Marion Notkamp: 25 years at Anthura

What is your role at Anthura and what are your main responsibilities?

I started at Anthura on August 1, 2001, as Head of Production. Today, I am the Laboratory Manager of the initiation laboratory in the Netherlands and, internationally, I hold the position of Chain Manager Global Lab Production.

As Laboratory Manager, I am responsible for everything needed to ensure that the laboratory in the Netherlands operates smoothly. This ranges from day-to-day operational matters to technical challenges. Improvement projects related to plant quality and process optimization are also an important part of my role.

Internationally, I focus primarily on aligning processes within the production laboratories in China and North Macedonia, as well as resolving issues that arise between the laboratories and the greenhouse operations.

In my free time, I mainly enjoy peace and open spaces. During weekends, I love cooking and baking cakes. I also enjoy long walks, both at home and abroad, but preferably somewhere warm, with mountains and views of the sea.

What did your career path look like, and how did you end up where you are today?

When I think of a career path, I imagine a clearly mapped-out route that someone intentionally follows. That was never really the case for me. If I were to describe my career path, it would be a series of connected choices in which I always prioritized enjoyment in my work and a sense of challenge.

My choice of study, Applied Laboratory Science (HLO) in Wageningen, was based on my interest in biology. If biology appeals to you, Wageningen is an obvious place to go. After graduating, I started working at a plant biotechnology company in Leiden. After five years, I was ready for a new challenge and joined Anthura.

Since then, every step in my career has developed very naturally. Anthura grew, and I grew along with it. With each opportunity, I asked myself: do I want this, and does it suit my abilities? Of course, those questions were not mine alone to answer. Anthura also had to agree. Fortunately, we have always come to the same conclusion.

How did I end up where I am today? That is a difficult question. Looking back, I would say it is mainly the result of commitment and taking my work seriously.

What advice would you give someone who aspires to a similar career path?

Most importantly, stay true to yourself. Do what feels right and what gives you energy. There will always be days, and perhaps even periods, when you invest more energy than you receive in return. However, in the long term, the balance should be at least neutral and ideally positive. Work should give you energy.

If that is not the case, start a conversation with your manager or HR. There are often more possibilities than you might think. If no suitable solution can be found, do not be afraid to look beyond your current employer. Ultimately, you perform best in an environment you enjoy being part of.

My advice is simple: stay close to who you are. Do not focus solely on what seems logical within a predetermined career path. Instead, pay attention to what energizes you. That is where you will find the greatest success and satisfaction. Work is part of life, and life should be something to celebrate.

What does a typical workday look like for you?

There really is no such thing as a typical workday. My days are a constant balance of operational questions, meetings, improvement projects, and strategic topics. At the moment, the renovation of our location is also demanding attention. Every day is different in the details.

The common thread throughout it all is connecting people, processes, and departments. Some days are filled with meetings, while others focus on developing strategic plans or explaining processes and systems.

Are there aspects of your work that colleagues may not realize are important?

What people may not always see is how much time goes into connecting people and processes. A significant part of my work involves looking ahead, identifying risks, and ensuring that departments collaborate effectively.

For our laboratories within Anthura to be successful, it is important that we understand what is happening in the departments before us, such as Breeding, as well as in the departments after us, such as the greenhouse teams.

Only when you understand each other’s challenges and priorities can you collaborate optimally. Because Anthura is an international company, we also work across different cultures, languages, and communication styles. That makes the work interesting, but it also means that alignment sometimes requires more time than people may realize. When collaboration runs smoothly, nobody notices it. And that is actually a good sign, because it means everyone can focus on their own responsibilities.

Which moment or achievement in your career are you most proud of?

There is more than one, but if I had to choose, it would be the period during which Anthura brought a large part of its Anthurium and Phalaenopsis laboratory production in-house.
Many colleagues from different departments worked incredibly hard to make that happen. It is a success that belongs to everyone who worked at Anthura at the time and to those who are still part of the company today. Achievements like that require a great deal of collaboration, trust, and perseverance.

What lessons did you take away from that experience?

I learned that forward thinking and collaboration are extremely important. By involving colleagues at an early stage and taking different perspectives into account, you often arrive at better solutions and create greater support for change.

What do you enjoy most about working at Anthura?

The variety, the dynamics, and the collaboration with colleagues from the Netherlands and abroad. There is always movement within the organization and therefore always something new to learn.
In addition, we have a great team. Not only within the laboratory, but throughout Anthura as a whole. Fun and enjoyable activities are regularly organized, both inside and outside of work.
Have you ever attended an Anthura party? It is definitely something to look forward to! In fact, when I think about this question, I find myself wondering: what is not enjoyable about working at Anthura?

What could colleagues wake you up for?

Only for something that genuinely cannot wait until the next morning. Think of a special natural phenomenon such as a meteor shower, the Northern Lights, or a lunar eclipse.

Apart from that, someone may wake me up if they are truly stuck and I can genuinely help solve the problem at that specific moment. But let me be honest: there are limits. A good night’s sleep has a very positive effect on my overall mood. So for all other matters, it is probably best to let me sleep. Send me a message, and after a good night’s rest, I will be happy to take a look.