s less about how you do your work<\/em>, and more about who you are in that work<\/em>. That personal development is truly central\u2014and it\u2019s absolutely essential if you want to continue growing in your profession. I believe you first have to be able to manage yourself well\u2014before you can manage a team.\u201d <\/p>

Anouk quickly advanced in her assignments. \u201cWith each assignment, I took another step forward. At Albelli, I felt I was ready for the next step.\u201d That opportunity came through an external recruiter, who presented her with a great opportunity. \u201cI left Rvdb on good terms, but we\u2019ve always stayed in touch. Every year there\u2019s a party, including for former Rvdb employees\u2014it\u2019s a fun way to stay connected.\u201d <\/span> <\/span><\/p>

After Rvdb, she worked at two companies during a dynamic, sometimes unpredictable phase. \u201cOne was a same-day delivery service during the pandemic\u2014a unique and intense period. Among other things, we implemented a collective bargaining agreement and set up all kinds of HR processes in a short amount of time. After that, I moved to Levin, where I worked in an international HR management role supporting colleagues in the Netherlands, Germany, and Singapore. That was also a learning experience, especially in terms of how to provide direction in a changing environment and bring people along with you.\u201d <\/span> <\/span><\/p>

After a brief period of traveling, she realized she wanted a new challenge. \u201cI had applied for a permanent position through Rvdb, but I just didn\u2019t quite make the cut. Then the recruiter said, \u2018Wouldn\u2019t you like to come back to us?\u2019 And that felt right away.\u201d <\/span> <\/span><\/p>

In <\/span>May<\/span> last<\/span> year<\/span> Anouk<\/span> Anouk <\/span>returned<\/span> to<\/span> Rvdb<\/span>. \u201cThe <\/span>felt<\/span> right away<\/span> familiar<\/span> \u2014 the <\/span>culture<\/span>, the <\/span>energy<\/span>, the <\/span>way<\/span> from <\/span>collaborate<\/span>. <\/span>At the same time<\/span> it was <\/span>company<\/span> at <\/span>a<\/span> new<\/span> phase<\/span> ended up<\/span>: <\/span>more professional<\/span> and<\/span> sharp<\/span>there<\/span> i<\/span>n <\/span>cow<\/span>rs<\/span>. There was<\/span>g <\/span>e<\/span>e<\/span>n<\/span> no<\/span>u<\/span>w<\/span> training program<\/span>Mon<\/span>, <\/span>e<\/span>e<\/span>n<\/span> clear<\/span>k<\/span>e<\/span> strategist<\/span>i<\/span>e<\/span> and<\/span> the focu<\/span>s <\/span>on<\/span> Human Experience (HX), Tue<\/span>e <\/span>ec<\/span>h<\/span>t<\/span> through<\/span>kt<\/span> in how w<\/span>e <\/span>work<\/span>e<\/span>n<\/span> e<\/span>n<\/span> communicate<\/span>and<\/span>. What m<\/span>e <\/span>opva<\/span>lt<\/span>, is how open<\/span>n <\/span>Rv<\/span>d<\/span>b<\/span> dee<\/span>l<\/span>t<\/span> wa<\/span>ar<\/span> it to me<\/span>e <\/span>bez<\/span>ig<\/span> is. That i <\/span>s <\/span>important<\/span>jk<\/span>, <\/span>jui<\/span>s<\/span>t<\/span> omd<\/span>a<\/span>t<\/span> ve<\/span>e<\/span>l<\/span> colleague<\/span>\u2019s<\/span> magpie<\/span>n <\/span>work<\/span>and<\/span>; Tue<\/span>e <\/span>connect<\/span>n<\/span>g<\/span> ho<\/span>ud<\/span> j<\/span>e <\/span>all<\/span>e<\/span>n<\/span> a<\/span>if<\/span> j<\/span>e <\/span>conscious<\/span>s<\/span>t<\/span> portfolio company<\/span>rt<\/span> in contact<\/span>t <\/span>e<\/span>n<\/span> transparent<\/span>ie<\/span>.\u201d<\/span><\/span> <\/span> <\/span><\/p>

Since February, Anouk has been working as an HR Partner at Accenture through Rvdb. \u201cI joined a project focused on a new occupational health service, integrated with technology. The Health & Wellbeing Lead went on leave, so we looked into whether I could temporarily take over that role.\u201d She now leads a new team of case managers and works on projects related to wellbeing. \u201cIt\u2019s really nice to have a specialized HR role for a change, because it\u2019s truly about the human side of HR. And what I\u2019ve learned at Rvdb about personal leadership is helping me tremendously now in managing and guiding my team.\u201d <\/span> <\/span><\/p>

What drives her? \u201cIt\u2019s about seeing opportunities for yourself and seizing them. Accenture didn\u2019t contact Rvdb about this specific role; I arranged it myself. That\u2019s what I love about interim work: if you\u2019re curious and show initiative, new opportunities naturally arise.\u201d <\/span> <\/span><\/p>

With a smile: \u201cI\u2019m really happy that this assignment has changed so much. It\u2019s exactly why I joined Rvdb in the first place\u2014because you can grow, discover, and keep learning new things about yourself.\u201d<\/span> <\/span><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t

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Related insights<\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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