The objective of the Young@Tauw challenge was to collect new ideas and input for existing TAUW activities and communities from our own talented and motivated young professionals. Young TAUWees were linked to experienced employees and international groups. Carmen Merino Zamora (25) and Marissa Frambach (27) were two of the more than forty young TAUWees who took part in the challenge.

Together with two other colleagues Carmen focused on climate adaptation. As part of the challenge, they identified and linked climate adaptation challenges and opportunities in the different TAUW countries. With their various short and long-term opportunities and actions to tackle drought and flood challenges in both rural and urban areas, they won the prize: a full option 3-day international flexperience in a TAUW office of choice. And so Carmen – who normally works from Madrid at the environmental transactions department – and het Spanish co-winner Claudia Yélamos Pérez visited the offices in Utrecht and Deventer in the Netherlands in the summer of 2021.

Win-win
Carmen explains: “The flexperience in the Netherlands was the ‘second’ part of the experience. First, we invited our Dutch colleague and co-winner Loes van der Pluijm to Madrid where we had the chance to share knowledge and ideas and brainstorm about business opportunities related to climate change adaptation services and products. In the Netherlands we met colleagues from different departments and had brainstorm sessions with very interesting professionals about stress-tests for flooding and heat stress, tools and innovations. We identified opportunities to innovate the product we need through our DigiLab and Development Portal.”

It didn’t stop there. After the flexperience, Carmen and her teammates decided to keep working on their ideas and solutions and her manager has given them the green light to continue developing them. “That’s the good thing about TAUW. When you have an idea, you are given the trust and freedom to realize it. This is not only in line with my own interests, but – because Climate Change Adaptation is becoming a necessity for clients – is also valuable for the quality of the services and products of TAUW as a whole. It’s a win-win! Together with my team I want to spread this living ambition among other young TAUWees and work hand by hand with interested and motivated people in CCA topics. A company like TAUW makes that possible!”

Winners of the Young@TAUW challenge. From left to right: Claudia Yélamos Pérez, Carmen Merino Zamora and Loes van der Pluijm.

Ideas embraced
Marissa and her team were involved in an United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) Request for proposal for the development of detailed Inventory of persistent organic pollutants (POPs). With their creative design they helped to improve the quality of international proposals of the tender team. Even though Marissa and her team did not win the final challenge, she and her colleague Laura van der Stelt looked for exchange possibilities themselves. “Our team member Johannes Merkl invited us to visit ‘his’ office in Regensburg (Germany). This way, the challenge helped us to connect to new colleagues and their experience. It also provided us with a great deal of inspiration, in-depth conversations and, of course, a good time!”

“TAUW is a flat organisation, with effective communication channels and a pleasant work culture. When Laura and I proposed organising our own exchange, it was immediately embraced.” In October they learned all about TAUW Germany, their projects and their work atmosphere. “TAUW is an international company and we think it is important to get to know all our colleagues. As part of the exchange, we presented on our work in Urban Transformation and Development of Rural Areas, departments that do not exist yet in Germany. We also presented about sustainability, TAUW Foundation and Soil As Natural Capital (BANK). We had a great time and really felt like a part of TAUW Germany. The contacts we have made will certainly benefit our work going forward!”