Taking the learning out of the classroom

The business behind the code

As part of the YP Programme, Carlota now works in the Brand Experience team, where she helps develop tools that support brands on bol’s platform. One of her key contributions so far? Brand Builder: a tool where partners can upload their brand stories, visuals, and product categories.

“I’m in a team with five other developers, a designer, and a product manager. The programme is set up in a way that, as a young professional, you only work alongside experienced colleagues. It was quite intense at first, to be honest. But that feeling changed, bit by bit. I remember the moment I realised I could follow an entire meeting without needing to ask what anything meant. That felt big. Suddenly, I could contribute. I also started realising how important it is to understand why you’re building something, not just how . You have to get to know the business behind the code. That was a shift in thinking for me.”

Learning by doing

When Carlota joined bol in September 2023, she’d just finished her bachelor’s in data science. Initially, she was leaning towards a Master’s degree until she came across the YP Programme. “At university, you rarely apply things to real life. I didn’t want to just sit in another classroom, I wanted to learn by doing. What also helped me come to my decision was the community feeling; something bol had promised and absolutely delivered on. When I moved to the Netherlands, I didn’t know anyone. But the YP community felt like a university friend group. Everyone was so open, and I felt welcome right away.”

Carlota also became involved with one of the programme’s building blocks. “As Young Professionals, we help shape the programme. ‘For YP’s, by YP’s’, as they call it. I became part of the building block responsible for onboarding. I participated at first, but eventually became a coordinator. This meant I had to learn how to delegate, communicate clearly, and really listen to people. Those skills have become a big part of my work as a software engineer, too.”

Learning isn’t only about delivering results. Sometimes, the process is the point. Carlota, Software Engineer

Lessons they don’t teach you in class

Not everything went smoothly, though. Like any large company, bol occasionally goes through internal changes, which can mean switching teams, slowing down innovation, or adjusting to a different pace. And that’s exactly what happened about six months into Carlota’s programme.

“That was definitely a challenging period,” she says. “At uni, I was used to starting a project, finishing it and getting a mark. Now, I had to accept that some projects just wouldn’t be completed, at least not yet. That was a big shift in mindset for me. But in the end, it taught me to be patient. And it taught me that learning isn’t only about delivering results. Sometimes, the process is the point.”

Speaking up

For Carlota, a lot has changed since she joined the programme in 2023. “In the beginning, I let the experienced people do the talking. But little by little, I learned to speak my mind. At other companies, you might be expected to follow instructions and stick to your tasks. But here, if you have an idea, people genuinely listen – even if you’re just starting out. As a coordinator within the building blocks, I got to practise that by leading meetings, sharing ideas, and realising that what I say matters.”

She laughs when she says: “Joining the programme, I knew I had a lot to learn. Now I realise: there’s even more ahead. At bol, you’re surrounded by people who value learning and actually enjoy it. Ten layers down, and I feel I have just scratched the surface. And that’s an exciting feeling to have.”