Meet A Spreader: Sylvia

Whether it’s job applicants or business clients, customers or the postman – everyone getting to Spreadshirt’s HQ will have to get past Sylvia first. She explains visitors how the t-shirt designer works, wishes everyone a good morning and lends an ear or offers advise when needed. Most importantly without her the candy jar would always be empty. But it keeps brimming with goodies, so her contribution to the energy level of all of our staff is not to be underestimated. But let us start with the beginning: Sylvia is our Facility and Office Manager, and we would like to take this opportunity to send out a big thank you to her. This is why we say THANK YOU, dear Sylvia!

Next to reception, Sylvia’s area of responsibility comprises of administering the car pool and transport fleet, planning of meetings and further organisational support. What is organisational support? Well, she is our contact person for matters such as missing table lamps, broken radiators and dwindling milk supplies. On last year’s T-Shirt Day she was even assigned the task of making arrangements for the sun to shine on the day. Next to providing a sunny disposition, Sylvia always has spare heels and needle and thread for torn hems on the ready. But she is a humble character all the same, because she calls what makes the work much easier a matter of course.

‘A woman who is able to stand her ground is bound to do this in an organised and diplomatic way,’ she says while admitting that she is probably not one of those women. ’There are women who do not find as favourable circumstances to go to work and look after their children. These are what I call strong women.” Spreadshirt make an effort to help reconcile job with family. And Sylvia has both of her feet firmly on the ground, a fact demonstrated when asked on her performance: ‘If I didn’t do what I do, someone else would do it just as well. You know, the wheels don’t stop turning whenever I’m off on a holiday.’

‘But it is important in my job to keep a keen eye out for several things that happen parallel  at the same time. If I were to only look into the air-conditioning that broke down on the second floor, a lot of other things would be neglected.’ And since multi-tasking capabilities tend to be more of a female stronghold, Sylvia feels compelled to comment ‘Men can only ever see to one thing at a time.’

At home she is happy to have her husband’s support. ’He takes care of the classics such as emptying the dishwasher, taking the rubbish out or putting up furniture. These type of things I don’t really like at all.’ And boys stuff such as playing Lego with her sun is something that she says she would have to give to his dad. In such situations she takes a well-deserved break from everything and gathers fresh energy for the next day.

And we are sure that there are heaps of women like Sylvia out there, girls like pearls who organise lots of things and face everyday life with quick-witted commentary and optimism. And we usually only find out how important they are once we start missing them.