Don’t work so hard

Finding that time to recharge, is necessary, a necessity even. It is also the career advice Sanne has gotten frequently and one she has taken to heart. “It sounds strange, but I have been told a couple of times to not work so hard, said Sanne. “People aren’t hired and promoted simply because they work hard. It happens because the decision maker knows the character of the person and feels confident about his or her ability not only to do the job, but also to do it in a way that promotes collegial team relationships.”

Be explicit

Asked if that is the best career advice she herself would give, the answer is no. Sanne wants female workers to know: “Ambition is not a dirty word. Be explicit in what you need and how you contribute to your team’s success. If you see an interesting job opening: go for it! Don’t think that someone would have contacted you if you meet the requirements. Be proactive and show why you’re perfect for the role.”

Challenge conventions

The skills Sanne admires in other leaders are: courage, resilience and curiosity. Traits she also sees in her longtime role model: Pippi Longstocking. “She still inspires me today. She is the strongest girl in the world and lives by herself in a colorful house in the forest with her pet monkey and a horse. I just loved that,” beams Sanne. “Moreover, she’s independent and great fun to be with. She lives by her own rules, is adventurous and perfectly fine with being a little different. I believe we can all benefit from being more like Pippi in a corporate environment at times, in order to drive positive change. Or at least embrace the Pippis in our organization, who challenge conventions and get things done in an unexpected way.”