"I learn something new every day. That keeps me sharp."

My name is Yara, and since April 2023, I’ve been working at Oliver Healthcare Packaging as a CAPA Coordinator (Corrective and Preventive Action). 

In this role, I oversee improvement processes that follow customer complaints and internal reports. That means switching gears a lot between customers, colleagues in production, engineering, quality, planning… and often all in one day.

From Damascus to Venlo

I’m originally from Syria and have now been living in the Netherlands for seven years. My background is in food technology. I studied at the University of Damascus and later completed my Master’s in Health Food Innovation Management in Maastricht. After working at a logistics food company, I realized I wanted to be more involved in production processes. That’s when I came across Oliver. 

What appealed to me most was the opportunity to contribute directly to quality improvement in a production environment. In my previous job, I missed that depth of the making process. At Oliver, that’s exactly where the focus lies. 

No day is the same

My work is anything but routine. Every day brings new insights, new conversations, new questions. That variety is energizing. I’m currently working on three projects with three different departments while also handling my daily responsibilities, following up on complaints and analyzing structural improvement points. It requires both structure and flexibility, and above all, good communication.

I strongly believe in openness and collaboration. We work with people from many different countries and cultures. That makes it even more important to be clear, to really listen, and to take time to talk things through. That’s how you avoid misunderstandings and truly work together. Include & Empower in action. 

Growing together

What motivates me every day are my colleagues and the learning process. We often walk together outside during breaks, talking about work and life. That human connection matters. It makes it easier to reach out to one another and to speak up. Clear Thinking, to me, also means being able to say what could be improved. 

Over the past year, I’ve seen Oliver really start to grow. We work in a more structured way, there’s better coordination, and we’re taking concrete steps forward. That gives me confidence.

Achieving results

One proud moment for me was right when I started and found a significant backlog of customer complaints. I managed to clear it in a short time. Now, I hold weekly meetings with the production department where we discuss complaints, analyze root causes, and propose improvements together. That connection to the shop floor really makes a difference. 

Outside of work

Outside of work, I like to stay active. I swim regularly at the pool in Venlo, enjoy reading a good book, and often meet up with friends, sometimes for a walk in nature, other times for dinner in the city. 

My favorite place to eat? Izumi, right next to the station. But I like to keep things balanced: my health always comes first. 

Looking ahead 

Oliver is evolving, and that’s a good thing. Since I joined, I’ve seen more structure, more frequent alignment, and real steps toward improvement. People listen more, and colleagues are more involved. That gives me the feeling I can keep growing here, even when the work gets busy. As long as I keep learning and developing myself, I know I’m in the right place.