Whats sup with my internship

The start

I think it is fair to say that the idea of an internship was completely new to me and which brought some challenges. Searching on the world wide web looking for possibilities, I encountered a website about supping. It immediately grabbed my attention and I started reading more about this trend. It is an upcoming sport in the Netherlands where you stand on a big surfboard while paddling on the water. A few years ago it came over from Hawaii and it is growing in popularity because people are searching for stress relieve and more sustainable options. Apparently this water activity is a good way to do this. There is only one way to find out and that is by doing it yourself! I went looking for an internship that connects with my current study and that is how I found WhatsSup. I applied and got accepted!

Corporate Social Responsibility

In my four months of internship I got to know their corporate culture which is focused on a sustainable product. WhatsSups most important purpose is to contribute to a better environment.

I experienced that the concept of supping in Haarlem is sustainable, but they would like to contribute even more to keeping the environment clean. Their USP is picking up plastic from the canals while the attendees are enjoying the canal tour. They are trying to clear Haarlem from plastic waste together with the citizens, which is something that inspired me. I know this inspires you to do something extra to keep the world livable for the next generations!

My first day

Before my internship started I took one of WhatsSup's lessons to get some grip on supping and to get to know their corporate culture. Immediately I felt involved because of their personal way of communicating. The first day one of the three owners showed me around, for example their storage. Their storage is next to the water which I found a clever solution to save money. 

What did i learn

In my time working together with WhatsSup I learned a lot, not only relevant things for my study, but also for my personal development. I got to work in their management, where they kept me busy with subjects like finance and marketing. I am proud of my contribution to their startup and my self-growth. Things such as working together and communicating with colleagues as well as customers.