The theme of International Women's Day 2024 is #InspireInclusion. An excellent moment for a conversation with Sevde and Marilù, two powerful women who work at our partner FrieslandCampina.

Please note: this article was translated using a translator app

Technical business expert Sevde Karayel came to the Netherlands from Turkey with her husband five years ago, 32 weeks pregnant. After spending a number of years in asylum seekers' centers, they found their home in Geldermalsen. Their son is now in primary school and Sevde has been working as a Customer Service Officer for over a year through FrieslandCampina's Women Mentoring Program.

 “I did a PhD in logistics in Turkey,” says Sevde. “I had a great time and got a lot of inspiration from my work and my research. Unfortunately, I was not able to complete my PhD.” Her work and life in Turkey were a contrast to what followed after they fled. “In an asylum center you sit quietly for a long time. You talk yourself down because you are so inactive. You start to doubt whether you can do something, or whether you will succeed. It feels like an enormous distance from normal life, from society. That is very difficult.” Once they had gotten a house in the Netherlands and could focus on rebuilding their lives again, Sevde – supported by her husband and son – got off to a full start. Learning the language, getting to know people, expanding her network…

The mentor program

 She heard about Refugee Talent Hub through friends and saw the mentor program for women at FrieslandCampina on the website. The purpose of the program? To support mentees in their search for work in the Netherlands. Sevde was immediately enthusiastic and was allowed to participate. “The most important thing for me was expanding my network,” she says. “But it was much more than that. My mentor helped me with my CV, writing motivation letters, practicing job interviews, and which jobs I could look at. It was super helpful.”

 Through another mentor, Sevde's mentor accidentally heard that a job had become available at FrieslandCampina itself, where Sevde was a good fit. He encouraged her to apply, and she did. “He said: you can do it! So I thought: I'll go for it, if only for the experience of having a job interview,” says Sevde. “The first interview went well, and I was asked to come for a second interview. That felt very special. When I heard I got the job, I couldn't believe it!” Her eyes shine. You feel that 'a job' is so much more than that.

#Inclusion: sharing and asking

 Marilù Sannino moved to the Netherlands from Italy six years ago. After studying linguistics in Nijmegen, she found a job at FrieslandCampina. She is now team lead and manager of Sevde. “We are very open to each other. We give each other feedback, and we both like to learn new things. That means we enjoy working together. We also like to zoom out together: why is it sometimes difficult to work with certain colleagues? What cultural differences are there between Turkey, Italy and the Netherlands? What can we do to make this a topic of discussion?”

 “The working environment in the Netherlands is much more informal than in Italy and Turkey,” say Marilù and Sevde. “Sometimes you are almost afraid of the manager. He is in his own office. You have to be careful what you share. Here in the Netherlands, your manager is also your coach. It feels safe. You have open conversations about where you see yourself in five years, for example. And your manager helps you get the best out of yourself, and also protects you from yourself if you want too much.”

 What they would recommend to everyone: organize a breakfast or lunch session in which someone with a certain background provides the food. For example, breakfast after Eid-al-Fitr was a great opportunity to taste new things and hear the story behind it. “Food connects, and having a conversation about your culture based on food provides more depth. It invites sharing and questions. Highly recommended!”

#Inspire: beyond what you dare to dream

 Through work you also get to know each other's culture better. Marilù nods: “Having a job is invaluable. It is also independence, a network in a new country, self-confidence, pride, being part of society. You experience something every day and learn new things.”

 Sevde adds: “The most important thing I kept telling myself was 'you can do it'. Because I knew: when I work, I feel strong, I grow, I add something to society. Then I matter. Then I am independent and can determine my own direction again. Having a job makes a world of difference! The fact that my mentor also believed in me strengthened me. So: believe in yourself. And surround yourself with people who also believe in you. That will take you further than you dare to dream.”