HRM Director Nicole Bueters and Mark Bentum, Dean of Electrical Engineering, focus on people daily, on how they work, learn, and grow. And on what good leadership means to them: always tied to our university's CORe values: curious, open, responsible, and respectful.
Seat Mark Bentum and Nicole Bueters at the same table to talk about leadership and our university's CORe values, and the energy starts flowing right away. The new HRM Director, who started in May, asks curious questions, while the EE Dean, Bentum, shares his experiences with apparent enthusiasm. They laugh a lot, complement each other, and push each other's thinking.
It's not their first time meeting. Bentum served on the appointment advisory committee during the interviews for the new HRM Director. And of course, they got to know each other better during Bueters' onboarding and through various projects and meetings across the university.
Turning it around
Bueters comes from Philips, where she spent nearly twenty years in various senior HR roles. When she thinks back to her job interview at TU/e, she laughs. "Thirteen people interviewed me in one session, that was my first real glimpse of how things work at a university."
I ASKED, WHAT MAKES WORKING HERE SO MUCH FUN? AND SO MUCH PASSION AND PRIDE EMERGED - IT REALLY MOVED ME.
Nicole Bueters, Director HRM
"Everyone was critical, but also curious. They asked, 'We have so many challenges here, how will you handle them?' I turned it around: 'What makes working here so enjoyable?' The atmosphere changed immediately, and a surge of passion and pride emerged. That really moved me."
Bentum: "We did not doubt at all: she had the right experience, courage, and curiosity. That fits perfectly with our values."
Leadership in practice
For Bentum, leadership is primarily about collaboration. "It's not: I'm in charge, and this is how it's going to happen. We have to do it together. I feel that strongly in the UCC meeting (University Consultative Council, ed.) between the deans and the Executive Board. We don't always agree, but there's plenty of room for dialogue. That makes governing easier and more enjoyable."
LEADERSHIP IS NOT: I'M in charge, and this is how it's going to happen. WE HAVE TO DO IT TOGETHER.
Mark Bentum, Dean of EE
Bueters adds, "I believe in servant leadership. You provide direction, empower the team, help people grow, and dare to give feedback. Give freedom, but not without responsibility."
"Exactly," says Bentum. "And dare to have that difficult conversation. Honestly and respectfully, with a focus on how things can improve."
Feedback and growth
"I'm optimistic," says Bueters. "People are open to growing. You can always keep developing yourself."
Bentum adds: "For your department, your faculty, but also for yourself. If you stop learning, maybe it's time to change roles."
Small steps, big difference
Bueters sees a lot of ambition at TU/e, "but sometimes we want to do too much at once." At HRM, she notices that many projects are being juggled simultaneously. "There are lots of things we want to work on because they have an impact on people."
Bentum: "In the HRM SQUAD analysis, it appeared you were working on more than fifty projects. That's just not feasible. We have to dare to choose and don't need to aim for perfect scores on everything. Sometimes a seven is enough."
WE WANT TO transform a DAF to a ROLLS-ROYCE overnight.
Nicole Bueters, Director HRM
"We want to transform a DAF to a Rolls-Royce overnight," she says. "But real progress happens with small incremental improvements. Progress over perfection. We learn by doing and adjust where needed."
