'I always think: if I don’t do it, nobody will do it for me.'

Sanaa Horloo - Financial Accountant, mother and former refugee

From nomad to accountant

‘When I tell people where I come from and where I am now, I realise just how far I’ve come. As a child, I lived a nomadic existence in Mongolia. My mother fled with me and my brother to the Netherlands when I was six years old. Suddenly, we weren’t nomads any more but asylum seekers.' 

‘In the years that followed, our life was uncertain. I haven’t got a birth certificate, so that made it even more difficult to get Dutch status. But in spite of everything, I’ve now got my master’s, a fantastic family, a good job as an accountant at NN and a very nice house. I’m incredibly proud of all that.'


The power of numbers

‘I had just arrived in the Netherlands and barely spoke the language, when I discovered that I was good at maths. So good that I was allowed to join in the maths lessons of older children. At secondary school, maths and economics were also my favourite subjects. Then, I saw sums as puzzles, but later I realised that you could actually solve problems with numbers. And not just that, numbers ensure that you are open and transparent as an organisation, that people can trust the company. If there’s a problem, there’s nothing I like better than delving into the books. I keep asking questions and continue searching until I’ve found the solution. There’s always a solution because numbers don’t lie.'

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Dirty nappies and textbooks

‘I’ve always had that diligent approach. My oldest son was born when I was 21. I really wanted to be a mother, but I also wanted to study so that I could secure a good future for my children. I made up my mind: when my son is 4, I’ll have my bachelor’s degree and my master’s. Everyone thought I was mad, but I did it. I’ve got a degree in Business Administration. When I see opportunities, I seize them with both hands. Even if it meant spending four years among dirty nappies and text books. I always think: if I don’t do it, nobody will do it for me. That’s always been my lesson in life and it’s also what I pass on to my children.'


The person behind the CV

‘I think that this attitude is also an important character trait and why I work in finance. Strictly, speaking, I didn’t have the right qualifications to work here, but at NN they look beyond your CV. They see you as a person. Or course, as a Financial Accountant you have a strong analytical mind and love numbers. After all, our department, the Finance Service Centre, is responsible for NN’s monthly reporting. But just as important are your motivation, sense of responsibility and drive to improve processes. Norms and values are what you bring with you from home and skills are what you learn on the job. And I’m now doing a course to gain the bookkeeping knowledge I need. Who knows, perhaps I’ll do a master’s in Accountancy. It’s great that this is possible at NN and that they are big supporters of personal development.’
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