Lianne Houben is the Ambassador of the Kingdom of the Netherlands to Burundi – a country rated in international reports as one of the poorest in the world. ‘In this job, it’s often not the technical details that are crucial, but the way you shape your role in this complex environment,’ Lianne explains. ‘I discuss this with my ‘work buddy’ Jolke Oppewal, the former Dutch ambassador to Burundi. I find his experience and advice really practical and relevant. And above all, it’s beneficial for my professional and personal growth.’
Image: © Lianne Houben
Lianne Houben (left from the middle) and her colleagues of the Dutch embassy in Burundi
Buddy
Lianne has been working for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs since 2007. When she heard that she would be appointed ambassador to Burundi, she took the initiative to find a work buddy who could be her sparring partner – someone who she could share experiences with and learn from. Lianne also feels it’s important to actively reflect on her work and to make choices accordingly.
Informal
Lianne considered the list of available buddies for new ambassadors that she had received from the Human Resources Department (HDPO). She also looked beyond that list and eventually contacted Jolke Oppewal. Lianne had once met him when he was working in Rwanda, and was very impressed.
Jolke worked in Burundi from 2013 to 2016 and has a great deal of experience as an ambassador in African countries. When he started as Lianne’s work buddy, they agreed that she would take the initiative and contact him whenever she felt it necessary – a relaxed and informal approach. ‘I just send Jolke a message, and then we talk on the phone. Or if I’m in the Netherlands, we arrange to meet over coffee or lunch,’ Lianne explains.
Complex environment
‘As the ambassador, I feel part of the team at my own embassy,’ Lianne adds. ‘But at the same time, I have final responsibility and sometimes have to make difficult decisions. That can feel rather lonely. Of course, I often confer with my deputy, but in some cases it’s also good to talk to a fellow ambassador elsewhere – someone who can view the situation with a fresh pair of eyes but at the same time understands what goes on at an embassy and what you can be up against as an ambassador.
‘At times like these,’ Lianne continues, ‘I find it really valuable to be able to share ideas with a buddy like Jolke and to learn from his experience. Knowledge of what’s been done in the past also means that I don’t repeat things that didn’t work before. I find it very constructive. And for Jolke it’s nice to be involved with a part of the world where he worked for so long.’
Addition
Lianne finds that her conversations with Jolke are a valuable addition to the BZ leadership training sessions. This partly has to do with the specific context of Burundi and the enormous challenges facing its population, such as poverty, scarcity of farmland, and ethnic and political tensions. Many people have experienced trauma.
Exchanging experiences
‘I find it really easy to share my thoughts with Jolke,’ Lianne continues. ‘He understands the job of ambassador, the local population and region, and he has experience in French-speaking Africa. He also knows the ins and outs of interpersonal relationships and the context of the country. You can’t learn these relational aspects of the job from a book,’ Lianne believes. ‘But they are crucial to functioning effectively in a country like Burundi. That’s why he’s such a useful buddy – he was once in my shoes.’
Valuable
Lianne is convinced that having a work buddy is worthwhile not only for new ambassadors but for all BZ staff embarking on a new role. She recommends considering it if you’re moving to a new job. As an accessible, approachable sparring partner, a buddy helps you to adopt a broader view, acquire new perspectives and discover your own blind spots.