Ready to turn

A few years ago, after a continuous school career, Göksel earned her high school diploma from Stedelijk Gymnasium Schiedam. As a first-generation student, she then chose to study notarial law at Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam. She is now in the final stages of her studies. She skillfully balances this full-time study with her work, two days a week at our office, as well as with the care she wants to provide for her family, her faith community, and her friends.

The photo shows Jelmer van Beek. Jelmer is the skipper of Team JAJO, which is participating in the 14th edition of The Ocean Race, which recently launched. The Ocean Race is the toughest sailing competition on earth, featuring the very best sailors. A 32,000-nautical-mile (60,000 km) race around the world. In June 2023, the participants will arrive in The Hague, where they will restart on June 15th for the final leg to the finish in Genoa.

We are a small co-sponsor partner of Team JAJO. You can clearly see our logo at the bottom of Jelmer's photo. It's wonderful that, through all weather conditions, night and day – when the crew is sailing together across the rough seas under the most difficult and Spartan conditions – we have our logo prominently displayed on the boat, and in our thoughts, we are clearly so close to our sailing heroes.

We sponsor these heroes because the boat and its crew are a metaphor for our office and our team. Just like with Jelmer on board, we also have to stay on course and work well together here in the office. The skipper can't do without the crew. And the crew can't do without the skipper. The skipper sets the course and is ultimately responsible, but everyone on board knows their tasks and carries them out. And sometimes things get tough, but then we persevere. Because, as Billy Ocean sang: " when the going gets tough, the tough get going ." With the right equipment, the set course, the knowledge and skills, the innovation and problem-solving skills, and the many hours of flying, our dream team is capable of almost superhuman feats.

And now our youngest sailor is leaving us. She's heading for other waters, hoping and expecting to find another crew that will help her reach her full potential. On a different kind of boat. Göksel is ready to turn around. We wish her a safe journey.