Student Profile

Willemijn van Woerkom

What's your background?

My degree in physics introduced me to the beauty and power of mathematics and natural laws and their ability to predict the movement and development of planets, stars, and galaxies.

But my electives in the field of psychology pulled me in a different direction. I became fascinated with human behavior. Which factors can influence human behavior? And specifically, are people always aware of this influence or can it go completely undetected?

I was lucky to find a master's program in brain and cognitive sciences, which allows me to explore those questions.

What are you doing currently?

Right now, I'm in the process of writing a literature thesis on working memory and its role in processing language. After that, I'll complete my second research project, the final requirement for my master's degree.

In my free time, I volunteer at a movie theater and I work as a physics tutor for high school students.

What did you get out of CORe?

Unexpectedly, CORe covers a lot of material that aligns with my interests as an academic researcher. As it turns out, to understand business, you need to understand people.

Willingness to pay, the effects of competition, and marketing all require an appreciation of human nature and human decision-making. On top of that, my love for physics and mathematics was rekindled by the scientific approach of Business Analytics and the structure and logic of the accounting equation.

I feel I've learned invaluable lessons on the operation of companies that I would never have learned in academics alone.

What's on the career horizon for you?

I'm approximately one year away from completing my master's program. After that, I might pursue a PhD position or a different job outside of academia.

I enjoyed CORe so much that I'm even thinking about entering an MBA program, previously something I wouldn’t have even considered. Either way, I'm confident CORe has provided me with a basic understanding of business that will benefit me wherever I end up studying or working.