Jurjen IJska

Dear Members of FSG. My name is Jurjen IJska. I am 36 years old and one of the partners at Lindenaar & Co Corporate Finance, a boutique firm specialised in M&A and debt advisory for predominantly founder led and family owned companies. My
journey into corporate finance began at the University of Groningen, where I completed the Bachelor Business Economics and the Master Finance.

During my time at university, I was actively involved in RISK (nowadays FSG), the Financial Study association in Groningen. I was active in the Conference Committee of 2010 and I served in the RISK board 2010-2011 as the External Relations Officer.
This role has accelerated my career, as it allowed me to develop my strategic communication skills and build a professional network that has been invaluable throughout my career. Furthermore, during my involvement at RISK I had the responsibility to realise results and at the same time had the freedom to experiment and learn from mistakes in a relatively risk-free environment. This experience taught
me the importance of resilience and proactive problem-solving, which have been essential in my career.

At Lindenaar & Co, I apply these skills daily, providing well-rounded, reliable advice to our clients. My role involves analysing complex financial structures, negotiations and guiding our clients through life changing transactions, which often reminds me of
the challenges I navigated during my board year with RISK/FSG.

I firmly believe that the practical experience and the opportunities to handle problems during my time at RISK have shaped my approach to my work in corporate finance.
It's clear to me that the lessons learned in those formative years have had a lasting impact on my professional path.