Meet Pauline van der Lans

Our program managers are the link between experts and course participants: they identify what knowledge is needed, develop courses to meet that need and are the main contact for course leaders, teachers and participants. In this series, we introduce them to you. Pauline van der Lans is responsible for the disciplines Built Environment, Environment and Safety and Process Engineering and Chemistry. She tells you about her fields, what drives her and how she can help you.

Pauline has worked at PAOTM for almost three years now and is responsible for the courses and training programs in her three fields. "I make sure that our courses stay up to date and continue to match what the market needs. I’m also constantly on the lookout for new topics and for the right people to teach a program."

From customer contact to knowledge transfer
Pauline took a roundabout route into education. After earning a degree in tourism and recreation from a university of applied sciences, she started out at a health insurance company, helping customers with questions about reimbursements. This was followed by years in service coordination: first at a supplier of material handling equipment and later at a company specializing in navigation and communication systems for ocean-going and inland shipping, where she also handled warranty claims. "Contact in inland shipping was much more personal. That suited me well, because you build real relationships with customers and suppliers."

When she was ready for something new, she was approached about a job opening at PAOTM. The fact that the organization is a nonprofit foundation was what convinced her to take the job. “You really get the freedom to figure out what best suits your clients. And if something doesn’t suit them, how do we make sure it does?” It also rekindled an old interest. She had once considered becoming a teacher herself and her affinity with education always stayed. “At PAOTM, I could still pursue that side of things. A perfect combination."

Finding the real knowledge need
Sustainability and circularity are central themes in Pauline’s fields. Interesting, but also complex. "It’s an umbrella term that covers a lot. The question is always: is a topic big enough for a full course or is a two-hour information session enough? That search is what makes my fields so challenging."

Recently, developments in the practical application of circular construction led to a new course. A course on floating construction, aimed at developers and policymakers, is also on the drawing board. Meanwhile, public housing is the subject of extensive lobbying and research and Pauline is following these developments closely.

To do her job well, she feels it is important to be involved at an early stage. A recent example is the contact with regional environmental agencies and organizations that have previously had in-company training with us. And with new contacts where new questions may arise. "When something is developing around a particular issue, you want these organizations to think of us right away. Not after everything has already been settled."

Piecing together a program
Alongside short courses, Pauline manages the long-term Bouwfysica and MilieuGeluid programs. These call for a different approach. “The programs are extensive and you need good organizational skills. There’s a good deal of puzzle-solving involved and I really enjoy that." Contact with the program leaders is very intensive, and during the preparation phase there’s also a lot of back and forth with participants: what is the workload like, when is the start date and what will be expected of me?

Conversations and evaluations also led to a concrete improvement. In the MilieuGeluid program, the math turned out to be a challenge for many participants; their skills were not always up to date. That’s why there is now an optional introductory course on calculating. Beforehand, PAOTM looks at each participant’s educational background and work experience and gives advice on that basis. “We’re seeing plenty of interest; this addition has been very well received."

The greatest compliment
When you ask Pauline about a moment that has stayed with her she mentions a collaboration with three regional environmental agencies. They had taken on many new employees who needed to complete a training program as part of their development path. However, there were too many of them to add to the participants already enrolled, so a parallel track was set up, shaped through frequent consultation. “It was all very open, without hard deadlines. A compliment on the personal, tailored contact: for me, that’s the greatest compliment I can think of."

According to Pauline, that is exactly what makes PAOTM unique. “We are accessible and personal. A great deal is possible if we talk things through and we keep the conversation going until we find a solution." On top of that comes the quality of the instructors: leading experts who are also very approachable. “We aren’t the experts ourselves; we are the link in the transfer of knowledge. We make sure the latest knowledge from the expert reaches the participant."

That accessibility also applies to anyone with a question about knowledge or training. “Feel free to get in touch, by email or phone, whichever suits you best. We’re always happy to think along with you. And if we’re not the right provider, we’ll point you in the right direction or make sure you get in touch with someone who is better placed to help with your specific question. Getting in touch doesn’t mean you have to sign up for a course right away." If she spots a need that isn’t yet covered by our offer, that’s precisely what makes things interesting. “Then we bounce ideas around: is this a bigger issue in the market? Can we develop something for it?"

What drives her
Besides the personal contact with her external network, it’s the collaboration within the PAOTM team that motivates Pauline every day. “The collaboration between departments and between individuals is great. Everyone helps each other think things through. It’s truly a joint effort, I couldn’t do this on my own. We need each other and we build on each other."

Off the clock, onto the court
In addition to the personal attention that characterizes her, Pauline is also known as a caring person, both at home and toward her colleagues. She spends most of her free time with her family and can regularly be found on the volleyball court: she has been playing for almost 23 years and these days she’s back to playing league games with her own team every week. It’s no coincidence that teamwork is at the heart of her sport, just as it is at PAOTM: you only achieve the best results together.

Do you have a question about building engineering, environment and safety or process engineering and chemistry? Are you looking for study advice or curious about the options for in-company training? Pauline and her fellow program managers are happy to help. Feel free to get in touch at +31 (0)15 278 46 18 or email info@paotm.nl