“I always start my day with a cappuccino and two cookies. I usually skip breakfast—I really need that caffeine because my son still doesn’t sleep through the night.”

From temp to key player

Percilla first joined as a replacement for someone on maternity leave. “I had actually applied for an administrative position, but I didn’t get it. Not long after, they called: would I like to fill in on planning for a while? And now, here I am, nine years later!”

She still thinks back to that first interview. “They asked me what the difference was between a non-castrated piglet and a sow… I had no idea! There I was, totally unprepared. Luckily, they saw I was a good fit for the team.”

Precision above all

Her work is more varied than most people think. “I collect the drivers’ data, enter it into the system, and make sure everything is correct before an invoice goes out. People sometimes think: that’s just copying some information. But there’s a lot more to it. It has to be exactly right, because otherwise something goes wrong in the whole process.”

“A little typo might seem minor, but it can have big consequences. That’s why I work carefully and prefer to double-check everything.”

What does she enjoy most about her work? The contact with people. “I’m in touch with colleagues, customers, and suppliers every day. It’s great when you can really help someone move forward. Or just have a chat about vacations, kids, or whatever comes up. That personal touch is important to me.”

She’s also enthusiastic about the atmosphere at VAEX. “We have a nice, informal working environment. A joke by the coffee machine or laughing together during a company outing. It doesn’t just make the work more fun, but also lighter.”

Carpaccio and Van der Valk

Outside of work, Percilla has her own passions, like carpaccio. “You can always wake me up for that,” she says with a laugh. She also has a special love for Van der Valk hotels. “Since our engagement, it’s been a bucket list to spend a night at every one. We’ve already stayed at 36! With kids it goes a bit slower, but I still love it.”

And then there’s her sporty side. “I swam competitively for years, even six times a week. Now I still swim laps occasionally. It feels fresher than the gym, and I still really enjoy it.”

Content and stable

If Percilla could swap roles at VAEX for a day, she’d like to sit in Dirk’s chair. “Just for the fun stuff, though,” she laughs. “I wouldn’t want the real responsibilities.”

She doesn’t have any grand plans for the future. “I’m just content. I hope everything stays nice and stable, both at home and at work. That’s worth a lot, too.”