Quick Questions with Saskia: HR Specialist

When she’s not running with and around after her three young sons, venturing out on mountain biking trails or dreaming about hiking one of the great walks in NZ, Saskia is our HR Specialist here at SwipedOn HQ in New Zealand. We caught up with Saskia for a quick fire round of questions to learn more about her and what a day in the life is like at SwipedOn.
What does a day in the life of you at SwipedOn look like?
No day is the same and that's pretty cool. I am lucky to be the one organising team events, so today for example I planned our 'Welcome to the New Year' party with a BBQ, team briefing & virtual gaming. Recruitment and paperwork are usually part of my day too, also very exciting of course!
What do you like about working at SwipedOn?
The team, we have a varied bunch of people with many talents, interests and backgrounds and I really like how everyone works together and has fun whilst doing this.
What do you particularly like about what we’re doing with SwipedOn?
The constant drive to deliver to our customers, not only with our product but also with our service. I also love the fact we are planting a tree for every new customer and feel we are genuine with our desire to look after our environment, our customers and our staff.
What three words would you use to describe your role?
1. People
2. Paperwork
3. (Party) Planning
What is your SwipedOn screensaver?
Floating colours :)
What did you do in your previous working life?
Since moving to NZ from the Netherlands in 2007 I've been selling bikes, worked in a bank, and supported schools with all sorts of employment matters. I also worked in a rest home as the HR advisor.
What do you do in your free time?
I spend a lot of fun time running with (and around after) my three young boys! I also love going for a long ride on any of my bikes (mountain, indoor or road) and have a taste of my husband's home brew afterwards. I really enjoy the Bay of Plenty lifestyle with the amazing beaches and the Rotorua mountain bike park nearby.
What is still left on your bucket list?
1. Walk one of the great walks in NZ2. Win a track cycling race (have to properly learn to ride the velodrome first though!)
3. Surprise my family back home with a complete "surprise" visit
What’s on your SwipedOn playlist?
I don't have one, but if I would have one, it definitely be a very random mixture of Rammstein, Rachmaninov, Red Hot Chilli Peppers, Phill Collins, Mozarts Requiem and Pink Floyd. Random I know!
If you were stuck on a desert island and you could choose one person from the SwipedOn team to come with you, who would you take and why?
Lou. She is not only one of the most positive people I know, she also loves walking up hills early mornings, and would most likely be able to teach me how to surf (number 4 on my bucket list). I may never want to leave that Island...
Let’s end this with a weird fact about you…
I almost failed my secondary school exams because my English was bad....like really, really bad.... It was a mandatory language though so I had to sit my exam again and only just scraped through the exam (is this proper English?) Never expected it would be my main language one day like it is now!