What does a typical day in the life of a Social Sustainability Expert (and Arcadis Board Member) look like?
My days (since working from home became the new normal) usually start around 7 or 8 am. Breakfast is a must and dressing up depends on the occasion – but as my camera is always on, I must look smart (at least from the waist up).
There is never a dull day as I wear many hats in the organization: I am the sustainability regional leader (with corporate and client demands), the SEC regional leader, the ESG expert for Brazil, project coordinator, social senior analyst (which means that sometimes I work for other coordinators) and a Lovinklaan Board Member. So having calls in Spanish and English (besides Portuguese, of course) is very common, as is jumping from a discussion about Indigenous Communities with a client to a call with a colleague that posted a sustainability related idea on QuickLaunch.
How do you apply your expertise from your Arcadis role into your role as a Board Member for Lovinklaan (or vice versa)?
The diversity of attributions I have require flexibility, cultural sensitivity, teamwork, systemic view, communication skills, organization and a willingness to learn (and learn fast). All these competences are extremely useful in my role as a Board Member. I was a little bit scared about being the youngest member and not part of what is traditionally considered company management, but my expertise has made me fit for the job and the other board members have empowered me to feel confident.
How do you manage your time between your full-time role at Arcadis and being a Board Member?
When the regional leadership recommended I apply to be a Board Member, they knew it meant having to split my time between Lovinklaan and my daily role at Arcadis. Luckily, I have a fantastic manager and team who have done an incredible job with supporting me. I´ve never felt overloaded – only grateful for the opportunity to play such an important role.
How do you stay motivated?
By knowing that what I do (in my daily job and as a Board Member) contributes to making the world a better place. Improving quality of life, right here right now, is my personal motto and working for the benefit of employees, communities and clients is truly fulfilling.
What’s your favorite part of a working day?
I love writing (I already took 4 courses on fictional writing and dream of publishing a book of short stories), so my favorite part of the day is when I get to write technical reports – which might sound funny as it is one of the things that I´ve been doing less frequently as my career develops and can be a lonely task… but I must admit that I love it!
What are your ambitions for Lovinklaan in the future?
I hope Lovinklaan keeps carrying out the great work that it always has. I would love for absolutely all Arcadians to know what it is, what it does and why. It would be awesome if having a sponsor as Lovinklaan would be a key reason behind an employee choosing to work for Arcadis.
