Anastasia Ikasari has been our office manager at Reanda Netherlands for almost two years. Though it feels a bit longer, she herself admits, as her role grew steadily and she has successfully taken on more responsibilities. “At Reanda, I found the pace, the speed that I wanted to work at again. It feels like home.”
Anastasia is no stranger to working a highly demanding job, having worked as an assistant in the government and private sector in Jakarta. “Now that I look back at it, it was fun,” she says. “It was challenging, but also very rewarding. Yet you always learn something new. And in those highly demanding conditions, when your brain wants to burst, my employer also taught me how to stay calm and take five minutes to come back to myself, to focus on my breathing. It helps and you’ll see things from a different point of view.”
Moving to the Netherlands gave Anastasia new challenges: getting used to a new country, a new language, and raising two young boys. “At Reanda I found it again: the pace, the speed that I worked at before, but also a great social environment with many friendly colleagues.
Coincidences
Finding Reanda was a bit of a coincidence but it was exactly what Anastasia was looking for. “Nothing was planned and I kind of rolled into it. Reanda was the first office I tried and my first interview felt very warm. I feel lucky to have found Reanda.” With two young kids, the thing Anastasia was mostly looking for was flexibility, being able to work from home when necessary. “And they immediately said that was okay. Now, sometimes I even bring my kids to work. When we had the heatwave this June and the schools closed, all colleagues were invited to bring their kids to the office where we have air conditioning.”
“I always choose the work that gives me knowledge,”
Anastasia Ikasari, Office Manager at Reanda Netherlands.
Branching out
Initially, Anastasia applied for and started working at Reanda as our office manager. It didn’t take long, however, for her to branch out. Step by step, she has taken on more responsibilities and she successfully helps out as office manager, personal assistant, event manager, and has recently taken on the role as assistant to our new Advisory Board.
“Two times a year, we have a personal review,” she explains, “And in this review I said I want to grow and know more about the company. As time went by, I was given the chance to grow further and further. I am so happy with that. I like to learn new things. Sometimes I start with something I’ve never done before, but in time, I can do it better and faster. I like to think on my feet. I try to stay positive. When things get very hectic, I tell myself, I will learn something new from this situation.”
The heart of the office
In September, Anastasia has been at Reanda for two years. “Sometimes it feels like longer than two years, with everything I’ve been working on. It can be a little overwhelming, when you’re also busy with something else, but it’s been very good. I enjoy it so much. My role makes me know everyone at the office. Here at Reanda we have so many international colleagues. And my interactions with everyone are really fulfilling. It feels like home. Everyone makes time for a chat. My favorite part of the day is during lunchtime, and we can talk about everything. The hottest topic of the moment is the housing situation and we share tips on how to find a place to live. When a new colleague joins our lunch sessions, they always find something.”
“My favorite part of the day is lunchtime, where all colleagues get to know each other.”
“I enjoy going to the office every day. This is my first office job in the Netherlands, so I have no comparison with other companies whether you have the same space to grow or to learn new things,” Anastasia says. “But during these two years, I’m really happy with the people and opportunities I’ve found here.”
