Royal Jaarbeurs: the inspired, sustainable and innovative host for the whole of the Netherlands. A place where you meet, inspire, learn and grow. We'd love to tell you what's going on at Jaarbeurs and the way we do things. How? By getting to know our most valuable asset: our people. Nicola Alliney (26), born and raised in Italy, works as a sales and account manager in the international Jaarbeurs team that organises trade shows in Thailand, Vietnam, Indonesia, the United Arab Emirates and Rwanda, among others. Getting to know new people and cultures energises him. What is it actually like to work as an Italian at Jaarbeurs? We step into Nicola's world and discover together different tastes and cultures at Jaarbeurs.
Nicola was born and raised between two of Italy's oldest and most beautiful cities, Rome and Verona. From an early age, he developed a love for travelling and discovering new cultures. In recent years, Nicola has travelled extensively and lived in several countries, including Italy, Spain, Belgium, Germany and now in the Netherlands for four years. In the meantime, he completed a bachelor's degree in food science and technology at the University of Padua and a master's degree in aquaculture at Wageningen University, and has now been working in the international Jaarbeurs team dealing with agrifood for almost a year and a half. "We organise events on agriculture in different places all over the world, from Thailand to the Middle East, Africa and also in our beloved Utrecht."
"Cultural diversity in the workplace is a hot topic for me"
A mix of culture, diversity and events in one job
Nicola works in sales for various events within the agricultural sector. "Some events are about digitalisation, others about aqauculture or agrifood in general. I am constantly in contact with customers and provide tailor-made advice. I find that wonderfully challenging!" Nicola works a lot with Dutch colleagues. He finds the directness of his colleagues very nice working together. "I am also direct myself. That way, my clients know exactly what they can expect from me and that way I can put on a perfect event." A big culture shock for Nicola though was that everyone is so planned in the Netherlands. "The Dutch plan a lot in advance and are very punctual. In Italy, I was used to long lunches and a relaxed approach to time. But I had to get incredibly used to the tight schedules of my Dutch colleagues. By now, this structure suits me." Nicola sees working in a different culture as an opportunity to grow and embrace new ways of working. His role at Jaarbeurs allows him to combine his passion for culture, diversity and events, so he goes to work with a smile every day.
"New cultures make me curious"
Nicola also sometimes runs into things because of his Italian background. "It's not just the flat landscape I had to get used to, if I could bring one thing from Italy to the Netherlands, it's the weather. It makes such a difference in terms of mood and how people function." He is enthusiastic about the very first 'Jaarbeurs diversity week' organised recently. A week full of activities and inspiration to consciously reflect on the fact that we all have different backgrounds and cultures. "I think this is such a cool initiative!".
Diversity in the workplace: tasting, smelling and seeing
Jaarbeurs believes it is important for employees to look beyond their own field, appreciate differences and be inclusive and diverse. Together with over a hundred colleagues, Nicola was inspired by House of Inclusion during diversity week with tips on how to make a workplace more inclusive. "I received practical tips specific to our corporate culture. This way, we learn from each other's cultures and make steps towards a more inclusive Jaarbeurs. I am really happy that my employer pays a lot of attention to this. In an ever-changing world, cultural diversity and inclusion is more important than ever." With a twinkle in his eye, he continued, "I would still like to take my colleagues on a culinary Italian trip one day. Then I can let my colleagues taste, smell and see Italian food. That way I take them into my world of experience. Food is a big part of Italian culture."
Nicola's passion for culture and diversity is perfectly reflected in his work. He enjoys working with colleagues from all over the world and believes these diverse perspectives lead to more creative and innovative solutions. "By being open to and learning from others, you not only become a better professional, but also a more enjoyable colleague."
