Episode #001 / Series 3: The Voices of PHCom – Nathan Penninckx (EPHEC University College Intern)
Feedback from Nathan Penninckx (EPHEC University College), marketing intern at PHCom
Leave a voice message for Nathan Penninckx or Camille!
Did you think you knew everything about the behind-the-scenes of B2B prospecting?
At PHCom, every voice reveals a new facet of our collective adventure.
For several months now, our first series has been sharing the best experiences in finding new clients for companies active in business-to-business. With Michel joining the team, we were able to launch a second series: "The Voices of Our Clients," giving a voice to those who bring our collaborations to life. But one question arose: why not also listen to those who make PHCom what it is every day? That's how this third series was born: "The Voices of Our Team Members."
Today, Nathan Penninckx (EPHEC University College), marketing intern, kicks things off in perfect harmony. He shares his thoughts on his internship, unfiltered, with the authenticity that is the strength of our collective and helps us grow in performance.
At PHCom, every feedback matters, every experience fuels our momentum. Your voice could inspire the next story. Would you like to share yours?
Leave a voice message for Nathan or Camille on our answering machine
Your testimony could resonate further than you imagine…
If this episode moves you, sparks your curiosity or makes you want to participate, subscribe, share, comment. Your engagement is the driving force of our shared adventure.
And finally: the answering machine doesn't bite. But it might just make you want to come back.
Stéphane Depaepe: [00:00:13] Hello and welcome to another episode of the "Performance, Harmony & Commercial" podcast, produced by PHCom in the transforma bxl studio with technical support from "The Podcast Factory Org". Nadia Ben Jelloun: [00:00:23] The "Performance, Harmony & Commercial" podcast is aimed at marketing and sales managers as well as company executives with commercial responsibilities. Stéphane Depaepe: [00:00:32] Every month, we share our best practices in finding new customers for business-to-business companies. Nadia Ben Jelloun: [00:00:38] You can find each episode on the PHCom point be website, P.H.C.O.M, and on all the good podcast platforms. Stéphane Depaepe: [00:00:48] You can support this podcast and promote its visibility by sharing it with as many people as possible via a like, comment or share. Nadia Ben Jelloun: [00:00:55] The answering machine is always open so that you can leave us a message, which we'll be delighted to answer. Stéphane Depaepe: [00:01:00] You can also book an appointment directly with Nadia or Stéphane on PHCom dot be. Nadia Ben Jelloun: [00:01:06] See you soon. Camille de Meeûs: [00:01:07] Hello Nathan. Nathan Penninckx: [00:01:08] Hello Camille. Camille de Meeûs: [00:01:08] How are you? Nathan Penninckx: [00:01:09] Very, very good. No? Camille de Meeûs: [00:01:10] We're here today to talk about you, because you joined PHCom as an intern almost three months ago. Nathan Penninckx: [00:01:17] That's it Camille de Meeûs: [00:01:17] You're coming to the end of your experiment. And so we're here today to hear a little bit about what you've been through, and how you feel about it. And above all, how you came to work for PH Com Nathan Penninckx: [00:01:26] How I got here, it all happened at EPHEC, I'm finishing my three-year baccalaureate, I'm in marketing. At the end of the year, we have to do an internship. I found this internship by searching on the internet and with the EPHEC database. I thought, why not, sent an e-mail, had an interview and that was it. I've been here five months now. Camille de Meeûs: [00:01:42] What attracted you to this ad? There are certainly words that came out, or the way it was shot. Why did you lean towards PHCom? Nathan Penninckx: [00:01:49] I have to admit, it was more the sales consultancy aspect that struck me, it was an environment I wanted to discover. It's also an environment that has helped me realize that it's really the commercial side of things, the consulting side. And I thought, why not? And I went and there it was. And now I'm at the end of the course, I've learned a lot, a lot. Camille de Meeûs: [00:02:04] You've had the opportunity to develop a number of different skills. As you said, you've worked on the sales side by prospecting and making calls on behalf of our customers. It's not easy when you're young to pick up the phone and call people you don't know. Nathan Penninckx: [00:02:17] I've never done it before, so it's not at all easy, I can tell you. I've had a lot of training, with Nadia in-house, who is a very, very, good trainer in this area. She gave me a lot of training in listening, speaking and understanding customers. And then there's the preparation in the background, which is quite important, so it's really not easy. But now I think I've gained a lot of experience and I know how to go about it, I know how to understand a customer because I think that's the most important thing. So there you have it, all the training I've had over the years has helped me get to where I am today. Camille de Meeûs: [00:02:45] We were talking mainly about the commercial aspect, but don't forget that you're a third-year marketing student at EPHEC. That's what your internship is all about, before the commercial aspect, what do you remember about marketing? What have you learned? Nathan Penninckx: [00:02:57] In terms of marketing, we have developed several aspects. Already, for example, we've tried to restructure a website for PHCom to try and redesign it. There's also the aspect of lead generation, which is quite important from a marketing point of view, because it's all about marketing. There's also the creation of events, networking for PHCom, management of social networks, so it's all been quite imposing internally and it was very interesting to be able to take part in all that. Camille de Meeûs: [00:03:19] You talk about lead generation, it's important (Nathan Penninckx: It's very important, yeah), especially in a company. How would you define it, how do you work it? Nathan Penninckx: [00:03:24] It's more a question of approach, of knowing how to approach a prospect, for PHCom. See how we're going to make it happen, how we're going to approach it and, in the end, how we're going to win its loyalty. And that's what lead generation is all about, and it's not easy, and it has to be learned, and clearly that's what we're learning at PHCom. Camille de Meeûs: [00:03:39] What was your contribution? Nathan Penninckx: [00:03:40] I think it was mainly learning how to manage real marketing projects in a company, because I'd never done that before, it was always for courses or school-related projects. So, above all, it was a matter of discovering how we post, of understanding what was done in marketing, agendas and so on. So I really got into it, and now I understand a bit better the ecosystem of a marketer in a company, especially in an SME. Camille de Meeûs: [00:04:04] What are the main skills you developed during your internship? Nathan Penninckx: [00:04:07] The commercial aspect, the integrity aspect, the human aspect, maybe the trust aspect too, because it also allows us to gain confidence, to see if the work we're doing is clear, well established and comprehensive, and also adapted to Stéphane who's the boss, so... That's what it's all about, a lot of integrity and hard work that I'm proud to have achieved. Camille de Meeûs: [00:04:23] You certainly already had professional aspirations (Nathan Penninckx: Mm). Have these aspirations changed? Do you see your professional future differently? Nathan Penninckx: [00:04:31] I have a passion, I'm a DJ at heart, so I have nothing to do with the commercial or marketing aspects. And I think this passion will always remain, I wanted to be a sound engineer, but then I diverted towards marketing because I always had the economic aspect in secondary school, so I went more towards this environment for my professional future. And yes, things have changed, because every year, every moment, new opportunities arise, so obviously my future is going to change. I don't know, but what I love is discovering new things, and this time I discovered the commercial side of things and I really enjoyed it. Camille de Meeûs: [00:04:58] What would you say to the next trainee applying to PHCom? What would your advice be? Nathan Penninckx: [00:05:03] I think my advice is to develop this commercial aspect, which is extremely important for me, for the future. Because, let's say two years from now I've got a really important guy calling me, well now I think I know how to handle that call, I know how to establish contact with that prospect or customer or... So it's really this commercial aspect that for me, commercial self-development, is hyper-important and hyper-enriching for anyone in fact. Camille de Meeûs: [00:05:25] Talking about your future, what will you remember in concrete terms from your three months at PHCom? What will help you on your career path? Nathan Penninckx: [00:05:32] The commercial aspect again, it's that, it's really that, it's that commercial aspect, it's listening Camille de Meeûs: [00:05:36] You mean the approach? Nathan Penninckx: [00:05:37] The sales approach, i.e. listening, understanding, perhaps doing things in the background to be able to better manage a customer, etc., is all part of this. Camille de Meeûs: [00:05:44] Yes, and then it's learning and realizing that not everyone is the same (Nathan Penninckx: No, not at all, not at all). So when you're prospecting, you learn to develop that ear and say "Okay, I've got this personality (Nathan Penninckx: That's it), how am I going to do it" (Nathan Penninckx: Exactly). As a young student, do you think it's important to get to know the people you're talking to? Nathan Penninckx: [00:06:01] Ah, it's super important, for sure. For everyone's future, in any company, it's super important to understand someone, to see how they work, to adapt to them. And of course, we have to adapt ourselves to this person in order to go further with him or her. Camille de Meeûs: [00:06:14] A final word, what would you say to the PHCom teams? Nathan Penninckx: [00:06:17] Well thank you, thank you 1000 times. Because I've had a lot of training, I've had a very human relationship with them, and I think the strongest thing about PHCom is really the human relationship. And thank you for including me, thank you for teaching me all that and I wish them all the best for the future and... And that's it! Camille de Meeûs: [00:06:30] Thank you Nathan, and all the best for (Nathan Penninckx: Thanks to you) your long and above all rewarding professional career. Nathan Penninckx: [00:06:35] Thank you Camille.Podcast breakdown:
Podcast transcript:
