Positive change starts with you

‘I was born during a brutal civil war in Sri Lanka. A good friend of my parents had moved to the Netherlands and his positive experience inspired my parents to follow him. They sold all their possessions to undertake the journey with two young children in order to ask for asylum here. We lived in a refugee centre for almost a year and although I was three at the time I do remember how friendly and helpful everyone was. Eventually, we were given a home in the province of Zeeland where my sister and I grew up.  

Our parents instilled in us a drive to work hard and madke sure we would get the best education possible, so my sister went to Rotterdam School of Management and I joined the first cohort of the International Bachelor in Economics and Business Economics (IBEB). I really enjoyed the numerical approach but what made it even more special was that we were studying with people from so many different countries. I even had the chance to visit some of my classmates in their home country.’ 

What was your student time like? 

‘In order to finance my study, I had to work several side jobs. I have been fortunate to be a student assistant twice. Professor Ronald Huisman supervised both my bachelor’s and my master’s thesis. He invited me to help him organise a conference on Energy Finance. This involved collecting data and inviting speakers from both academia and the corporate world. It was a great chance to learn and get to know many people. My second opportunity was with Ronald de Groot, the Media and Public Relations Officer at Erasmus School of Economics, a master in the art of networking. He taught me invaluable skills that have helped me ever since.’ 

What came next?  

‘After earning my bachelor’s degree, I travelled in the United States, and when I graduated from the Master’s programme, I spent several months in Asia. Broadening your horizons in this way is something I highly recommend. 

In 2012 I started my career as a project manager for Euronext, the pan-European stock exchange. My job was to advise the top 500 companies in the Netherlands about the use of innovative technology in the field of marketing, stakeholder communication, e-learning, and engagement with staff. Companies with a listing on the stock exchange have to comply with stringent regulations regarding the timing and the scope of their communication so Euronext had developed specific solutions that would enable them to do so. I became an Account Executive for those listed companies. This meant working closely with the Investor Relations departments of Dutch corporates but also involved communicating with different levels of those organisations.  

I also joined the board of the Netherlands Association for Investor Relations (NEVIR). In my role at Euronext, I had already witnessed the changes happening around such topics as environmental, social and governance (ESG) as well as corporate social responsibility (CSR) so I enjoyed helping to organise seminars on these developments at NEVIR. These events provided an opportunity for people to exchange their best practices.’  

How do Dutch companies compare internationally when it comes to ESG and CSR issues? 

‘Although Europe, and the Netherlands in particular, is ahead of the United States and Asia, there is still a long way to go. Unfortunately, greenwashing has not been rooted out entirely yet. However, in my experience, many firms genuinely want to make a difference. One example is the response I received when I was asked to join a panel of speakers at the Upstream Festival Rotterdam, which focused on the “new economy”: ways for companies to invest in social return by partnering with social entrepreneurs in the region. It was deeply inspiring to me that many organisations are happy to do so if the right connections and tools are available.’  

Can you tell us about your sabbatical? 

‘It was a busy time: Euronext had set me challenging targets, which I managed to outperform, and, at the same time, I became a mother. Business was booming, especially during the pandemic, but after successfully juggling so many responsibilities, it was time to reset and re-energise. I took a sabbatical, which my family and I spent on the island of Bali. When it became time to return, the Netherlands was on the verge of another lockdown. We figured we would be safer and have more freedom by staying in Bali. I left Euronext but continued my board role with NEVIR.  

Bali is now our second home. I became involved in several charitable initiatives there and invested in a social enterprise. Together with several Dutch investors and the people from moped-share company Felyx, we invested in scaling up the use of electric motorbikes (EVs) on Bali with the goal to offer affordable mobility, while diminishing noise- and air pollution. Even though my family and I returned to the Netherlands after lockdown, we have been coming back to the island for several months every year. When it became time for my son to start his education, we enrolled him in an international school in Bali, which he still attends when we are there. As soon as we return to the Netherlands, he gets on his bike to go to school with his Dutch friends. We feel very strongly that our main base is here in the Netherlands.’ 

Can you tell us about Karma Points? 

‘During my sabbatical I reflected on my next steps. I felt an increasing urge to make sure other people in need are given opportunities just as I was. When I encountered the organisation Karma Points, I knew this was a great way to channel such ambitions. Karma Points is a platform that was founded in India three years ago. It connects charities or non-governmental organisations (NGOs) with people and companies willing to donate time, money, or goods. After its successful start, it expanded to Australia and now they have appointed me to lead their launch in the Netherlands. Studies show that Dutch culture is inherently charitable, particularly among Millennials and Gen Z. Using the research skills I honed at Erasmus School of Economics, I demonstrated to Karma Points' founders that the Netherlands was the perfect next step. I had also been taught how to write a business plan and that is exactly what I started doing. Last year was mostly about such groundwork. Now Karma Points is generating an increasing amount of buzz in the Netherlands, which gives me a lotof energy. 

There are already various initiatives that offer something similar, but what makes Karma Points unique is its reward system. In the app, the donor selects a charity they want to support. This can be with money or time. The karma points they receive when they contribute can be exchanged for discounts and freebies in the Karma Points social-conscious brand store that offers items that have been provided by partner brands. For these businesses it is not only a chance to do something meaningful, but also an attractive way to showcase their products or services. A good example of our activities is our cooperation with Fonds Bijzondere Noden in Rotterdam, a charity that supports people in Rotterdam who can’t afford their family’s basic needs. On our platform, charities have the opportunity to organise crowdfunding for very specific projects. All volunteers are asked to provide their qualifications in order to assess whether they have a suitable background for the project. The charities will always have an intake interview with volunteers before they start. We highly value transparency. There are no hidden costs: recipients pay a platform fee, and we encourage donors to add a small contribution to support our operations.’ 

What message do you want to give the current generation of students? 

‘Your education is essential to obtain your professional goals. In addition, a combination of hard work, determination, curiosity, and reflection on your life goals will bring you to your ultimate purpose. Positive change starts with you. So, be mindful of your power and ability to be the change you want to see in the world. In volunteering for a charity or NGO, you can make a meaningful impact on society. In addition, you create an opportunity to obtain valuable experience, enlarge your network, and perhaps even find an opening for your first purposeful job. What goes around, comes around.’