{"id":3957,"date":"2025-04-01T07:27:07","date_gmt":"2025-04-01T05:27:07","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/bio.bolster.nl\/?p=3957"},"modified":"2026-09-28T15:50:11","modified_gmt":"2026-09-28T13:50:11","slug":"proud-when-someone-experiences-growth","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/bio.bolster.nl\/en\/proud-when-someone-experiences-growth\/","title":{"rendered":"“Proud when someone experiences growth”"},"content":{"rendered":"
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\u201cI am most proud when I see that someone is experiencing growth\u201d<\/h1>\n

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For years, Maarten Vosselman had no real interest in working at De Bolster \u2013 the family business of his father and older brother \u2013 as a trainee movement scientist. What was he to do with those seeds, when he primarily finds people interesting? Until he starts his PhD research and realizes he misses the practical side of things. And so, he eventually starts working at the organic seed company, in the People & Culture department. A department where he feels completely at home.<\/p>\n <\/div>\n\n

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Doing what makes you happy<\/h2>\n

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That last part, feeling completely at home, is exactly what Maarten, in his role as a People & Culture specialist, also wants for the other employees of De Bolster. When he joins the company in 2014, the first thing he does is speak extensively with every employee. How are things? What are you running into? Where are your development opportunities and wishes? What do you need? Maarten explains: \u201cWe don\u2019t work with performance reviews, but with growth conversations focused on people’s development. That fits our company much better.\u201d<\/p>\n

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There are people who start at De Bolster as seasonal workers and grow into a role they absolutely love. And that is what Maarten strongly believes in: that you should do what makes you happy. \u201cI also challenge colleagues to think about that. I don\u2019t see it as management, but more as coaching. What are someone\u2019s passions and talents, and how can they utilize them within our company? Give them autonomy and ensure they feel competent; that\u2019s what it\u2019s all about. I am most proud when I see someone experiencing growth. When I think: I remember that conversation I had with you, and look where you are now.\u201d<\/p>\n\n <\/div>\n<\/section>\n\n

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More structure, less ad-hoc<\/h2>\n

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In terms of structure, there was also much room for improvement when Maarten started 9 years ago. At that time, there were 15 employees and processes were not yet structured. Knowledge was kept in people\u2019s heads, there were few regular meetings, and many things were handled ad-hoc.<\/p>\n

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Maarten: \u201cI then started structuring things. Think, for example, of the entire life cycle of a new variety: what do we do in each phase, from development to sales, and who is responsible for what? Each department was on its own island, while we all have the same goal: making that one variety successful. We then set up crop teams, and that works very well.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/div>\n\n

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Flourishing teams<\/h2>\n

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De Bolster has since grown into a company with about 60 permanent employees and its main goal is: to let organic agriculture grow and make it future-proof. Various things are needed for that, including teams that flourish. After all, they are the ones doing the work. Those flourishing teams are something Maarten is now focusing on, together with an external coach. \u201cThere must be safety and mutual trust, clear goals, a distinct division of roles, but also room to learn, celebrate successes, and have fun.\u201d<\/p>\n

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Growing<\/h2>\n

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The teams have undergone significant growth. They have more grip on their work and find it easier to discuss difficult topics with each other. Something Maarten applauds: \u201cThese types of developments take time; it takes a while before the energy you put in starts to show results. But if you ultimately achieve this, you also ensure that new talented people will find us. Only then can we continue to grow as a company and further strengthen organic agriculture, making organic vegetables available to everyone. Healthy for growers, consumers, and the planet.”<\/p>\n\n <\/div>\n<\/section>\n\n

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Latest news<\/h2>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n\n
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\u201cI find it absolutely fascinating to watch seeds germinate and eventually grow into beautiful crops\u201d<\/h3>\n <\/div>\n
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\u201cI find it absolutely fascinating to watch seeds germinate and eventually grow into beautiful crops\u201d<\/h3>\n

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\u201cWith organic innovation, we help both organic and conventional growers move forward\u201d<\/h3>\n <\/div>\n
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\u201cWith organic innovation, we help both organic and conventional growers move forward\u201d<\/h3>\n

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\u201cThanks to the heated greenhouse, we can breed and react to the market much faster\u201d<\/h3>\n <\/div>\n
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\u201cThanks to the heated greenhouse, we can breed and react to the market much faster\u201d<\/h3>\n

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\u201cA transition never happens overnight\u201d<\/h3>\n <\/div>\n
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\u201cA transition never happens overnight\u201d<\/h3>\n

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\u201cOrganic growing comes from the heart, not just a business perspective\u201d<\/h3>\n <\/div>\n
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\u201cOrganic growing comes from the heart, not just a business perspective\u201d<\/h3>\n

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\u201cThe great thing about customer service is that in the morning, I don’t yet know what I’ll be doing that day\u201d<\/h3>\n <\/div>\n
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