Karin Reimerink, Supply Chain Manager, Netherlands © MADE-BY

‘Who can I please with what I do? That is what I tended to ask myself when my last job came to an end. I was working as a consultant for large multinational companies on supply chain-related problems. The work was quite interesting but I increasingly missed the reasons behind why the assignment was necessary.

The turning point in my career was a voluntary work trip to Peru for Share People, which was an ICCO initiative aimed at sharing my professional know-how with companies in developing countries. There the value of my work was evident. So when someone alerted me to this job – “Karin, this is just your cup of tea” - I didn’t think twice.

The great thing is that I am dealing with the complete chain. As soon as a brand joins MADE-BY, I set up a production scan, which involves answering questions like, what are they doing where, and which ecological and social improvements can be made within the present chain? We then draw up a plan of action on the basis of the initial analysis, which in turn is discussed with the Solidaridad people, who then implement it.