'We all have different views, together we can achieve much more.'

Stephanie Braun -
Performance Specialist and mother of two teenagers

Creativity is thinking in possibilities

'I live in Amstelveen with my two teenagers, Freek and Guusje, and our dog, Bo. At first sight, it’s an average family scene, but Freek is a child with care needs. So, as a single mother with a busy job and a child with care needs, I’ve got a lot on my plate. That’s why creativity is important to me. To be able to organise everything and to be a good carer to Freek, I need to think in terms of possibilities. That’s what creativity is to me. I firmly believe that there’s a solution for everything. Sometimes I have the solution - because I’m a real go-getter - and sometimes the solution comes from surrounding yourself with the right people. I also see that reflected in my work.’

Making the right connections

'People always know where to find me for advice and help, at work and at home. It enables me to make the right connections, and that’s creativity too. I really see it as a challenge to bring people together to achieve a great result. That’s why I’m genuinely at home in my job with Facility Management at NN. The work is really dynamic, in contrast to what people often think. My job involves taking care of department communications. I try to convey the true image of FM by showing what we do, because we do so many great things. To give you an example, we designed the refurbishment plans for the offices in The Hague and Rotterdam along with colleagues from the relevant departments. They and we believe that sustainability is important and that’s reflected in the recycled materials, the abundance of green and our smart approach to waste streams. The facilities need to change with the residents of the premises, so we’re constantly innovating. In five years’ time, it will be different again. Now that we’re working from home more, for example, the office is taking on a different role. It’s becoming even more of a meeting place. That’s how we are constantly developing.’
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Together we can achieve so much more

'Everyone is different, but precisely for that reason, we complement each other well. It helps to be open with each other. My powers of persuasion can sometimes turn into nagging and then I’m challenged. Sometimes by my children, sometimes by colleagues. That’s good because it creates a bond and makes you a better person. Together, you’re a team. On a large scale at NN and on a small scale in my family. We’ve all got different characters that look at the world through a different lens. By knowing each other’s strengths and weaknesses and sometimes by holding up a mirror to each other, you get the best out of people. So much more is possible when we work together. That’s a real gift because the road to our common success is never without bumps.’

At NN there’s room for balance  

‘Of course, not everybody understands what it’s like to keep so many balls in the air. I’m also not someone who complains a lot. Thanks to my positive attitude and the fact that I’m a real go-getter, I can take a lot. I stay strong, but at the same time, I understand that I also need to think about me. If others have to rely on me, I need to look after myself, so I make sure that I take time to do just that. It’s all about balance. I walk the dog in the woods, go to a good dance party with friends (once we can do that again), or sit on my own behind my easel. That’s when I switch off, let go of all my worries and recharge completely. Wonderful. At work, they’re fortunately very understanding and I’m given the flexibility and space I need to create my own balance and that’s how I’ve done my job here enthusiastically for over 18 years.’
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Meet more colleagues ​​​​​​​

Manuel Mazarredo - Auditor, Ethical Hacker, father, Black Belt and Ironman
'I’ve always wanted to help people in whatever way I can. I used to be a project manager and in that role I ensured that people could get the best out of themselves so that we could make the project a success. Helping people is what I did in my volunteer work in Central America. It was about education, people and not just money, but teaching the right knowledge and skills for them to constructively and continuously improve.’
 
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Samy Saleh - Compliance Officer, son and soccer player
‘Football has been my big passion since I was a child. It’s taught me to collaborate, communicate, win, but also lose and handle setbacks. I’m the connector in a team. As a mid-fielder, I maintain an overview and am able to persuade. My football skills also come in handy at work. As a Compliance Officer, I bring different parties and interests together, give advice and help people get on the right track. It starts with observing from the side-lines and ends with a good outcome for all stakeholders. Playing sports with a varied group of people has taught me to get on with lots of different characters. By communicating and listening carefully, I try and ensure that we are aiming for the same goal.’
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Aafke Croockewit - UX Designer, DJ and Kitesurfer
‘I started at NN as a freelance UX designer. I really value freedom, creativity and responsibility and they aren’t things you immediately associate with a large corporate. That prejudice was quickly dispelled. I work in a team with other designers and developers. We’re like an independent unit in the organisation. We set our own work and are given lots of room to innovate. The projects are very varied and you can decide whether you spend more time on concept development or on implementation. And because we all get on so well together as a team there’s a great atmosphere. All in all, reason enough for me to give up the freelance life. And I’ve got a lot of benefits in return.’​​​​
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Erik Ammerlaan - Full Stack Engineer and organist
‘From a young age, I’ve had a fascination with programming. I wrote my first code when I was eight years old. So, I knew early on that I wanted to do something with computers when I was older. I found and still find it interesting how technology can help make people’s lives easier and better. For example, at secondary school, I developed an electronic learning environment where teachers could put their teaching material for the students. It was an asset for the school because it saved a lot of time.’
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Paul and Sandor - IT colleagues, friends and running blind team mates
‘Sport means a lot to Paul and Sandor, both individually and together. Sandor: ‘Running helps me to structure my thoughts. After a quarter of an hour, I get into my stride and can think about things at the same time. Paul: ‘During a trip to Romania, I decided to go running with Sandor. At seven in the morning, we were ready to set off on a three-kilometre run.’ Their open communication style comes in handy when they are running. Sandor: ‘Running with somebody with a visual impairment is pretty intensive. You suddenly become aware of other things: loose paving stones, kerbs, tree roots. I’m constantly telling Paul what’s ahead of him.’
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Prashant Jarbandhan - Financial Accountant, uncle and a father to his younger brother
'I was a father figure to my brother, but also his best friend. I’ve always encouraged him to develop. He’s just become a father himself and I’m incredibly proud of him. My role as uncle gives me an extra incentive to get the best out of myself, to be the kind of uncle I want to be. Life is about trial and error and that’s something we know more than most. That’s why I’ve created a good safety net for myself and my family and friends play a very important part in it. But so do my colleagues at NN, who have now also become my friends.’ 
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Praveen Sridharan - Trainee and entrepreneur
'A couple of years ago, I was drinking tea with my best friend in my home country of India. We were philosophising about how we could give something back to the world. This ultimately led to a solar energy start-up. I deliberately chose to set up a company in India because I can really make a difference there. The Netherlands is way ahead when it comes to solar energy. In India, there’s still not much awareness of climate change and how we can combat it. We developed a business model to make solar energy financially more accessible.'
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Jolanda Roos - Manager Risk Management, Kilimanjaro Climber and private island owner
‘When I was little, I wanted to join the police. Over the years, I became fascinated by detective series and documentaries on the Discovery Channel. I really wanted to be a forensic investigator. I get satisfaction from solving difficult puzzles and the more complex the better. When everyone gives up, that’s when the challenge starts for me. I didn’t become a detective, but in my work at NN there are enough puzzles for me and my team to try and solve.’
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Alex Verdoorn - Business Process Manager and a people person
‘For me, the glass is always half full: I look for opportunities, not obstacles. I get a huge kick out of getting people on board and making improvements in a difficult process. NN focuses on people, exactly as I do. I realised this when shortly after starting at NN my mother died. NN gave me all the time I needed to organise everything and to process my grief. It was genuinely heart-warning how this was handled. It immediately have me a sense of engagement with and loyalty to NN and my colleagues.’
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Celine Chua - Finance Program Manager and an explorer
‘The drive to keep on discovering is a common thread in my life. I’ve always travelled a lot and I absolutely love learning about other cultures. I come from Singapore, but one of my favourite cities is Hong Kong: chaotic, mysterious and full of energy. It’s perfect for explorers like me. I moved to the Netherlands for love. It was a difficult step, but I saw it as an adventure. A new and inspiring world opened up to me. Fortunately, I still have a lot of contact with my family and we see each other about three times a year. And, besides, discovery can also be found in smaller things. I’m curious and like to try new things, whether it’s a recently opened restaurant or a new sport.’
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