“No less than 23 years ago, Nadya van Putten boarded a plane thinking she was going to the Netherlands to study, and after finishing her studies, she would be back home. However, opportunities and several countries later, this changed.
“I never thought I would stay so long away from my island Aruba, but real life is full of surprises. Eventually, after 8 years living and working in Sint Maarten as the director of the APS Pension Fund, I was ready for the new challenge that presented itself. When I was approached by Nagico for the position of Director, I felt that Nagico and I would be a good match.” And so, the journey to return home was created, and 2024 welcomed Nadya with a new job but back on her native island. Her return symbolizes not only a change in her professional career but also a reaffirmation of her cultural and familial ties with Aruba.
During her years away from Aruba, Nadya achieved an impressive professional path, spanning from leadership to politics. "I never limited myself. I like to evolve and educate myself." Working in the Netherlands, you learn to work with structure, but in the Caribbean, you learn that flexibility is a very important characteristic. I can combine these two abilities very well.
My leadership style is one with structure but with heart. In the Netherlands, until 2013, Nadya was part of the political scene and the Groenlinks party in the Netherlands. “Looking back, it was a period of more than ten years that I dedicated to politics with a lot of love. The GroenLinks party (and almost all other political parties in the Netherlands) is very well organized. I joined the party initially as a student and I helped in different facets of the party including flyer distribution, being part of working groups, and helping write the party program.
I did my internship at GroenLinks, participated in elections in Rotterdam and became a burgerraadslid (part-time councilor) representing my party GroenLinks in Rotterdam for 4 years. I participated in tweede kamer and European Parliament elections. I got to know the party, Dutch politics, and thus learned the art of negotiation and building relationships with associates. This is an experience that no book can teach you.
“My integrity is extremely important to me. I have faced certain challenges that presented themselves, but I have never deviated from the norms and values that my parents raised me with.”
As the director of Nagico, what are your main goals and vision?
My goal for the coming years at Nagico is to focus on the employees. In 2024, my main focus will be to continue to expand and improve in the area of communication.
"Economic growth had a positive impact on the insurance industry, bringing a demand for different types of products.” Nagico will continue to evolve and innovate in its insurance services, continuously developing for a better experience for our clients. Our goal is to provide a more personalized experience, offering solutions that exceed our clients' expectations, thereby fostering a long-term relationship based on trust and security.
Courage and determination; “Invite yourself to step out of your comfort zone, don’t let fear hold you back. Don’t listen to comments like ‘You are too young’ ‘Don’t even try’ ‘That’s something for men’ If I had listened to these comments, I would never have experienced all the opportunities that presented themselves during my professional career. Things don’t always go as we want," she admits, acknowledging that challenges and obstacles are an integral part of personal and professional growth.
Now, as the director of Nagico, Nadya focuses on strengthening the area of communication and putting employees in a central place. "Nagico will continue to evolve and innovate," she asserts, emphasizing her commitment to offering the best possible service to clients.
Nadya highlights the profound emotions anchored in her return to Aruba: "Nothing can equal or replace the piece of rock where I was born and raised, which is our sweet island Aruba. The feeling of being at home, in the warmth of my family is incomparable."
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