This week we said goodbye to our former colleague Sam van Grondelle. An imposing man with a booming laugh, an analytical thinker with great empathy, a valued colleague and an incredibly sweet person.

Please note: this article was translated using a translator app

Sam did his research master's degree at Refugee Talent Hub and wrote his thesis with us. Both were, of course, about refugees and work. A subject that affected him professionally and personally. As he himself wrote: "How can the good intentions of companies be converted into successful actions aimed at the inclusion of refugees in the business community? This question has been bothering me ever since a friend started sharing his experiences with the Dutch business community with me. Then When he came here to the Netherlands in 2016, he did everything he could to become as attractive as possible to Dutch companies. Dutch diploma, good language skills, a large social network, but for a long time this did not seem to be enough for many companies. Didn't appreciate him. Yet he succeeded and he now has a permanent contract. This required someone to see the talent in him, someone who did not reduce him to the simple story of the pathetic. vulnerable and needy refugee."

 Sam conducted research from Refugee Talent Hub into the outflow of employees with a refugee background at Accenture. With a focus on the question: what can Accenture do to reduce this outflow? He wrote about it on our website. A typical Sam quote from that blog: "During the research I also discovered that I was sometimes too biased when conducting interviews." There was no lack of self-reflection: Sam was critical of himself and constantly looking for improvement. And not just with himself. Read the report of this round table discussion between (the then) managing director of Accenture Netherlands, Irine van Gaasbeek, professor of Diversity and Integration Halleh Ghorashi (VU Amsterdam) and Sam. Constructive, open, and with an enormous drive to make the world a more beautiful place.

 Those who know us know that from Refugee Talent Hub we often discuss the canvas ceiling. It was Sam who emphatically put this concept on our map. He wrote about it in his first blog for Refugee Talent Hub. One of the factors in that canvas ceiling: the public image of people with a refugee background. Sam was wildly annoyed by it, researched where it came from and wrote about it in The Failed Promise Of Equality .

 He also wrote his master's thesis with us. He states: " The vast majority of research to explain the position of refugees in the labor market has focused on individual characteristics of refugees and societal factors at play. However, it is remarkable that only limited research has been conducted on the organizational level. In my thesis, I argue why it is necessary to shift attention to the organizational level. [...] And that companies should challenge the dominant discourse of lack towards refugees and, simultaneously, need to take structural measures to safeguard their job security. The synergy between a cultural and structural approach is necessary to ensure sustainable employment for refugees. "

 Dear Sam, we couldn't agree more . And we would have loved to continue working with you on a world in which sustainable employment for refugees is normal. Rest in peace, Sam.