Iris Bloem - “I want to build a bridge between talent and opportunities”
RefugeeWork
Team
Iris Bloem made the switch to Refugee Talent Hub six months ago. She works on the RefugeeWork platform, which connects refugees and employers. Her goal? “Building a bridge between talent and opportunities, so that everyone has the space to grow.”
Before her move to Refugee Talent Hub, Iris built a rich career at digital agencies in various positions over the last 15 years. Gradually, her focus shifted to the content and the impact she could make as a manager. “It was an incredibly beautiful time in which I learned a lot and developed myself,” she says.
If anything were possible, what would I want to do?
A few years ago, she realized it was time for something different. She decided to quit her job, which was a big decision at the time. "I thought, if I don't do it now, I might never do it," she says.
"It was really a quest," says Iris. "Where is the real fire?" During that quest, she wrote down a simple but meaningful question in her notebook: If everything was possible and nothing could go wrong, what would I do? She wrote: "Then I would start my own company to help asylum seekers find work at their own level and make companies more inclusive."
That idea wouldn't let her go. "I later read it out loud to a friend and realized: this is it. This is what I want to go for." It didn't become her own company, but this insight did lead to a new position at Productowner.nl. From there she was given the opportunity to be seconded to Refugee Talent Hub - an opportunity she is incredibly grateful for. "I was able to orient myself there and discover whether it really suited me."
With success: from April 1, she will be permanently employed at Refugee Talent Hub.
RefugeeWork Brainstorming Session, October 2024
A new start
Starting at Refugee Talent Hub was a leap into the unknown – exciting, but above all a lot of fun. “You never know exactly what to expect, but that’s what made it such a great challenge.” She quickly noticed the warm atmosphere and positive energy within the team. “Everyone is friendly and hard-working. The team works well together, but also independently,” she says.
From her previous work experience, Iris knows how important it is for people to be able to express themselves and be themselves at work. “I like to take responsibility and want to be given the space to develop my own ideas. I am now experiencing that at Refugee Talent Hub and I want others to experience that too,” she says.
“I find it very valuable that I can work on a project that really makes a difference for refugees and employers. Refugees often have to start over, but their value is not always recognized. They are judged on what they lack, while they may have had a successful career in their home country. That does something to your self-image.”
For Iris, this goes beyond the labor market. “We all wear masks to protect ourselves, which wastes a lot of energy. That’s a shame. By being open, we can show our talents. I want to break through the system and help companies embrace the power and diversity of refugees.” At Refugee Talent Hub, her experience, ambition and ideals come together.
I want to break the system and help companies embrace the strength and diversity of refugees.
Iris Bloem
RefugeeWork
Iris was given responsibility for the RefugeeWork platform. The platform was about to go offline, but thanks to a thorough inventory, there is now a clear vision for the future. In recent months, Iris investigated whether there were still opportunities for a sustainable restart. The conclusion? There are definitely opportunities.
The next step: arranging financing Now that RefugeeWork’s potential has been confirmed, the focus shifts to finding the right funding. The coming months will be crucial to secure the resources needed to develop a powerful and valuable tool that connects newcomers and employers. Much has been invested, but to really make an impact, further support is essential.
After the summer: building a renewed RefugeeWork If the financing comes in on time, the technical development can start after the summer. This will be a big challenge, because the current infrastructure is no longer adequate and will have to be largely rebuilt. Nevertheless, Iris is optimistic: “With the right resources and partners, we can lay a solid foundation and really start building – after all, a platform is never completely ‘finished’.”
A bridge between refugees and employers The renewed RefugeeWork will be a strong link between job-seeking refugees and employers who are open to diverse talent. The goal is clear: to offer an accessible and effective way to bring both groups into contact with each other.
When people are given the space to be themselves, they perform better. This applies to both the refugees and the companies that hire them
