A passion for people and strong teams

Nicole Arts

In this interview, Nicole Arts speaks with passion about her diverse role within the Modexpress HR team. As a link between employees, team leaders and management, she helps ensure that the right people are in the right positions so that they can continue to develop throughout their careers.

Read how Nicole works every day to place talent where it can thrive, and why she believes that strong teams are the foundation of sustainable growth, quality and the flexible service that Modexpress customers rely on.

Foto credits: Spiegel

How did you come to join Modexpress and what is your professional background?

I joined Modexpress in September 2023 as part of the HR team. I am responsible for one of our locations in Helmond. Before that, I worked as an independent organisational and HR consultant, as well as a certified confidential counsellor.

In that role, I supported entrepreneurs with growing businesses. I helped identify the challenges they were facing and translated these into practical steps within their organisational structure, from analysis through to implementation. These projects typically lasted between six months and a year.

The work itself was exactly what motivated me, but I missed being part of an organisation. When I came across the HR Advisor vacancy at Modexpress, it immediately felt right from the very first conversation. They were looking not only for an advisor, but also for someone who could coach team leaders. That combination of advising and coaching perfectly matches the way I like to work: thinking ‘outside the box’ while staying firmly grounded in day-to-day practice.

What does a typical working day look like for you?

My role covers the entire HR cycle: attracting, developing and retaining employees. What makes my job so varied is the diversity of conversations and challenges that can arise in a single day.

One moment, I might be speaking with a 17-year-old student about a part-time position; the next, I am interviewing a candidate for an Account Manager role. In between, I coach team leaders in their development or act as a sounding board for management on organisational matters.

Collaboration is a common thread throughout my work, both internally and with external partners such as employment agencies. I make a conscious effort to build proactive relationships with these partners. The core challenge, however, always remains the same: getting the right people into the right roles. That is what drives me.

The logistics sector experiences seasonal fluctuations, and flexibility is essential for fashion brands. How does a strong people strategy support this?

Through careful preparation, planning and close collaboration. During peak periods, we scale up with temporary capacity, but our primary focus is always on strengthening and expanding our permanent team.

Accurate forecasting plays a key role and requires close alignment between customers, colleagues and partners. Without that information, it becomes much more difficult to anticipate future staffing needs. That is why I prefer to invest early by gradually onboarding new employees before peak periods begin, ensuring they are fully trained and ready when demand increases.

At the same time, we have invested in strengthening Modexpress’ visibility as an employer. The launch of our new Careers website page and targeted recruitment campaigns are good examples of this. We are building a strong, committed team with a long-term focus on quality and continuity.

We also maintain a healthy level of flexibility by working with reliable seasonal employees, allowing our permanent colleagues to take their holidays while ensuring our operations continue to run smoothly.

What sets Modexpress apart from other employers in the logistics sector?

Modexpress is a genuine family-and-friends business. You can feel that culture throughout the organisation, I feel very much at home here myself. What really sets Modexpress apart is its mindset: if we want to achieve something, we make it happen. That is not just a slogan; it is a mentality that runs through the business.

I often compare it to a successful football team. Everyone has their own role to play: the striker, the defender, the goalkeeper. My role is to help ensure that people are in the position where they can perform at their best, so that together we can keep raising the bar and achieving more as a team.

What do you find most motivating about working with your colleagues?

The dedication of the people here. They know what they are working towards and are fully committed to achieving it.

I like to understand what is happening across all parts of the organisation, what the implications are and how I can help create connections between departments. I am quite driven in that respect, perhaps sometimes a little too driven. But I naturally prefer to work towards clear goals, because that is ultimately how results are achieved.

‘The best thing about working at Modexpress is…’:

The freedom. As a self-employed professional, I was used to setting my own course, and I did not want to give that up. At Modexpress, I am able to do things in my own way. That comes down to the trust I am given.

‘If I had to describe Modexpress in three words…’

I would actually need four: dynamic, committed, trust and celebrations.

‘My favourite question to be asked is…’:

‘Nicole, do you have a moment to think this through with me?’ Especially when there is a challenge or problem behind it. For me, there is always a solution to be found.

‘Something colleagues and/or customers may not know about me…’

That I come across as tougher than I actually am. Everything I do, I do from the heart.

‘For me, making ambitions happen together means…’

Working together towards a result that we have defined and agreed on in advance.

For me, it is about clarity, trust and ownership. You know what you are working towards together, what everyone’s role is in that process, and how you strengthen each other along the way.

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