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Liza Gresse, the ITOer of the year 2008, gives her impressions of the visit
of a few ITOers to the Netherlands during March 2009.
After two weeks of absolute greatness in Europe, I am back in the office facing the
responsibilities of business in all its various forms.
Amsterdam was an indelible and an incredible experience!!! Ton, Marike, Eveline,
Geert, Broer, Nana and all the other Dutchies exceeded my expectations. The
hospitality, fellowship, laughs, stresses and learning curves were amazing and
contributed to my personal growth...and physical growth horizontally, thanks to all
the wonderful suppers.
Our various presentations on Diversity were extremely successful and the team
effort proved once again that "no man is an island" and that the network in motion
is a power to be reckoned with. We truly made it a team effort and I am convinced
that the impact that ITO FOCUS is starting to make in The Netherlands is now being
felt. Ton and his team are driving a strong case and Pierre's great effort and input
into the business case studies and relationship building with the clients is starting to
pay off. I personally enjoyed the international exposure to how things are done and
feel extremely fortunate and grateful to be able to plough this experience back into
my business, and the Network. I am increasingly thankful for the opportunity and
the vote of trust from you all in affording me this great experience by making me the
ITOer of the year.
On the fun side: I laughed until I cried, played cards until nobody wanted to
volunteer anymore, ate until I could no more and feasted my senses on all the
beauty of every single subject that Europe could offer...Bruges, Edam, Broek in
waterland, Antwerpen, Den Haag...and of course Amsterdam...I am hooked on The
Netherlands and find it very hard to adapt to normal South African life again... I
asked for a show in Amsterdam and I got Salvador Dali in Bruges, Vincent v Gogh in
Amsterdam, Benjamin Button, and the Chicago Boomtown Show!!!!!!! Fantastic.
Thanks to all the wonderful people that made this trip possible: The ITO FOCUS
International team, ITO FOCUS Europe team, the Network and my fabulous team at
home that kept all the balls in the air while I was having a DJOL!!!!!
Attached a glimpse of the fun...a small part of an indelible experience!!!!!!
Liza Gresse
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