This week we speak with Merlin Melles, founder and CEO of fCN; Founders Carbon Network. The network queen is a wheelbarrow and connector for many, because as a top entrepreneur and member of her network, do you need anything? Merlin knows what to do. But who did the social guru himself need to become the spider in the business web? Text: Mical Joseph
Image: Founders Carbon Network (fCN)

What was your very first job?

“As a teenager I worked with friends at the Giraudi ice cream parlor in Zandvoort. I had the time of my life and I will never forget that when I had to go to the toilet, I had to throw a quarter in the door like the tourist. When I was a little older, I went to America with an entrepreneur who had to go to the trade fairs there for a technical product. There I came into contact with networking because I visited many different places. It was a good way to build a business.”

How did you end up in your current job?

“At 23^e I met my husband. Together we have merged not only privately, but also commercially. As a result, we used to grow our business quickly and my husband and I still know what we have in common. During my career I have had several companies and for the past eight years I have focused on fCN. This business club, which has offices on all continents, has a maximum of 500 members, consisting of CEOs, founders and entrepreneurs. I also focus on Pearlcard. The service where everything is possible in the broadest sense of the word.”

Who was your wheelbarrow in that?

“I come from an erudite family where both parents were teachers and had a lot of knowledge. Because of their knowledge and education, I also enjoyed this and developed a broad interest. My father and mother played a large part in this. So does my husband. Together we have strengthened each other in our careers.

My daughter Lynndell has a hostess agency 'Melles People' and has customers such as Het Concertgebouw and the Johan Cruijf ArenA. These companies were not in my pool, so my daughter indicated that I should talk to them. I think that's a nice twist: that my children are sometimes wheelbarrows for me. The children are extremely involved in the company and my eldest son Russell is part of its development Managers Carbon Network (MCN). Our youngest son Denzell has just graduated in Economics & Management and lives in London, but is certainly also involved in the structure of business. We are a real family business.”

What is your greatest passion in your profession?

“What I do this work for is really connecting people. This makes me very happy, which is why I am always full of energy at the end of the day! I have about nine meetings a day with the most diverse and special people. That is amazing."

What has been your biggest learning moment in your career?

“I had breast cancer four years ago, fortunately it ended well and I was cured. I was there on time, partly due to my own healthcare service, because I could quickly go for the mammography. Previously, I was sometimes asked whether this moment made me look at life differently. My answer is no. I have a very organic approach to life and often all events are connected. I didn't have a learning moment, because everything happens for a reason and you have continuously learnings. "

What advice would you give to your 18 year old self?

Number 1 for many people is that in the past they had not cared much about what people thought of them. I haven't experienced that to be honest. I never pretended to be anything different and was always very much myself. However, through fCN I have learned that it always takes a while before you get to know someone and that you cannot judge a person based on the outside.”

Have you been a wheelbarrow for someone?

“I quickly see connections among my fCN members that others only make the connection afterwards. This allows me to help and connect people and results in such fun and surprising things. I have essentially not been a wheelbarrow for my children. People expect that, but my children have done a lot on their own. I was even told in the past: you always do everything for your members, but you do nothing for us. Maybe I've been too strict about that, so two years ago I loosened up about it. We recently started with MCN. There was a huge demand for this, because a manager is just below the level of the founder and the director, is not invited to everything, but he or she has to communicate quickly with the decision makers. This is a paradise for managers, self-employed people and entrepreneurs who are more comfortable with that business level. We also have events for MCN and personal connections are of paramount importance. I also hope to connect this network.”