Alumna Femmy ten Bruggenkate studied Hotel and Hospitality Management at Tio in Utrecht more than twelve years ago. Six years later, she founded her own company: Style2Events. “I organise festivals, but also business trips. It is very diverse!”
“I chose Tio because I was not entirely sure yet what I wanted to do. Tio’s bachelor programmes were quite comprehensive, so I would have plenty of opportunities in the sector. I really liked that.” The internships in particular helped the entrepreneurial Femmy realise what she really wanted to do: organise events.
What do you do, exactly?
“I organise all kinds of events for businesses. I started doing that seven years ago, after first acquiring experience by working at two other companies. I organised conventions, tradeshows and other events for businesses, but they still had to do a lot of the work themselves. I thought to myself that there had to be a better way. That is why I founded Style2Events, which offers a full range of services for events.”
What do you love most about your job?
“It is very diverse! One moment, you are organising a business convention, while you are surrounded by festive people during a company party the next. Recently, I organised a large festival that included everything from food trucks and a main stage to an après-ski hut, a Ferris wheel and more! I also arrange business trips to e.g. Barcelona or Iceland. You have to take care of everything: communication, website management and meeting your guests’ needs.”
What part of your education was most useful to you?
“The internships, definitely! I did my second internship in the catering sector on Curacao. If I am honest, I chose that one for fun. I worked at a great restaurant in a fortress. I thought it would be a fantastic location for a large party. Together with the restaurant, I organised a party for all the interns on the island. After all, it is packed with students who are there to enjoy an internship that is sometimes more like a holiday. I discovered how much I enjoyed organising something like that. I did my third and final internship at a fashion show organisation in Antwerp. It introduced me to the many facets of organising events. It was hard work, but I loved every minute of it!”
Follow Femmy on LinkedIn.