Photographer: Carly Wollaert ©
Make-up artist: Sharmila Vooren
AMAZON
“Het vermogen van Amazon om te groeien en voortdurend te focussen op de wensen van onze klanten, is afhankelijk van de perspectieven en kennis van onze medewerkers. We geloven dat we de beste resultaten voor onze klanten behalen met een team dat een afspiegeling is van die klanten. Zij brengen verschillende achtergronden, ideeën en standpunten in om te blijven innoveren en daardoor in te spelen op de wensen van onze klanten. De diversiteit aan perspectieven komt voort uit vele aspecten, waaronder geslacht, ras, leeftijd, afkomst, seksuele geaardheid, cultuur, opleiding en beroeps- en levenservaring. We zetten ons daarom in voor diversiteit en inclusie en zoeken altijd naar manieren om onze impact te vergroten terwijl we groeien als bedrijf. Het deelnemen aan deze campagne met een van onze medewerkers is daar een mooi voorbeeld van.”
Damla Kartal
Head of Customer Experience at Amazon
About
“Damla Kartal, 35 years, Turkish/ Dutch and born in the east of the Netherlands. Grew up in a family business where I developed my passion for retail at an age of 13. At the same time, I combined my Highschool and University with a TV & Radio Academy learning how impactful words are and how fast change can take place. After my Master I moved to California for a Post Master at UC Berkeley. The mix of cultures and people, continuous innovations and acceptance of everything that is unique in itself, brought me closer to myself.
Working at Amazon gives me daily the opportunity to work with smart/ talented people, change at scale and develop new things that seem impossible when starting. Next to my work at Amazon, I am a presenter and host, speaker at events about “”Women in Business”” and I am a Co-Host for the podcast @21Days. ”
What or Who inspired you to pursue your chosen career?
“My mother and the abroad experience at UC Berkeley. My mother, a strong, resilient and powerful woman who was 15 when she got married. She left her family in Turkey and had 3 children by the time of 21. Since I can remember, she focused on three main topics: the importance of making my own decisions, financial independency and that passion should always lead. During my abroad experience my mother’s life lessons started making sense. I realized that there is more than we think initially. More than where you grew up, more than what you see after a first glance and more than what they teach you in high school. With the right circumstances, we are able to go above and beyond and define our own direction.”