Time setter story: Inez Erwin Magino on TNO Traineeship

From Indonesia to Delft

Inez Erwin Magino is comfortable stepping outside of her comfort zone. As a 17-year-old, she took a leap into the unknown and travelled from Indonesia to the Netherlands for an exchange programme. ‘I wound up a small town, did not speak the language… It was tough at first but I learned so much!’

After that, she studied Industrial Engineering and Management in University of Groningen and got a Master’s degree in Transport, Infrastructure,and Logistics from the Technical University in Delft.

Shape your own career

Today, her determination is a great asset in the TNO Traineeship. ‘As trainee I get to experience three roles in different departments for eight months each. From project manager to strategy.’ she explains. ‘The programme also includes coaching, training and a lot of reflection.’

‘During the traineeship, TNO gives me the space and trust to shape my own career’, Inez explains. ‘That comes with responsibility too: I am expected to take leadership of my own development. By networking and finding my own placements and projects, for example. My path is really the one I create.’

From scientist to strategist

In her first placement as a scientist within Sustainable Mobility and Logistics, Inez worked deeply on a topic that felt familiar from her studies. The role itself, however, did not feel like such a good fit. ‘The scientist role was very detail-oriented and I missed the helicopter view.’

That realisation made her pursue a second placement in TNO’s Strategy department. There she found the high-level thinking and cross-team collaboration that suit her much better. ‘I focused on corporate strategy and the AI Strategy for the unit ICT, Strategy and Policy. I was focused on alignment and building engagement to help move that strategy forward.’

Imposter syndrome

A key turning point in Inez’s development as trainee was finding the right mentor. ‘Working alongside many experts, I struggled with imposter syndrome. With the support of my mentors, my confidence grew significantly. I learned to speak up and trust myself.’

She arrived at a simple but powerful realisation: ‘If I don’t understand something, that’s not necessarily on me. Maybe the other person hasn’t thought it through yet either. So now I just ask more questions. That way, we all get to learn and improve.’

The value of mentorship

Mentorship is something Inez now actively seeks out herself in every new placement. She even gave a pitch to fellow trainees on why it is so valuable to find one or several mentors when you start in a new department. Her advice for future trainees? ‘Take ownership. Don’t wait for things to come to you. Go out, talk to people, ask questions and shape your own journey.’

Room for creativity

Though the traineeship is a full time job, Inez also runs a small fashion business with a friend. ‘My childhood dream was to become a fashion designer. I like to bring creativity into my work, too. It can help to visualise technology that does not yet exist, or to come up with new ideas.’

Setting boundaries

In her third and current placement, Inez brings everything together as a project manager in Sustainable Urban Mobility and Safety. ‘Even as a student I enjoyed structure: setting a goal and then figuring out the steps to get there. That is an asset in this role.’

She has learned how to balance ambition with realism. ‘Colleagues at TNO are very passionate. As a project manager, I can help set boundaries for my team. We don’t have to make everything too perfect. How can we create the biggest possible impact for the client within a limited time and budget?’

Sweet spot

According to Inez, TNO offers that sweet spot between business and research. ‘We are independent and not for profit, and the work goes way beyond theory. From sustainable mobility to resilient cities, the innovations we work on really make a difference.’

She recalls her first impression of TNO on Trainee Selection Day in 2024. ‘I got to see the building, meet the people. I remember going home thinking “Is this too good to be true?” Though the day was long and tiring, everybody was just so nice and genuinely motivated to make a difference. That is what I still appreciate in every new department.’