How is it going with...
In the 19 years since the start of the Dutch Chamber we have seen members come and go. As the idea behind the Chamber is to facilitate a dynamic network platform we try to stay in touch with members who left Sweden when possible. We are curious to hear where they are now and would like to reflect with some of them on their time in Sweden and what this experience taught them. This time we interviewed former board member Charlotte de Jong.
In the 19 years since the start of the Dutch Chamber we have seen members come and go. As the idea behind the Chamber is to facilitate a dynamic network platform we try to stay in touch with members who left Sweden when possible. We are curious to hear where they are now and would like to reflect with some of them on their time in Sweden and what this experience taught them. This time we interviewed former board member Charlotte de Jong.
| Charlotte de Jong Board member: from 2015 to 2016 Then: employed at Air France KLM and bp Now: business advisor, bp (London) |  |
When did you live and work in Sweden?
I worked and lived in Sweden between 2014 and 2019. I started with an HR internship at Air France KLM followed by a 1 year contract supporting Denmark and Cargo for the Nordics. After travelling New Zealand, Australia and parts of Asia I joined bp as an HR business partner for the Nordics, funnily enough in the exact same building just one floor down from KLM.
What are you doing now? And why did you move to London?
I’m a business advisor to the SVP People & Culture for Trading & Shipping & Culture in bp, which effectively is running the executive office with a broad portfolio ranging from business partnering for our trading and shipping community as well as the operational aspect of running our workplaces globally, capital projects and culture team. As you can read, I moved to London as there were some great career opportunities.
Why did you become a member of the Dutch Chamber? Was there a favourite event you joined or organised?
I joined the Dutch Chamber after having found an internship via the Dutch Chamber network and wanted to actively support this network as it helped me land on my feet when I arrived in Sweden. How great if I could do the same for other people with a Dutch-Swedish connection.
What was your biggest learning from your time in Sweden that you would like to share with our Dutch Swedish network?
Some of you might appreciate this, we always take our shoes off indoors. Welcome to the big pile of shoes at the door entrance On a more professional note, I’ve really come to appreciate the importance of bringing people into the conversation, the Swedes do this brilliantly and is aligned to the Dutch “polder model”. It has helped me in my career, working in a high paced environment and with many nationalities, sometimes needs you to slow-down and make sure everyone is onboard before you speed-up again.
Do you still keep in touch with the Swedes and have you been here again since you left?
Less often than I would have liked but we’ve been back in February 2020 for some skiing (yes my cross-country skies are now in the UK, ready for our trip in March) and visiting friends.
/M.N.
I worked and lived in Sweden between 2014 and 2019. I started with an HR internship at Air France KLM followed by a 1 year contract supporting Denmark and Cargo for the Nordics. After travelling New Zealand, Australia and parts of Asia I joined bp as an HR business partner for the Nordics, funnily enough in the exact same building just one floor down from KLM.
What are you doing now? And why did you move to London?
I’m a business advisor to the SVP People & Culture for Trading & Shipping & Culture in bp, which effectively is running the executive office with a broad portfolio ranging from business partnering for our trading and shipping community as well as the operational aspect of running our workplaces globally, capital projects and culture team. As you can read, I moved to London as there were some great career opportunities.
Why did you become a member of the Dutch Chamber? Was there a favourite event you joined or organised?
I joined the Dutch Chamber after having found an internship via the Dutch Chamber network and wanted to actively support this network as it helped me land on my feet when I arrived in Sweden. How great if I could do the same for other people with a Dutch-Swedish connection.
What was your biggest learning from your time in Sweden that you would like to share with our Dutch Swedish network?
Some of you might appreciate this, we always take our shoes off indoors. Welcome to the big pile of shoes at the door entrance On a more professional note, I’ve really come to appreciate the importance of bringing people into the conversation, the Swedes do this brilliantly and is aligned to the Dutch “polder model”. It has helped me in my career, working in a high paced environment and with many nationalities, sometimes needs you to slow-down and make sure everyone is onboard before you speed-up again.
Do you still keep in touch with the Swedes and have you been here again since you left?
Less often than I would have liked but we’ve been back in February 2020 for some skiing (yes my cross-country skies are now in the UK, ready for our trip in March) and visiting friends.
/M.N.
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