"This is all about teamwork. Not everyone for themselves, but moving forward together."
Marie-José | Business Development Manager
Marie-José (28) sees business development as jointly developing solutions that fit the way a customer works. She gets energy from making contact, building something together, and being on the move. Sometimes that happens with a good conversation, sometimes... with a bag of onions. Yes, really. "I brought them for my colleagues," she laughs. "To show them where I come from." Typical Marie-José: full of individuality and openness. She likes to share a piece of herself, because that's how connections are made. Just like we work at HeadFirst Group: with attention, commitment, and always going the extra mile.
From vocational education to bachelor's degree
Marie-José grew up in Friesland and moved to Groningen to study. She started at a vocational college, then moved on to a university of applied sciences to study Facility Management, and eventually completed a master's degree. "When I said I wanted to continue studying, my parents wondered whether that was right for me. But I thought: I'm just going to do it." That down-to-earth attitude has brought her exactly where she is today.
During her studies, she immersed herself completely in the world of hospitality. She worked as a hostess and was active at various events, ranging from trade fairs and catering assignments to FC Groningen and SC Heerenveen soccer matches. She was always in direct contact with people, often as the first point of contact and as the face of the organization. "I discovered how much I enjoy thinking on my feet, putting people at ease, and helping them."
The next step
After graduating, Marie-José started working as a sales consultant at a temp agency. She now refers to itas "the ideal starter job." She had her hands full with everything from sales and recruitment to conducting interviews, administration, absenteeism, and payroll; no two days were the same. It was precisely this variety, with a lot of responsibility and freedom, that allowed her to discover what really energized her. She continued to grow with roles in corporate recruitment, operational management, and program management. Eventually, she found herself at a crossroads again, ready to decide which direction her career would take.
Through a former internship contact in Bali, HeadFirst Group remained on her radar. She followed the company on LinkedIn, read stories from employees, and found herself becoming increasingly curious. "The employer branding really worked. That appealed to me," she says. That recognition, that feeling of 'this is right', ultimately led her to her role as business development manager. This job brings everything together for Marie-José: her drive to build relationships, her curiosity about what organizations need, and her talent for bringing the right people together.
“The strength lies not in knowing everything yourself, but in bringing together the right expertise.”
Building new relationships
In her role as business development manager, Marie-José focuses on new business: from the very first point of contact to the moment a new customer signs the contract. Leads come in via the website, but also through events, newsletters, or LinkedIn. At HeadFirst Group, customers are brought in together, which feels very different from the classic image of sales as a solo game full of targets and bonuses."Here, it's all about teamwork, strengthening each other, and taking responsibility. Not every man for himself, but moving forward together. That way, you're never alone. You learn from each other, complement each other, and everyone contributes from their own expertise. That makes working at HeadFirst Group not only more effective, but also a lot more enjoyable.
Marie-José is the team's designated contact person for RPO projects. This is not a separate role, but rather a responsibility she fulfills alongside her work in business development. Thanks to her background and experience, she is able to quickly contribute ideas, adapt, and add value when a new RPO project comes up. Her colleagues, in turn, bring a wealth of knowledge about brokering and MSP, so everyone contributes from their own strengths. This collaboration allows Marie-José to contribute her own expertise and continue to learn from the knowledge and experience of her colleagues.
Where ambitions are given space
As a business development manager, it's all about building and maintaining relationships. Of course, successes are nice, but the real work takes place in daily conversations, thinking along with customers, and building long-term trust. That is why HeadFirst Group facilitates moments when those relationships can develop naturally. By being present and organizing meetings ourselves, such as during the HR Top 100, it becomes easier to start conversations, share knowledge, and build lasting contacts. "Many organizations already know us through various sports and supplier events, which makes it a lot easier to strike up a conversation and share the right information," says Marie-José.
This same facilitative approach is reflected in how HeadFirst Group invests in the development of its employees. Not only are you given the tools to do your job well, but you are also given the space to grow as a professional and as a person. 'Learn every day' is therefore more than just a core value on paper. Marie-José, for example, followed the BOS program within HeadFirst Group, which combines personal leadership and consultative selling. "You learn who you are, what your strengths are, and how to convince customers without coming across as pushy," she explains. For her, it is precisely this combination that works: developing yourself in a way that suits you, while helping customers in a way that suits them.
An organization that improves together
What appeals to Marie-José about HeadFirst Group? Our sports initiative: Team HeadFirst Group. This athletic girl is always up for a challenge. Mud Masters, the half marathon of Amsterdam, Hyrox, she has participated in them all with great pleasure (and a little excitement). " To be honest, I found that half marathon quite exciting," she admits. "But because I was running with a large group of colleagues, it immediately felt like one team. In the weeks leading up to it, the coffee machine and lunch breaks were often filled with talk of running paces, carb loading, and all the typical running talk. That created a strong sense of togetherness."
The accessibility of the organization still surprises her. Even at the highest level, colleagues actively contribute ideas. For example, the Group CEO recently helped her with an important client proposal. He had a lot of experience with the client organization and took the time to contribute ideas about tone, content, and approach. For Marie-José, this felt like a perfect example of how flat the organization is: "You can walk into each other's offices, whether it's the CEO or a recruitment colleague who is well informed about the various job profiles."
Business development with attention
Marie-José is far from finished. She builds, connects, and grows, day after day, together with her team. Not by shouting the loudest, but by listening the best. Not by scoring solo, but by winning together.
"The strength lies not in knowing everything yourself, but in bringing together the right expertise," she says with a smile. And that is precisely where her strength lies: being curious, collaborating, daring to ask questions, and bringing the right people with you. That is what makes a good business development manager. And that is exactly why her role is so wonderful.