From Brazil to bol | The power of diversity

Brazilian Elise met her Dutch husband in 2018, and soon decided that she wanted to build a life with him in The Netherlands. “Besides not wanting to do long-distance any longer, I was intrigued by the possibility of working in The Netherlands. I read and heard that the working conditions were very fair and equal here, which was a contrast to what I was used to in Brazil. I was able to make the move in 2020, and was approached by bol soon after that.”

What was it like, the first months working for a Dutch company like bol? Elise’s eyes light up when she recalls: “bol impressed me from the start, offering to help with relocating, finding accommodation and adapting to a new environment. Of course, there was a bit of a culture shock initially. Dutch people are known to be very direct, as we all know. But I soon discovered that there actually were benefits to that trait. My opinion was valued, I could voice it, and my colleagues listened to what I had to say. It felt very open and free.”

As a software engineer at bol, Elise is responsible for price benchmarking and works closely together with a diverse group of colleagues. “Our team is a true melting pot, with members from India, The Netherlands, Turkey, Belarus and England. Our diversity is shown in the way we work, how we communicate, but also in the way we dress. I think it’s really fun that my colleagues express their cultures through clothing, as it makes the workplace super colourful and inclusive. It does bol’s slogan ‘The store of us all’ a lot of justice.”

Since IT is known to be more of a man’s world, how does Elise feel she fits in as a woman? “I was very happy to discover that each of our software teams includes women, although the gender balance isn’t 50/50 yet. My current manager is a woman and I love that too. She is so hands-on, open to discussing anything, and really gets things done. It’s very cool and inspiring to see and to be a part of.”

While you would think the daily work of a software engineer is demanding enough, Elise has chosen to become a representative of bol’s Works Council. She explains: “Last year, I learned that bol’s council was looking for IT representatives, as there weren’t any at that point. I saw it as a great opportunity to support my colleagues while also gaining a deeper understanding of bol’s business model. So I applied and was eventually selected by my colleagues as one of the new representatives.”

So what does it mean, to be part of a company’s Works Council? Elise elaborates: “In essence, I am the voice of bol’s employees along with 15 other representatives. We are a mix of men and women working in different departments, making sure that the company is equally represented. It’s a voluntary role that takes a few hours a week, and I can wholeheartedly say that it’s very fulfilling. The work is very different from what I do as a software engineer, so I am learning a lot. At the same time, I get feedback from colleagues who say that I really helped them, and that makes me very happy.”

Having been part of a Dutch company for three years now, Elise can say she feels fully integrated. “My work can be intense and occasionally stressful. Especially when we are working on important campaigns during peak periods like Christmas or Sinterklaas. However, the bond between colleagues here is stronger than in any other company I’ve seen. We only need to look at each other to understand that we need extra support, or just simply some time to ourselves.”

“At bol, there’s a saying that we should prioritise caring for ourselves, then our surroundings, and then bol. This approach has allowed me to care for my mother when she needed it and pursue further studies alongside work. The work/life balance here is truly wonderful and I wouldn’t have it any other way.”