Breda, 15 July 2024
Cheerful, loyal and headstrong – that is typically Monique van Stokkom, an indispensable member of our team. Every day, as sales and service support, she brings new energy to the office. To gain a deeper understanding of her, we asked Monique some questions about her life and work. Her candid answers provide valuable insight into her personal and professional attributes. Read on to discover what makes Monique so special.
- Who is Monique in three key words?
Well, I’d have to say cheerful (not always), loyal and stubborn. I love approaching life with a smile, and am always there for people I’m fond of, and yes, I do have a stubborn side too from time to time. But that keeps things interesting, doesn’t it?
- What event in your working life has been important for you?
It might sound strange, but without a doubt that would have to be my divorce. That’s when my job became a real job! It gave me the strength and motivation to fully focus on my career and discover just how much I could actually achieve. It genuinely helped me to grow and boosted my independence.
- What work or duties energise you the most?
Definitely working in a team! Cooperating with colleagues gives me a big shot of energy and makes every task that little bit more enjoyable and dynamic.
- How do you keep continuously challenging yourself?
Well, at my age you don’t really need to be challenged any more. You’ve settled in and found your rhythm already. Now I mainly enjoy the things I like and am good at. That doesn’t mean resting on my laurels. It’s about picking my challenges carefully and enjoying the peace and quiet and the fun that my experiences bring me.
- What aspects of your work do you like talking about with other people?
Mainly the congenial atmosphere and my lovely colleagues. It’s great to work in a team in which everyone gets along and we have a great deal of fun together. It makes each and every working day a fair bit more enjoyable!
- What advice about the ‘real world’ would you want to give your younger self?
Try not to overstep your own limits. Work is fun and important, but it’s not the be-all and end-all. Also, make sure you make time for yourself, your friends and your family. At the end of the day it’s about striking a good balance and enjoying life!
- What would you do differently if you had a chance to start over?
My education. I would train to be a midwife and work independently. It seems pretty special to me playing a part in the birth of a new life and supporting families at such a significant moment. What’s more, I think it’d be great to be able to do something properly meaningful for other people.
- If you could swap lives and work with someone for a month, who would that be?
If I could swap lives and work with someone for a month, I’d definitely be Amelia Earhart. Above all for her tremendous courage and daring in a world in which men very much had the upper hand. I think it would be fascinating to find out what it was like to go through life as an aviation pioneer, to push back boundaries and shape history.
- What habit would you like to get rid of but haven’t managed to yet?
Being honest, I’d like to stop eating so many sweets. It’s a habit that I’m struggling to beat, even though I know I’d be better off without them. Fortunately, I’m pretty OK with myself and my idiosyncrasies apart from that. It’s a challenge, but everyone’s got their little quirks, right?
- If you had three wishes, what would you wish for?
If I had three wishes, I would start by wishing to stay healthy for a long time, to enable me to enjoy life to the full. Then I’d wish for my grandchild to come into the world in good health, as that’s the greatest gift that you can imagine. And my third wish would be to do lots more great travelling, to see the world and have new adventures. That would be fantastic, I reckon.