Deanne de Vries VP Africa Strategic Initiatives, Agility (Kuwait)
Deanne De Vries is a career woman, a traveler and an adventurer. Born and raised in San Jose, California to Dutch parents, she lived as an exchange student in Brussels at 14, worked in Amsterdam for Azko-Nobel upon college graduation in 1984, then in Nairobi, Kenya, for four and half years for the UN - UNCHS (Habitat) - and then ICOC (a non-governmental organization mentoring women on starting and growing their businesses), before moving on to South Africa, to set up programmes for women and volunteer at the first Aids hospice and orphanage in Soweto, Johannesburg.
Upon returning to the United States she joined a venture capital company for three years before moving with them to London for two years. In 2001, she moved to New York to start TheAfricaStore.com with some friends, to sell African artists' creations, art and artefacts. However, when the dot com crash killed her website dream, Deanne completed an MBA at Thunderbird (Arizona - graduating at the top of her class) then she took a job in Iraq in 2003, working in Baghdad and Basra.
After their Iraq programme was shut abruptly and all foreigners were asked to evacuate, Deanne leapt at the opportunity to work in Kuwait for the large logistics company, Agility. Today, Deanne is the VP Africa Strategic Initiatives for Agility and is a keen adventurer for charity.
In between time, Deanne has found time to serve seven years on the Board of the non-profit National Association Women MBAs (NAWMBA) in the United States.
Expat Women's Interview With Deanne
Expat Women: Deanne, you call yourself "blessed". Others call you "lucky". We have a feeling that there was a lot of hard work and determination in between. How much do you proactively 'create' all of your wonderful opportunities and what advice can you offer women wanting some of the fascinating roles that you have had?
Deanne:One of my nicknames at my current job has been "Chief Make It Happen Officer". For me, execution is key. Talking, planning, brainstorming... are all good and necessary to a point - but can you execute to completion?
I am also known for asking questions. My grandfather always said, "The day you stop learning is the day you die" and this applies to how I look at my life and my career. I actively look for opportunities to learn. When I joined Agility, I did not have a logistics background and so I started asking questions about supply chain and trucks and sea freight versus air freight. I found out which colleagues could teach me about how to run a warehouse, who our competitors are, and how you make (or lose) money in the logistics field.
I also strongly believe that whatever we learn, we should (actively) look to pass on to others. I mentor a number of people at work. I am known as the "matchmaker" (and no, it is not the romantic kind!) because people know if they need to find out (such as who the country manager is in xyz country, or information on a customer) I will l either know the answer or make the connection to the person who does.
Key to it all though is integrity. People want to work with and for people who tell the truth, offer professional courtesy, and are credible. Let your "yes" be "yes" and your "no" a "no".
When you are known as someone who has integrity, a great work ethic, executes to completion, is willing to learn, and enjoys laughing, then I believe whenever a door may close, a window is already open.
Expat Women:
Please share with us what your job involves on a day-to-day basis and the role of a logistics company in Kuwait.
Deanne:
I am an early bird so am often in the office by 7am. I try to leave the office at 3:30pm to head to the gym. After dinner I may have a conference call with the US, catch up on reading and/or answer emails on that ubiquitous Blackberry.
My time in the office is never the same two days in a row - meetings, calls, lots of reading keeping up with the latest news in Africa's 53 countries. Currently I have charged myself with becoming an SME in the Oil & Gas industry so I am doing a lot of reading and researching in that arena.
I also spend a lot of time on the road - usually in chunks of 2-3 weeks - where I am meeting with my colleagues, (potential) customers, government officials and partners.
Expat Women: What challenges and/or surprises have you encountered as a professional woman working in the Middle East?
Deanne:
The biggest surprise came when I had an opportunity to travel to Saudi Arabia to speak on "Doing Business in Iraq" at the Saudi Chamber of Commerce and Industry in Riyadh. I was the only woman in the room (maybe in the building!) along with 250 Saudi sheikhs. In the afternoon, I was invited to the American Ambassador's house where his wife had arranged for me to meet Saudi business women - a VP of a bank, the owner of an insurance company, the owner of a beauty salon with her own beauty school and a few others. It was a fascinating discussion, learning about these women's lives, where they studied, how they got into the business world - and it was a discussion a man could never have had with them.
Women across the Middle East are like women everywhere - single, married, families, careers, dreams. They love fashion. They enjoy socializing. They have dreams - for themselves, for their children. Some love politics, others the arts or business or science. They are as curious about the "west" as we are about the "middle east".
I have not found it a hindrance to be a woman. Having worked in many different countries - each with their own unique (business) culture - I have learned to adapt in small ways that win big points. In Africa I loved the traditional style of dressing - the vibrant colors and the fabrics were a lot cooler than "western" wear. When in Saudi, I wore the abaya (black robe) which is the law and I covered my head (which was not necessary, but is a sign of respect). In Kuwait, I dress conservatively - elbows, knees and shoulders always covered.
My secretary in Kuwait was often saying, "we like how you dress". So one day I asked her, "don't you mean 'I' like how you dress?". "No," she replied, "we all watch what you wear. You are the first western lady we have here and we like to see how you dress." Seems when I walked in every morning the receptionist would put out a bulletin about what I was wearing! It was eye opening to me - but also a compliment - that even in the way we dress can be a role model.
Expat Women: What is your most memorable moment in your life-well-lived?
Deanne:
It is nigh impossible to choose one. But if you make me, then I would have to say it is walking down my hallway. Sounds crazy - right?! My hallway is five meters long and lined on both sides with literally over a hundred photographs that portray the friends and experiences I have had in my life. I call it my gratitude wall.
Expat Women:
Last October you joined some fellow adventurers for the Gulf for Good Everest Base Camp Challenge, to raise funds for charity. You have also run marathons in Alaska and participated in HIV and literacy causes in Africa. Which charity challenges been the most difficult (and why)? What will your next charity adventure be?
Deanne:
I thought the marathon was the hardest thing I had ever done until I climbed to the Everest Base Camp! Exhilarating. Exhausting. And so very worthwhile. I have not decided on a next one yet - but I would like it to be in and for Africa.
ExpatWomen:
Finally, your mother always said "There are two things we should give our children: one is roots; the other is wings." You have certainly showed your wings, but do you feel you have roots anywhere?
Deanne: My roots are my faith - those core beliefs that ground me, guide me and grow with me. Physically speaking, yes, I have moved around a lot! One thing I do is wherever I land, I quickly make it a home - pictures, plants, some comfy chairs, tribal artefacts from previous travels on the walls and a full selection of coffees and teas. And that goes for my home and my office (maybe minus the comfy chairs in the office - smile).
Expat Women: Deanne, thank you very much for sharing your advice and experiences. Your journey is truly an inspiration and we hope your adventures never stop.
