“Due to corona, the borders have opened, despite being closed”

For over 25 years, we have been connecting organizations with the best marketing, communication and content professionals. We find suitable assignments or functions for junior, medior and senior professionals. In Spot On, we would like to introduce them to you. This time, Spot On: Shisei Holwerda, communications advisor (aiming) for the project Registration of (agricultural) vehicles at the RDW.

“Physically far away, but professionally closer than ever.”

On January 1, 2021, the introduction of the registration requirement for (agricultural) vehicles started. The owners of these vehicles must be reached to register their vehicle online with the RDW on time (before December 31, 2021). Now that she has successfully completed this assignment and is looking for a new part-time assignment, we spoke to Shisei about her role as communications advisor within the RDW for devising and managing PR activities and mailings. 

From warm Bali, where she lives, Shisei is looking for the coolest place to sit. A big contrast to the thick sweaters and roaring heaters in the Netherlands where the temperature is around freezing at that moment. 

'In April, I emigrated to Bali with my fiancé after years of preparation,' says Shisei. 'Last year, I worked from home since the beginning of the corona pandemic. I didn't see any colleagues during that period, sometimes met colleagues online and even trained a colleague online. In April, I was able to actually move to Bali together with my fiancé.' This made Shisei look for a fun and interesting part-time assignment.

From passion for hospitality to communications professional

Shisei started at the Hotel Management School in The Hague. 'I started there because it was really my dream education. Once I was there, I found the atmosphere there terrible. However, I still found the content of the study super interesting. That's why I looked at subjects that were similar, which is how I ended up at the Communications program. When it comes to the Dutch language, I'm really a brainy Smurf. That's what I specialized in. As a communications advisor, you can't write the d's and t's wrong yourself!

I got into the event industry through various internships. I have always worked in the hospitality industry and organising is really my thing. I am a real doer. My communication advice does not only consist of giving advice, but it goes further than that. I come up with concrete plans and also execute them myself. My experience with organising both offline and online events during my internships and later jobs I bring with me: from the run-up phase to the event itself to the aftercare.'

Communications advisor at the RDW

Shisei continues her story: 'After I graduated, I applied for a nice vacancy via Babbage. Unfortunately, I didn't get it, but I did stay in Babbage's mailing list. Because of this, I still received all the assignments and vacancies. Because of my emigration, I couldn't stay full-time with my former employer. So I thought: gosh, maybe I should see if Babbage still has a nice part-time assignment for me. And so it did, so that's how I came back to you.'

Shisei started working as a communications advisor at the RDW. 'I do have an affinity with the government, but I didn't have that with the target group of this project. Still, this project appealed to me: you really put yourself in the shoes of the target group and what the target group wants. What I thought was fantastic about this assignment was that I could really think outside the box. I was told: we have one assignment in this project and we have to meet that. And how you do that: that's up to you! This freedom made it so diverse and interesting for me. For example, I was able to organize the making of videos and conduct interviews myself. I even organized an event from Bali. And that went really well! I initially had a bigger plan, but unfortunately this was not possible due to corona.' Still, Shisei managed to get the RDW's message across to the target group during the event by, for example, also advertising in the toilet. On December 31, the project's objective was achieved and she is rightly proud of that.

Working from a distance, yet close by

Because she lives in Bali, Shisei was still nervous about whether it would work out. 'Working has changed so much since corona. I was trained online and that was really easy. It was a 16-hour assignment, so I had the space to divide my time well. As a result, I didn't have any problems with the time difference. 

I also kept my Dutch phone number, so that I can be reached by everyone via WhatsApp and Skype. Everyone I spoke to said: “You really wouldn't say you live so far away, it's like you're sitting right next to me.” That's really nice to hear. That also means that working at a long distance is actually a problem that is all in your head. It's nice to believe yourself that working remotely will work, but the fact that it actually worked feels really good.'

Trust from the RDW and Babbage, and in myself

Shisei doesn't have to think long about what she remembers most about this project. 'The freedom and the trust! The freedom to be able to express my creativity as a communications consultant and the trust that my client and Babbage have placed in me, and that from a distance! What this assignment has made clear to me is that even though I don't necessarily have an affinity with the target group, it doesn't make any difference to the execution of an assignment. If you immerse yourself well enough in the target group, you will always find a way to get the message across. That is of course different for everyone, but for me it really gives me the confidence to respond to assignments outside my comfort zone.'

Daring to step out of your comfort zone is very personal according to Shisei and it is up to the communications advisor whether he or she likes it. 'My advice to other communications advisors is to look at where your passion lies, what you are good at and build on that. However, the corona pandemic has taught me that you can orient yourself as broadly as you want. Because things as you thought they were, do not have to be that way at all. Look at working remotely with a time difference of 7 hours. Because of corona, the borders have opened up, despite being closed! ”

Are you also looking for a new challenge? We would love to talk to you and find your next step together.