Our membersAs I headed to the cafe to meet with Ian, potential questions flicking through my mind and concern over how the interview would go, I realised I was late - run? No, walk fast? Ummm....no come on this is Amsterdam you need to have some style! Luckily Ian hadn't left and was waiting patiently using his time effectively to arrange a game of golf for the weekend. As I later learned Ian is always looking for a challenge in life however big or small. Formalities over I started firing questions at him.
| So let's start with the basics what are you doing in Amsterdam? I'm Dutch and have lived in and around Amsterdam my whole life, starting off I grew up in Zaandam where I went to school and started to learn about life. What brought you into the city? I decided on pursuing film studies at UvA so that is when I really moved up town. What was your first apartment like? Grim....Sounds like a familiar story....It was very small in Amsterdam West, we had one power outlet which meant you could only power the fridge, TV or heater at any one time. There was a gap under the window which made the outer climate control the inner temperature and I remember thinking things can only get better! And did they? Yes they couldn't get much worse. I now live on one of the canals and work in the entertainment industry for A-Film in Amsterdam Noord in a recently promoted position of business intelligence manager. Film industry sounds exciting have you met any of the stars? Actually, I’ve met quite a lot of famous (Dutch) people on movie premières and after-parties, but I'm still hoping to cross paths with Angelina Jolie or Cameron Diaz very soon! |
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We better find out some more about what makes you tick so what do you enjoy doing in your spare time? I enjoy a wide range of what the world has to offer from movies to history to sports I'll give anything a go. But what is your real Passion in life? I can't nail it down to one thing but I love a challenge. Any situation where you are being tested and you are learning something new. Whether this is intellectual or physical it doesn't matter I'm happy as long as I'm outside of my comfort zone.
So you like a challenge is this what brought you to discover JCI? I have been seeking a way to develop myself both on a personal level and on a professional level. I have toyed with the idea of doing an MBA but didn't feel this was the right time for me. I was discussing my feelings with friends and they suggested that there are other methods of achieving my goals that don't have the $$$ signs attached. They were right the JCI was exactly what I was looking for right now. The MBA can wait, and JCI is helping me to prepare for my admittance in the future.
Being Dutch what made you join JCI Amsterdam international? What I have learnt in life is that being connected is important and that can be easily done on a local level and I have a wide circle of Dutch friends but it is also important to be connected on an international level. This gives me the perfect environment to meet like minded individuals from all over the globe.
How have you made a difference to this chapter? Hey I'm still new to this and very much finding my feet! Ok but you must feel you can make a difference and help shape this organisation going forwards? Yes I see a lot of potential within the group and really feel excited to be in a position where I can make a difference. Which committee have you joined? I have become the coordinator of the new members committee as I felt that this team is very important because we are the first point of contact with new candidates and therefore preparation is vitally important. What do you mean? Well I have helped set each member a roll within the committee so that we can focus on specific tasks, it seems to be working well and we are really putting it into action going forward.
Interesting, what do you have planned for this year? I'm taking my golfing exams soon so I will then be allowed to hit the course properly. Watch out the next Tiger Woods coming your way!
Feeling inspired we parted ways - now the challenge of finding the way home.
