photographer: jonne lucia op de weegh© | make-up artist: alice malavasi from art of colors
sandra espinach castellvi(she/her)
partner service centre manager at oikocredit edcs
about
i am sandra, from spain and i moved to the netherlands ten years ago.
after applying for five years at oikocredit, i joined the organisation working part time, filling paper documentation, while working in my old job in a warehouse.
a year later, my manager promoted me with the goal of becoming a team lead. soon after, i got asked to develop a new team. with the help of the right stakeholders, i made it possible, so in 2024, i became the partner service centre manager.
with the right environment, support and good leadership, i’ve thrived.
what advice would you give to your younger self?
i would tell myself not to be afraid and work on my confidence. stepping out of the comfort zone can be terrifying, but it is worth it. don’t try to meet other’s expectations, only your own opinion matters; trust your gut, base your decisions on your own beliefs and not on others. if someone says you can’t do something, they reveal more about themselves than you, so go for it and don’t wait for the perfect moment—now is the right time.
oikocredit edcs
oikocredit is a social impact investor and worldwide cooperative that invests in financial inclusion, agriculture, and renewable energy across 33 countries in africa, asia, and latin america. guided by the principle of empowering people, oikocredit’s vision aligns closely with the equals campaign’s goals of promoting gender equality and diversity. the cooperative’s participation in this campaign further advances women’s empowerment and inclusion, which has been integral to its mission from the beginning, 50 years ago, and reinforces its commitment to creating a just society where resources are shared sustainably and everyone is in a position to build a life of dignity.