It’s funny how things work out sometimes. When Tamara had to choose what she wanted to be when she grew up, she thought a job in education was right for her. “I studied to become a Physics, Mathematics and Economics teacher. But when I finished my final internship at 21, I felt too young to stand in front of a class. I had hardly any life experience. So, I decided to continue studying, and thought, why not aim higher?” She enrolled in university to study applied economic sciences and eventually, seven years later, ended up in the advertising business.
As Insights Director, Tamara is responsible for the market research and brand insights of Mediabrands’ clients. The way she is able to organize her work gives her energy: with the necessary flexibility and attention to the human factor.
“Mediabrands trusts its staff. Bosses are not constantly checking whether you’re at work. What counts is that you complete a project successfully. You decide more or less when you work, which makes it easier to combine with your private life.”
People make the job and that’s important to Tamara. “I am part of a great team that has dubbed me ‘Mum Tamara’. I care about the fate of my colleagues and am their point of contact when they encounter problems.” During the first lockdown, Tamara set up an online coffee room where colleagues could meet virtually. “Participation was not obligatory, but it has now become a habit and everyone participates. It’s a good alternative to conversations at the coffee machine that we no longer have because we’re working from home.”
Ice water
The past year forced Tamara to suddenly stop everything. While the outside world was dealing with a nasty virus, she was undergoing treatment for breast cancer. “After my operation in the spring I had radiotherapy, fortunately not chemotherapy.” The impact on her body was no less serious. She still receives physical therapy and hormone treatment.
”superpower — organises children’s parties that are arranged down to the finest detail
“My illness brought my life to a dramatic halt: suddenly I had other priorities. For months I couldn’t go to work, and there was time to reflect. Did I want to return to my old life and the same job?” When she recently turned forty, existential questions became even more important to Tamara. What about the rest of her life? “I decided: I will go back to my old job, but I’ll work part-time. That way I hope to have more time for myself and my family.”
Her body is the measure of all things. “I want to be more conscious of it. Via yoga and Pilates, I came across the breathing technique used by Wim Hof, the extreme sportsman who, by concentrating on his breathing, can relax so deeply that he can sit in ice water without any problems. When I succeeded the first time, it was as if I had stepped outside my body. I thought I was hallucinating. After a sauna I can immerse myself for minutes in an ice-cold bath that previously I hardly dared put a toe in.”
Less rationalization
At the beginning of her illness, Tamara questioned, why her? Hadn’t she always lived a healthy life and eaten vegetarian? But she knows she will never get an answer to that question. “I have come to terms with it. It wasn’t easy and sometimes I still find it difficult, but it helps to rationalize everything less.”
She also wants to do things differently at work. “I used to think I was indispensable. If I had a deadline, I tended to put others under pressure. I am demanding and that’s okay, but there is no need to drag others into it. In any case, I intend to take myself a little less seriously.”
Maybe then there will be more time for her superpower, because Tamara discovered that she enjoys organizing children’s parties. “I have always had a talent for organization, but when my son recently turned five, it got a bit out of hand. For his party, I devised a Pokémon quest that was organized down to the finest detail. His friends were absolutely thrilled.”
“If I were CEO of Mediabrands, I would make sure that everyone – clients and staff – got good coffee. I would abolish departments and create mixed divisions so that people could get to know each other better.”
Tamara is proud of her perseverance. “I will not easily refuse an assignment. I’m committed to my work and am able to motivate others. I don’t give up.” She already has her dream job, but one day she wants to make herself useful to society and do some work on the side to help refugees. “Seeing someone embark on a new life after a successful integration course would be an amazing feeling.”
”“Yoga and Pilates taught me breathing exercises for relaxation. I can lie in an ice-cold bath for minutes on end.”