Entrepreneurship is people work: "Is it still a little fun here?"

(Really, sometimes I would prefer to rattle the whole world)

A question she regularly asks directors of companies. Nina van Arum, herself an entrepreneur in heart and soul, does not mince words. For loyal readers of GWW Magazine, she is no longer a stranger. Thanks to Nina, GWW was able to set up the Top Women column last year. Time for a closer acquaintance with the top woman behind the top women.

Committing yourself to others is the common thread in Nina's life. "This applies to myself, but in this I definitely encourage others as well. And I felt I couldn't really give space to this until I started doing business. Exactly 5 years ago was that moment!", Nina opens the conversation.

Nina is behind three ventures, namely Provades, Top Women Construction & Infra Foundation and Good Work.

Born entrepreneur

"I felt that I wanted to be an entrepreneur early in my career, but after my 'breeding season' (children 12, 11 and 8)." Nina is behind three ventures, namely Provades, Top Women Construction & Infra Foundation and Good Work and is also currently building hard on a clothing label. "My background is business management and coaching. So no matter from which company I operate, everywhere I go I try to inspire people, to motivate them in order to contribute to increasing their job satisfaction and happiness.  Furthermore, as an entrepreneur I always see opportunities everywhere in customer focus, connecting and business. I also have a sensor that flawlessly senses if a certain inspiration or vulnerability is missing in a company or team. I would make an ideal 'mystery guest,'" she says with a laugh. "Hence I never hesitate to ask a director 'Is it still a bit of fun here?'"

The person behind the business

Nina is regularly told that people find it brave and inspiring that she is not ashamed to be vulnerable. Nina: "That's nothing to be ashamed of, is it? Ik was born with tremendous shyness, fear of failure, insecurity and fear of speaking. And now I am an entrepreneur and am regularly on the "soapbox" speaking in front of 140 (mostly) women. That road to it really didn't come naturally. The stage remains exciting, but it gives me a chance to touch people. There I dare to show what others do not show (vulnerability), I say what others do not dare to say or feel (emotion). I get back that people feel inspired and insights arise. I think this lies in the fact that, outside of being an entrepreneur, I am a  just-about-life-stumbling-red-cheeked-girl is and, above all, wants to stay. That's an attitude that is often the beginning of creating a safe environment in which new businesses, concepts, collaborations and contacts emerge."

Kas Pastoor, process manager at Provades.

Little emotional capacity in the technical sector

"When I look at our industry, I see a big difference between IQ and EQ. Many problems (dropout, burnout) come from poor emotional well-being. Mental health is one of the most important things at work. Without attention to the person behind the task, they leave or drop out! You can see that in the results. That's why I always recommend looking for the vulnerability in your company, in you as a leader and in your biggest source of income: your staff."

You are not married to the business

Work pressure, 70-hour work weeks, answering mail in your spare time or getting calls from business; these are contemporary problems that Nina believes keep people away from their private lives. A bad thing, she thinks. There's nothing wrong with flexible working, but then you have to be able to schedule family time during the week. "You know what people regret on their deathbed? That they weren't there enough for their loved ones when they could have been. At a funeral, everyone around them is firmly nodding yes, and they resolve to enjoy themselves more, because that does open their eyes. And what happens two weeks later? Then everyone is stuck in the old pattern again. Really, sometimes I would like to shake up the world at this point."

Job satisfaction

"Provades' process managers and consultants often come to clean up clutter on the process, systems engineering or delivery files side. Or prevent failure costs and problems by setting up the system landscape and process on the front end clearly and without 'complicated talk'. But indirectly, our people mainly bring pleasure to work. We also give them active assignments and budgets to teach project teams to 'celebrate' milestones again. With their lovely characters, they always contribute humor and fun and team building, without our clients asking for it. This creates connection and a successful team," Nina explains.

'Good Work' deserves plenty of attention

Putting yourself out there for others is the common thread in Nina's life. With this in mind, she also set up the Top Women in Construction and Infra Foundation, which now has 750 affiliated women. "We help make women visible within the sector. In doing so, we inspire other women to stay on the career path and not leave their talents in the ground, but rather develop them!"

Nina and her companion Wietse Pastoor found each other precisely in a common desire to do more and larger scale good work and commitment to others. "We like to give for the sake of giving. But nowadays it seems like people only give to get something back and create an emotional bank account with customers. Contributing at the sponsor level to a charity in exchange for advertising. There is no soul in that for us. We prefer to go for a more sustainable way of helping." One particular project that she and her business partner have started is called 'Goed Werk': "Goed Werk is a non-committal regional initiative where we organize mornings for people who are distant from the labor market, or have problems getting into a social network in any form. We then provide people with clear direction and practical equipment," Nina clarifies.

Finally, Nina wants to say, "At the dinner table I had a conversation with my three children about money. Then I said: yes, everything revolves around ... and then my 8-year-old son complemented me. 'Love,' he said. And so it is."

More information about Good Work? Go to www.goedwerk.nu