Martine van der Graaf

What do you do at 1nergiek?

Since 2022, I have been Operations Manager at 1nergiek. A role in which no day is really the same – and that is exactly what I enjoy! I am responsible for our operations, quality, staff, and contract management for our clients.

But to be honest, I always think that sounds a bit boring. In practice, it mainly means that I make sure our cleaning colleagues can do their work well and with pleasure, that our clients are satisfied, and that together we continuously look at how things can be even better.

I like to be involved in what is happening on the shop floor. Not just from behind my laptop, but right among the people. Knowing what is going on, listening, switching gears, solving things, improving, and sometimes just rolling up my sleeves. I like pace, clarity, and above all getting things done together.

How did you end up in this profession?

Actually by accident a bit! When I was 19, I had to do an internship in a hotel and chose housekeeping. My thought at the time? “Easy enough.” Well... I quickly came back from that.

The dynamism, the hard work, the contact with people, and especially the feeling that you create something together every day. That has never let go of me. By now, more than 20 years have passed and I have developed step by step to where I am now.

And even now, what I love about this profession is that you are never done learning. Something is always happening, something can always be better, and behind every door there is another story. That is exactly why I still feel completely at home here.

What gives you energy in your work?

Happy people! Very simple.

I get a tremendous amount of energy when our cleaning colleagues go to work with pleasure and our clients are truly satisfied with what we create together. For me, the best collaboration happens when you are not opposite each other as “client and supplier,” but truly side by side.

I want a client to see 1nergiek as an extension of their own organization. I want our colleagues to feel part of the location where they work and for guests and visitors to notice that attention is being paid to their environment.

And if something does go wrong? That’s fine too. Then I want to know. Precisely by being open, seeking each other out, and sometimes keeping each other on our toes a bit, we become better together. That is what gives me energy.

What is a situation at work that has stayed with you, and why that one in particular?

That we won the employee satisfaction award for the fourth time. I am genuinely incredibly proud of that.

Within our organization, we can think of, plan, improve, and organize all kinds of things, but in the end our colleagues are the heart of 1nergiek. They are the ones who are there every day – and sometimes literally day and night – to make success a reality together.

Then I think it is very special that they are the ones who indicate that they enjoy working at 1nergiek. Because being a good employer, for me, is not just about nice words. It is about paying attention to each other, listening, showing appreciation, offering opportunities, and ensuring a workplace where people can be themselves.

If we can make sure that our colleagues go to work with pleasure and go home at the end of their shift with a good feeling, then we have achieved something very beautiful.

And winning such an award four times? Then we are absolutely allowed to be very proud of that for a moment!