An African proverb states: “If you want to go fast, go alone. If you want to go far, go together.” It is that sense of community that makes every edition of the Women for Women* program a success. A success made possible with our growing list of amazing and influential Ambassadors like Aida Díaz Luque, Open and Inclusive Program Manager at DAF Trucks. In this blog, Aida tells us about herself, her role supporting diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) at DAF Trucks, and being a WfW Ambassador.
Getting Started at DAF
Aida began her studies in Spain. “Long story short, I studied a master’s degree in business. After I finished my studies and I could not find a job in Spain, I also didn’t speak any word of English, so I decided to move to England and try my luck.” There she learned English from scratch before embarking on yet another international border. “I moved to the Netherlands working here in a few companies in logistics like Phillips for three years and then moved to DAF,” where she is now has her “dream job” as the Open and Inclusive Program Manager.
How did that happen? “[While working at DAF,] I was also doing a lot of volunteer work on-site. I was driving a group of internationals already at DAF, so how to help them feel at home. I was organizing the events for the company, helping with the women’s group of the Expat Spouse Initiative [and] working with refugees.”
A Ripple Effect
In her current role Aida incorporates all her volunteering experiences to help drive DAF’s DEI mission. “We have people working at the factory, but we also have people working at the office; one size doesn’t fit all, but we need to make one size fit all, at least for now…what I basically did last year is to raise awareness, so why diversity and inclusion is important, why do we need that at work, why we need that on the daily basis in our private life, and giving trainings on cultural awareness and conscious bias, how to give feedback in a diverse environment.”
Her job is to help everyone within the organization understand the complexities of cross-cultural communication while also celebrating everyone’s different viewpoints that enriches DAF’s culture and competitiveness. She says, “[My main goal is for everyone to] see each other as a person and the skills they have, what can you bring to the organization, and what kind of extra skills do you have that I don’t and put it them together. We are all very similar and we are all very different and the differences empower us.”
Aida admits that with more than 12,000 employees from 91 different nationalities, her role can be challenging. But the key is to focus on achievable change. “I will never make everybody happy, so I focus first on the people I can change, and I hope to have a ripple effect.”
Spreading the Ripple
It’s clear that Aida enjoys being involved and helping people, so it’s no wonder that she is also an Ambassador for the Women for Women Eindhoven program. “I talked to Kavitha, and she explained the program, and I thought, ‘It’s a great initiative.’ I wish I had Expat Spouses Initiative when I moved to London or the Netherlands.”
Women for Women is a simple idea that connects local international talent and locally connected Ambassadors. During the three-month program, participants attend several career development and practical workshops by industry experts designed to help integrate them into the Dutch labour market. Their Ambassadors open their networks and provide additional support and insider knowledge based on their professional experiences.
There have been 11 editions in Eindhoven since 2017, two editions in Breda, and pilot programs in ‘s-Hertogenbosch and Tilburg last year.
“The best part of the ESI is not only career focus. It’s more about the human aspect of it. Like, I’m here for you if you want to cry. I’m here if you want to have a drink together.”
Together We Thrive
Cultivating an environment where anyone can thrive is just one of the ways that ESI brings value to the region. And Aida agrees: “When they are moving to the Netherlands with the plus one, the plus one is invisible...I think it’s not only about that, but it’s also about what they can bring to the region. We need talent. We don’t have enough talent in the region and they are fantastic people to hire.”
For Aspiring Ambassadors
For all those perspective Ambassadors who want to give back to their communities and help internationals settle in the region, Aida says: “Don’t waste any other minute, be an Ambassador, because you won’t regret about it. You get to know a lot of different people. You learn from other Ambassadors, but also from other talents. I think it gives you another opportunity for you to connect and build your network.”
Through a series of international moves, jobs, and combining her volunteer work and passions, Aida does a job that she loves. “I love to work with people to change the culture, integrate all kinds of different personalities and internationals, and different people working together.” Her drive and positivity are contagious, and we are proud to have her as an Ambassador! You can join Aida and our Ambassadors by emailing the Expat Spouses Initiative at info@expatspousesinitiative.org.
* Women for Women Eindhoven is one of three tracks of the Talent100 program since 2021.
