Devika van Beveren (40), Operations Manager Ocean Import at Broekman Logistics
“When I look back at where I come from, I am proud of where I stand now. Especially because I’ve achieved this purely through practical experience. When you are passionate about something, you pick it up quickly. Eighteen years ago, I entered the logistics sector without any background in it – I had studied tourism – and ended up in administration at Progeco. Two years later, my logistics adventure truly began at DHL. Once you enter this world, you never leave. The dynamic nature of it really attracts me. Some people love routine, but I need challenges, I need to keep developing myself. In that regard, Broekman is the perfect place for me. There are various training opportunities, plenty of internal opportunities, and good prospects for growth. In July 2023, I started here as a supervisor in the import department, and by November, I was promoted. Since then, I’ve been an import manager. I visit clients, provide quotes, monitor KPIs, and set up projects. Additionally, I meet with other departments to improve collaboration and lead a team of twelve: a wonderful mix of experienced seniors and young people with fresh perspectives.
The import department is located on the sixth floor of the headquarters in Waalhaven, with a stunning view. Although I haven’t been here a year yet, I don’t see myself leaving anytime soon. I have everything I find important in a job here: if I have ideas, they are genuinely considered. Additionally, I have a lot of freedom, variety, great colleagues, and deadlines. I enjoy working under pressure. In logistics, all sorts of unexpected issues can arise. Suppose a client urgently needs goods, but the ship is delayed. As soon as it arrives, you do everything possible to get those goods delivered as quickly as possible. It helps that we have a good network. We value the personal touch a lot and look beyond pure logistics. I didn’t know that before.
I still love to travel, but I don’t miss the tourism industry. The hustle and bustle give me enough energy from the work I do now. Our brand manager travels a lot, and the plan is for me to take over some of these trips in the future, visiting top agents we collaborate with, for instance, in Asia. I already travel a lot within the Netherlands. I regularly visit clients, who are located everywhere. Visiting in person gives you a better understanding of what a company does and allows you to better respond to their needs in the future.
My partner works in healthcare. When I tell her about my day and what I’ve experienced, she doesn’t quite grasp it. That’s why I recently took her on a tour of the ports. She was just as amazed as I was the first time at the terminal. I remember it well: the large sea vessels, the high cranes, the containers being moved from one point to another… It remains impressive.”
Here you can read the full article (Dutch) from Onze Haven, in which five colleagues are interviewed. The photos we have used are from this article and were taken by photographer Vincent van Dordrecht.
