Influencer Farleyna Laclé
Interview November 2023
“AFTER ALL MY PROFESSIONAL ACCOMPLISHMENTS AND TRAVELS, STILL MY GREATEST PRIDE IS BEING A MOTHER”
I know we all want to come home and find a table set, a warm hug to say it’s okay even if you did not miss the mark. Farleyna Laclé spoke candidly about her trials and why we have to appreciate everything we get towards a solid future for ourselves and our children.
By Angelica Parris
Could you share with us some information about your family life?
I was born and raised in Rotterdam. I grew up in a multicultural environment, living with my mother and my grandmother. My mother and grandmother were always motivating me to do activities in my childhood and created a creatively filled childhood for me. We moved to Curaçao when I was 15, which solidified my connection to Curaçao. I’m very grateful for my move to Curaçao because I connected with my heritage and my family, and eventually made lifelong friends. I have a big family on my mother’s side and on my father’s side. So being able to spend time with them and experience the Caribbean warmth and love has been such a blessing. I’m currently in a loving relationship and am the mother of the coolest 3-year-old princes.
Could you share something about your educational background and your experience?
After graduating from PSC when I was 17; I moved to Amsterdam and studied Business Economics as a bachelor’s and Marketing Economics as my Master.
You are now a Commercial Director who lives in Holland but recently also got involved with local clients. Why did you study Business Economics?
I studied economics for lack of a better choice, to be honest. But fell in love with Marketing because of its dynamic and creative nature. It combines fields that I’m interested in economics, Psychology, and Innovation. Once I chose to specialize in marketing, my passion for my education and eventually my career started.
What is your BIG WHY or driving motivation to be who you are right now? And why is it that you want to find ways and means to contribute?
A huge contributing factor to who I am is shaped by the women who raised me. I grew up among strong women who had a beautiful aspect of selflessness. Both my mother and grandmother were adamant about helping the community and making an impact in their circle of influence.
It was inspiring to see them go above and beyond. They didn’t explicitly explain to me that you should help your neighbor, but it was imprinted on me. It’s always bigger than just yourself.
What are your plans for the coming years for the coming 5 years from now?
In the upcoming years, I will be focused on positioning and scaling the company I currently work for. It is an exciting task with a challenging roadmap. Next to this, in the next few years, I’ll aim to host business sessions, investment courses, and other knowledge hubs to help BoB’s succeed.
What are the challenges that you are dealing with? And how are you dealing with these different challenges you confront?
I work in an industry that is quite cutthroat and can be cold (corporate business management), and the main challenge is to keep the company’s goals in mind without crushing employees. I’ve seen many (and have worked for) toxic managers and have seen how they can break their team’s spirit. It’s important to me to keep the work culture positive and foster growth for my team – which is a challenge at times. I used to deal with it by staying close to reality and speaking up quite a lot to upper management. Now that I am upper management I hold myself responsible.
Do you use your inner voice to evaluate when dilemmas show up? How does that work for you?
Yes definitely. I use my inner voice to correct myself and distinguish my perception from the situation. It’s helpful, the mind is very powerful. So it’s important to nurture it well.
How are you trying also to keep up with your knowledge and skill levels?
I keep up by reading up on the latest marketing innovations, business news, and social trends. Marketing is ever-evolving and innovative, so I keep myself familiarized with the latest developments. Especially with the shift towards Web 3.0 and AI. Next to that, I am always eager to learn and engage. My mom always says “anyone and any situation can teach you something”.
Pictures©: Digital Marketing Campaigns lead by Farleyna Laclé
What are your strengths?
I excel under pressure and with challenging deadlines. I recently discovered that one of my strengths is my ‘accessibility’ (In Dutch: ‘toegankelijkheid’) which makes it easier for me to connect with people at a faster rate. My strength is also in my constant curiosity.
A fun fact about me, I’m most productive at night between 1 and 4 AM. Which is completely impractical in work life, but for important presentations I do prep in the night.
Do you have hobbies or interests that you are also passionate about?
Traveling is my biggest hobby, I’d travel every other month if I had the choice. Other than that, I enjoy activities that show artistic and creative expression, and photography has been a big passion of mine.
If you Farleyna meet a stranger on the bus (let’s say in New York or Medellin Colombia) and they would ask you to introduce yourself, what would you answer?
I’d probably say a Dutch Caribbean living in Amsterdam with a Chilean spouse and daughter. This will open the conversation to talking about culture. I love to discuss cultural differences and similarities with strangers.
How would you describe Farleyna in one word or one sentence?
Ambitious, resilient, and grateful.
Who are the persons that have inspired you the most in your career?
When it comes to my work ethic and way of approaching life, my mother has inspired me a lot. She’s the kind of person who will go above and beyond when she’s passionate about a project. For example, as a teacher, she would leave our house early in the morning and pick up the children from their houses to make sure they all made it to school to get their education.
And my marketing professor, Wouter de Vries. It was in one of his lectures at the Vrije Universiteit van Amsterdam that I cultivated a love for Marketing. The passion he had for his lectures and his motivation to always think outside the box, shaped the way I look at my professional opportunities.
My friends: I’ve been blessed with an incredibly diverse friend group of strong women. They’re all very different and work in different industries, but they have one thing in common: a strong character with good morals and ethics.
Picture property of ZENGGI
What is a trait that is still a work in progress?
Detaching and turning work off. I am currently doing this by leaving the country and going on holiday. But I’d like to be able to detach day to day.
What was a defining moment in your life?
I have many, but living in Thailand was one of them. I went to Bangkok when I was 22-23, and it’s only now that I’m older that the teachings, sayings, and lessons the Buddhist nuns taught me are resonating. That trip also cultivated my love for travel and other cultures.
And, in recent years, becoming a mother. By far the most special and rewarding moment in my life. All aspects of my life actually flourished, when I became a mom because of the energy I get from her and the love I have for my daughter.
What would you want your Loved Ones, family, friends, and others to say about you let’s say 20 years from now?
I would like it if they think of me as a loving person who was constantly trying to be/do better. And that they’re proud of me.
What makes you stay optimistic about the future of the world?
I’m generally an optimistic person, but this generation is normalizing talking about emotions and healing from trauma. It’s inspiring to see this upcoming generation stand up for what’s right and also learn to prioritize mental health.
Is there anything else that you would like to add?
If there is any takeaway from this interview, it’s to protect your mind. As with a healthy diet, make sure that you consume positive and nurturing content (family, friends, social media) and protect yourself from toxicity.
And a tip that I wish someone had told me sooner – ‘Do it scared’. If you’re afraid to try something new or take the leap, do it anyway and do it scared. ‘Not being scared’ is not the goal; doing it despite being scared is. There is glory on the other side of your limiting fear.
More info or connect
info@laclemarketingservices.com
https://www.linkedin.com/in/farleyna-l-58b56667/
https://ofafricamag.com/african-dutchmen/
One of the 250 Influencers
Farleyna Laclé an ambitious, resilient, grateful, entrepreneurial, skilled, and knowledgeable professional who is now a a Commercial Director at a reputable Fashion Company.
Raised in a multi-cultural environment in Holland and Curaçao has primed her and given her an edge in her professional life. Handling the challenges of combining her family life on the one hand, she is a mother of one in a loving relationship, on the other hand, she is performing as a professional in a corporate, very competitive environment. Her accessibility to her employees and her commitment to staying connected with a diverse group of strong women highlight her interpersonal skills and values. This incredibly diverse friend group of strong women, all working in different industries. She has always followed her gut and because of her discipline and resilience, she has overcome all the obstacles on her way to her very diverse and successful career. Getting to the top is a challenge, and staying at the top is another big challenge, but she is also contributing to the community at large by mentoring and coaching others to succeed, a trait instilled in her through her upbringing by her mother and grandmother. That is why we consider her one of the 250 influencers of the island, as she is a role model for youngsters with entrepreneurial ambitions who want to follow their path, representing the “Business sector”. Look at the list of the Influencers we have interviewed or reported on, up to now.