Office Manager Ashna: “I feel right at home in Suriname”
Published on: Author: Team Communication Category: NewsSince February 2021, our colleague Ashna Bindesrisingh is working as Office Manager. Ashna lived in the Dutch city of Almere until 2017, but in the same year she changed course and left on her own for Suriname. Her parents’ homeland. In this interview, she will introduce herself and explain how she found herself at Qualogy Caribbean.
Ashna decided to travel to Suriname on her own for the first time in April 2015. "I used to come to Suriname with my parents. Our vacations consisted mainly of family visits and trips with relatives. Also fun, but you experience the country very differently if you travel on your own," Ashna explains.
A growing love for Suriname
This time, she went to Suriname on her own and discovered that her love for the country was growing. “The rugged nature, the outdoors, and the sun had such a positive influence on me. I found myself thinking how amazing it would be to work in such an environment.” And so that’s what she did. Ashna emigrated to Paramaribo and found a job three months after. At first, Ashna planned to stay one year to see if Suriname was indeed the right choice for her.
Her expectations came true. “What I dislike about the Netherlands is the hurried way of living. A day usually looks like this: work, quickly getting groceries, cooking, eating, relaxing for a bit and then going to bed. You easily find yourself in a rut. There is a relaxed and friendly atmosphere in Suriname, and at the same time everyone is hard at work. After work, there is enough time to relax, in part because the evenings stay light for longer in the winter. Those dark days in the Netherlands were tough for me.”
A blessing in disguise
At the end of 2020, Ashna decided it was time for a ‘break’. She wanted to work in the Netherlands again, for a longer period of time. But her flight was cancelled due to COVID-19 and she was ‘forced’ to stay another week in Suriname. Ashna: “During that one extra week, I coincidentally came into contact with General Manager Nilesh Bishesar. There was an immediate click. Nilesh told me that Qualogy Caribbean was looking for an Office Manager. I was invited for an interview, which was followed by two more interviews when I was in the Netherlands a week later.”
Ashna made a decision in the Netherlands: she would be going back to Suriname for a new challenge at Qualogy Caribbean. She started as Office Manager in February. “I’m the contact for Qualogy employees, as well as external relations and clients. Many (different) questions and requests come in, which are then taken care of by the office management. In addition, I’m co-responsible for the facility within the company and I support the marketing team.”
From your strength and quality
Ashna is really enjoying her time at Qualogy Caribbean so far. Diverse tasks and assignments make her work interesting and challenging. “I like that Qualogy Caribbean gives its employees space to contribute from their own strength and quality. I like learning new things and expanding my knowledge. Within the IT sector, a lot is new and unknown to me.”
Finding fulfillment in her work and outside of it is important to Ashna. “It’s how I create the best version of myself. I want to continue to develop myself, take on new challenges and achieve successes. Both for my own development, but also to make a positive contribution to my work.”
Welcome, Ashna!
We at Qualogy Caribbean are very happy with our new colleague! It’s extra special that Ashna – just like us – has a strong connection with the Netherlands. Qualogy Caribbean works for several clients in the Netherlands and our main office is located in Rijswijk. Her knowledge of the Dutch (business) culture will come in handy.
Interested in working at Qualogy?
Would you also like to work at Qualogy Caribbean? Look at our vacancies or contact us at info_caribbean@qualogy.com. We are always looking for new talent. Do you currently live in the Netherlands (or Belgium) and do you see yourself living and working in Suriname, just like Ashna? Learn about the possibilities for remigration and migration at www.kleurjecarriere.com (in Dutch).
