Get to know Karien
Karien works as a Senior Account Manager in the sales team at TransHeroes. She spends a lot of time on the road, meeting with potential customers, and particularly enjoys building new relationships and achieving great results together with the team. Her colleagues would probably describe her as approachable, sociable and a real people person. In her free time, Karien enjoys travelling, going out for dinner, photography, walking and, above all, shopping. She also has an interesting background: she grew up in Africa, then lived in Belgium for many years before eventually moving to the Netherlands.
What do you enjoy most about your work?
I really enjoy being part of a close-knit sales team again and working together to achieve TransHeroes' goals. Since joining TransHeroes, I've truly felt like I've become part of a warm and welcoming family. For me, the sense of togetherness defines the culture at TransHeroes, and I'm convinced that this is exactly what makes us successful as an organisation. Of course, I also spend a lot of time on the road. I enjoy constantly meeting new people, talking to potential customers and starting new projects. And to be fair, it still makes me really happy when a potential customer actually becomes a customer. The relationships I've built over the years are incredibly valuable to me. That's why customer satisfaction is one of my top priorities.
How would your colleagues describe you?
I hope my colleagues see me as a kind, approachable and friendly colleague. At least, that's what I try to be. I would describe myself as a real people person. Someone who's not easy to get into an argument with. Although there's one small exception: dishonesty really isn't my thing. That can suddenly bring out a slightly less friendly side of me.
What do you enjoy doing in your free time?
Enjoying good company is definitely a recurring theme in my free time. Going out for dinner, spending a day shopping or travelling with my husband or friends: these are things I really enjoy. I'm someone who truly loves enjoying life to the fullest. I absolutely love travelling, from a lovely city trip to island hopping in the Greek islands. Discovering new places, enjoying good food, having a nice glass of wine and creating wonderful memories together – that's what makes me happy.
At home, I enjoy being creative with decorating and creating a cosy atmosphere. I also love photography and walking, preferably combined. Especially getting up early to head out into nature and capture a beautiful sunrise… that's something I really enjoy.
But to be fair, my biggest hobby is definitely shopping, often together with one or more friends. Browsing markets, discovering little shops and searching for that one special find: a beautiful decoration for the house or terrace, or… yet another handbag or jacket that I simply couldn't leave behind.
What's something people might not know about you?
That I grew up in Africa until I was fourteen, in Kinshasa, Zaire (now the Democratic Republic of the Congo). After that, I lived in Belgium for fifteen years before moving to the Netherlands at the age of 29, to Gaanderen (near Doetinchem). Those different countries and cultures have shaped who I am and have given me a wonderful mix of life experiences and cultural influences. Although I still have Belgian nationality, after all these years in the Netherlands, I feel more Dutch than Belgian. Apparently, I still sound quite Belgian, though. That became painfully clear to me recently at an airport on a Greek island. I overheard a group of Belgian passengers on a TUI flight to Zaventem talking to each other and said to my husband, “Those people sound so strange…” Well… after 28 years in the Netherlands, that was apparently the moment I finally realised just how Dutch I've become.