Hi Stella. Can you tell us a little bit about yourself and what you did before joining CultureSuite?
I’m 30-years-old and call the vibrant city of Rotterdam home. Prior to joining CultureSuite, I worked as a Field Manager for an IT company, and before this, I worked in Global Mobility as a relocation consultant. I have been fortunate to work with wonderful colleagues in both roles – some have even become my friends. Beyond the daily operational work, these experiences also taught me a great deal about team dynamics, how to plan and prioritise, and were vital to my personal and professional growth.
What enticed you to join CultureSuite?
I came across the opening for this role on a cultural vacancy website and it immediately felt like the perfect fit. In my past work experiences, I worked in an international environment and had a facilitating role as well. The Operations Manager role presented an exciting opportunity to expand my responsibilities in terms of finance and operational affairs. Moreover, it feels great to be working in the arts and culture sector.
What’s your earliest experience of arts and culture? And how did it influence who you are today?
Growing up surrounded by my grandfather’s paintings and antiques that my parents collected must have influenced me subconsciously. To be honest, I did not care much for fine arts as a teenager. But I don’t think I went a day without watching a film, so there was a lot of interest in visual storytelling. This was also a point in my life where I started going to festivals and concerts to appreciate live music performances. It wasn't until a university trip to Madrid in my first year as a student that I was truly captivated by fine arts and decided to switch my studies to Art History. Running a student board responsible for organising a cultural student room festival (Stukafest Leiden) further deepened my appreciation for various performing arts. It’s fascinating to me how human expression can take form in such creative ways and triggers certain emotions and reflections, which really colours and enriches my life.
How would you like to help the sector in your new role?
I hope to foster a comfortable working environment through my open and social nature. Central to my approach is to recognise the things that are going well and value the strengths of colleagues, while also staying alert to things that might need some more attention. Whether it's streamlining HR processes, managing day-to-day operations, or contributing to a culture of open dialogue within CultureSuite and beyond, I'm committed and actively supporting our company's values and role in promoting transparency and collaboration within the sector.
What do you enjoy doing outside of your role at CultureSuite?
Outside of work, I have a lot of hobbies and passions. I enjoy spending quality time with my loved ones, trying out new dishes, watching films, playing tennis, ballroom dancing with my partner, practising yin yoga, writing (can you tell?) and I try to have a creative hobby as well. Occasionally, I volunteer for De Stad Uit which is a great initiative to get ‘city children’ to play and learn in nature. And I’m also lucky to be able to bring my favourite earthling, my dog, to the office, where he is tasked to improve workplace satisfaction. Because almost all of these pastimes have a social component, another thing I challenge myself with is to be comfortable with being on my own and push myself to get out of my comfort zone. In the last half-year, I did this by going to a concert alone and taking the night train to Vienna.
What is the most interesting (be that cool, random or otherwise!) thing that’s ever happened to you?
While it might not be the most interesting thing that’s ever happened to me, a memorable encounter happened just a week or so before starting at CultureSuite. I was on holiday in Curaçao and after striking up a casual conversation with a friendly local, the conversation suddenly took a spiritual turn when he shared that he was seeing my deceased relatives who were sitting next to me and protecting me. It brought about an unexpected emotional release. He raised his voice and repeated encouraging words and phrases about me and what I could achieve in life. Although I am quite a rational person, I was open to his words and affirmations, leaving me with a very encouraging feeling and sense of reassurance – contributing to a great mindset when joining CultureSuite.
Interested in joining the CultureSuite team? Check our careers page to see what openings we currently have.
