A career on and off the pitch: Laolu impresses at Conclusion

Laolu is studying for junior account manager at ROC Midden Nederland. ‘I have just successfully completed my final internship at Conclusion and still need to take a few exams,’ he proudly says. ‘After my exams, I want to continue studying in the direction of college real estate. I would like to become an estate agent, even if football turns out to be big. The junior account manager study fits in well with this.’ 

Finding an internship as a top athlete is not so easy. ‘Many internship companies are strict about working hours. That does not match with my training schedule and competitions,’ Laolu says. ‘Also the ROC Midden Nederland had little experience with studying top athletes. My mentor is super helpful and school is flexible. I also found that flexibility at Conclusion. It remains quite a puzzle sometimes. This internship has been a great learning experience for all parties.’  

The art of a good sales pitch

Laolu had many marketing- and sales-related assignments during his internship period. Client director Peter Ebeling took Laolu under his wing and taught him the art of a good sales talk. Laolu says: ‘The sales talks with Peter were super interesting. I learned a lot from this: be interested, always be prepared, never take no for an answer and keep asking until you get an answer. I also learnt a lot of new terms that are not in my textbooks.’ 

Peter looks back fondly on working with Laolu. He says: ‘I have gained a lot of admiration for Laolu. As a tall guy, he naturally makes an immediate impression. But he is also only seventeen. His self-reliance is therefore extra admirable. I only had to explain everything once. He picked it up and went straight to work. Besides being a nice guy, he is also a very smart guy.’ 

Lots of mutual contact

Laolu had very different expectations for the fulfilment of his internship. ‘From our training fields we look out on the Conclusion office. I had a completely different picture of what it would be like inside,’ Laolu says. ‘This was my first internship. I actually had no idea. In films and series, I often see people sitting in cubicles, with little contact between them. The contrast couldn't be greater. The spaces are open, and there is a lot of connection. It's also all very informal. At FC Utrecht, there is more hierarchy. There, I address my trainer as you. At Conclusion, they looked at me with surprise when I said you. That took some getting used to.’ 

Quite handy such a diary app

The big learning point for almost all trainees is planning and structure. So too for Laolu. ‘The diary app is on your phone for a reason,’ he says with a smile. ‘I learnt during my internship to structure and work to a schedule. Earlier, I was just trying to remember everything. But that is impossible in a work environment. I now use my calendar app for everything.’ 

But where is the dream now: a career as a real estate agent or professional goalkeeper? Laolu: ‘It could be both, of course. Who knows, I might be the next Ryan Babel, who was successful in real estate alongside his football career.’ Peter concludes with a wink: ‘I did tell him: If you live up to it as a goalkeeper, I hope you remember me.’