Who are you and where are you from?
I am Alva, born in and raised around Amsterdam. After living in Utrecht for ten years and in Oklahoma (USA) for a year, I have been living in Amsterdam-Noord for six years now. My trips to Oklahoma and Utrecht were for my studies in Communication at the University of Utrecht. I have always liked Utrecht, but Amsterdam is really home.
That sense of home is mainly due to the social network I always had in the city. By now, most of it has spread across the country -or rather, the whole world; from Haarlem to Vienna and from Almere to Mexico. I travel a bit to see everyone. I just love that my work is so close by.
What is your position at STROOM and how do you fill it?
For most of my career, I have worked on the client side. As an all-around marketer, I have come into contact with many facets of the profession: from website development to full-funnel campaigns and from marketing strategies to -automation. Among other things, I did this as an online marketing manager at the professional association for marketing, NIMA. In recent years, I have worked as a digital marketer and performance lead at Kinesso (part of Mediabrands), where I worked with ING, UWV, Nutrition Center and Bever, among others.
I now apply these experiences in my role as a Mediacommerce consultant at STROOM. In this role too, I dedicate myself to different clients; the difference is that my focus is now broader: I focus on the whole picture from branding to performance and from TV to affiliate. In doing so, I make sure -with the client team- that all channels (owned, earned, shared and paid) work in an integrated way.
What energizes you in your work?
I get energized when I can use both my strategic and creative side to help people and organizations make a positive impact. That means I enjoy engaging with clients about what they need to achieve their goals.
What do you get energy from in your free time?
I am especially energized by sociability and that can be expressed in many different ways. The common denominator is of course that it is with other people and I don't care if we have a nice dinner, go dancing, go to the Efteling or do something creative. I am open to many things.
What is your favorite meal?
Food is not just to stay alive, it is really to enjoy! I love Indonesian cuisine immensely, but I also love a stew. Although I eat less and less meat, in my heart I am actually a carnivore.
What is your favorite vacation or vacation country?
That's a tough question. I like to discover something new every time. Last summer I went to Bali with a friend and loved it. But I've also been to some countries in Africa with my dad and that too was amazing. The wild animals and unspoiled nature, so beautiful! Closer to home I can also intensely enjoy a trip to France, Italy or Spain. The important thing is that the sun shines, even when it's time for winter sports 😉
Which sports do you prefer to watch and which sport do you play yourself?
I don't watch much sports, unless it's European Championship or World Cup soccer. I love the atmosphere when everyone is behind one team and gets orange fever. I used to ride horses for quite a long time and now I go to the gym for physical maintenance, where I do yoga and kickboxing.
What is your favorite quote and why?
"Everything comes right at the end, so if it's not right yet, it's not the end."
This quote helps you realize that you can always make adjustments or tweak things, no matter how difficult it is sometimes.
What can people wake you up at night for?
Anyway in case of emergency. Whether it's an emergency for me or to help someone else. Besides that, you can wake me up for a nice trip to somewhere where the sun shines and for a plate of very good food.
What is your guilty pleasure?
90's music and wrong Christmas movies.
What is the best thing about working at STROOM and what is the best thing about working in media?
The answer may be cliché, but no less true. The best thing about working in media, and certainly at STROOM as well, is the people. I so enjoy working with like-minded people, people who also really love this profession and want to dedicate themselves to their clients. I clearly notice that at STROOM . In addition, there is always something going on in terms of get-togethers and parties. But what makes STROOM really fun is the people and how they interact with each other.