Today, Friday March 8, we celebrate International Women’s Day! A day dedicated to recognizing and celebrating the achievements of women all over the world. At Kolibri Company, everything revolves around spreading moments of happiness. Countless people play an essential role within our production process, and it is inspiring to see that many of these people at Kolibri Company are women.
Take a walk with us through the office and greenhouse, and meet some of the women who are flourishing in their work across various departments.
At our first stop, we meet Desiree, the Creative Director of Kolibri Company, for whom nature is a source of joy. She draws inspiration from the scents, colors, and tranquility during walks, where she feels at home and her creativity is fueled by the oxygen in the air.
As Creative Director, Desiree is involved in following trends and studying the zeitgeist. She attends trend sessions to understand how these influence consumers and which colors and shapes are desired. Together with her marketing team, she determines eight popular interior styles in Europe annually, designing matching colors, plants, and pots that fit together perfectly.
The goal for Desiree and her team is to inspire others to bring a piece of nature into their homes, so everyone can enjoy the beauty of nature right at home. Her motto is: “Embrace nature to enrich your life.” And so, Desiree inspires others to enjoy the beautiful natural elements in their own living environment.
At our next stop, we end up in the HR office, where we meet Katinka. She tells us about the women within Kolibri Company. “It is striking that in greenhouse horticulture, which is generally known as a ‘men’s industry’, many women already work with us.” Katinka emphasizes that this change is not limited to office roles but also extends to the work floor, where women hold both operational and leadership positions. “We even recently hired a female truck driver,” she says proudly.
At that moment, Lotte walks into the office, where the close collaboration between her and Katinka immediately becomes clear. Together, they commit to various aspects, including internal communication within the company, which contributes to the well-being of their colleagues. Lotte emphasizes the value of working in an environment with many women: “I work closely with various women in the department, and this collaboration enormously enriches our creative ideas. We stimulate each other, offer support, and draw inspiration from each other’s ideas. As a team, we form a strong bond and are determined to achieve our goals together and make our projects a success. I am therefore proud of the positive and supportive work environment in which we encourage each other to grow.”
As we walk into the greenhouse, we find Sabine at her orchid trial. She talks about what makes her work so much fun: “Within my role, I get the chance to pick out the most beautiful orchids and test them,” she says. “I am convinced that it is very important for more women to become involved in cultivation roles within the horticulture sector. Although it is currently mainly a man’s world, it is ultimately the women who buy our products. With so many women represented in various positions within Kolibri Company, that’s certainly covered!” she continues, underlining her point with a laugh.
Finally, we stop by Dominika. She talks about her growth within the company over the past 12.5 years. When she came to the Netherlands, she started her career through a recruitment agency. After mastering the language, she was able to grow into a task manager in the staking department. Here, all orchids are provided with stakes for the branches so they stand upright. Dominika leads a team of mainly women, which can sometimes be challenging, but she mostly learns a lot from it and enjoys it. She places great value on the well-being of her team: “I regularly have conversations with my team to ensure that everyone works with pleasure and happiness.”
At Kolibri Company, we embrace diversity and strive for an inclusive work environment where everyone gets the chance to grow and flourish, regardless of gender. This is why today we celebrate the presence of all women within our company. An indispensable force within the organization. Happy International Women’s Day!