It’s the year 2019 and Denise is saying farewell to her colleagues at Onguard. Her six-month internship, full of learning and fun moments, has come to an end, and she is ready for her new adventure: a student exchange programme abroad. “If you wish to come back, we’ll be waiting,” one of her closest colleagues told her. And guess what!
She has been with Onguard for 6 years, she started as an intern to climb to an Event Manager, and she effectively shares her energy between two roles in the company! This is Denise Rossen, Event Manager, Onguard, and All-round Marketer, Outstanding24.
Starting at Onguard
In the third year of her studies, Denise was looking for her first working experience. Through a family member, she heard of an internship opportunity at the credit management company, Onguard. Denise secured her first interview, and things evolved quickly. “I received a call while on the train back from the interview. It was a perfect match,” she recalls.
Fast forward to 6 months later, the internship has come to an end and Denise is ready for the next chapter: a student exchange in Denmark. Another 6 months later, her studies come to an end, and it’s time for her Master’s Degree at the University of Amsterdam. This is when she receives a call from her former Manager at Onguard, who offers her a part-time job in the marketing department.
“At first, I was a bit hesitant because I wanted to complete my studies properly. But my experience at Onguard had been so good that I decided to do it. It was also COVID time, which helped me to manage my tasks remotely and save valuable time. Everyone at work was really understanding with me studying full-time and working in parallel. The supportive environment at Onguard helped me a lot during this time.”
This is how she got her full contract just after finishing her studies, and working life officially started! For Onguard, Denise is now the go-to person for internal and external events, ranging from small internal fun activities (such as drinks with colleagues) up to big partner and customer events.
A few years into her role, Onguard acquired Outstanding24. “While in their adaptation phase, the Outstanding24 team needed someone with marketing experience, and they found me a perfect fit. And this is how I combined my second role as an all-round marketer at Outstanding24.”
What is the best thing about working at Onguard?
“The vibes. It is the people that make Onguard. Everyone is always there if you need help and always in for a drink if you want fun. I love that the atmosphere is kind of “informal” and I can be myself. This makes me go to work with a smile on my face.”
| Best part of the day: “Lunch time. At Onguard, we have a ritual. Shortly before noon, I get up from my desk and “shout” *a well-known supermarket brand* and everyone’s ears go up (laughs). This is the time that we all leave our laptops aside for a while and walk to the supermarket to grab lunch. Then we eat and chat all together in our “fun room”. This is my favourite part of the day and one of the reasons why I want to go to the office: to interact with my colleagues.” Best thing about my job: “People leaving an event with a happy face. These are my metrics of success. Do people leave the event happy? That’s all I need. ” Best memory at Onguard: “Definitely our ski trips; I have joined three, and there is one loading for 2025!” |
Marketing at Onguard: How does your work contribute to the success of the company?
“I always say everything starts with marketing: good content, an appealing website, emails, advertisements and events. This is how we generate leads. If we don’t, there are no things for the other departments to follow up on. The most interesting, and perhaps challenging thing in our job is that you don’t see results immediately. Our efforts are mirrored in the long term. It’s about creating long-lasting relationships with your customers and prospects. And I am happy to do this as part of two great teams at Onguard and Outstanding24.”
Do you want to learn more about working at Onguard? Check out our careers page or connect with us directly.
