What's our vibe?

How did you guys end up at Roboest?

Viccari Verelst: “In fact, we started out at RoboRana as interns. Tuur and I didn’t meet before, but we were in the same university programme: business administration, and a master's in management and IT. When we heard Ruben (Vermaercke, then RoboRana, now Caudata) deliver an inspiring guest lecture, we were both extremely interested to intern at RoboRana.”

Tuur Craeynest: “And so our story began, as interns, discovering Power Platform. When our internships were over, we both signed a contract at RoboRana. Once Lorenz – who'd been our primary contact, by the way – started building Roboest, it was only natural we’d follow suit.”

“Despite sharing the same degrees and job title (Power Platform Engineer), Viccari and I pursue different roles in this context. My focus lies on project management and value delivery, while Viccari specializes in technical facets of the Microsoft ecosystem.”  

Viccari: “It was really great that we could indicate our preferences and that they were taken into account. Like Tuur says, he’s more involved in analyses and such, while I’ve asked from the start if I could delve into development and Azure and more of those technicalities.”

Looking back, are you still glad you chose Roboest?

Tuur: “Absolutely. We witnessed its growth and were able to pitch in with ideas.”

Viccari: “Yes, we truly had a say, were asked our opinions, were involved in trying and testing things ... It gave us a sense of belonging and added value.”

Tuur: “It connects with the big picture that Roboest continually promotes, which is ownership. It’s clear that Nele and Lorenz are offering us a lot of ways to take the wheel.”

Viccari: “(Nods) For instance, we get time ‘off’ for things that we like to do for Roboest. There’s a team that takes care of our marketing, there’s an event team, some people make sure there are knowledge sharing sessions, and so on. Every team gets to decide what they want to do and how they want to do it. That’s immense freedom.”

Tuur: “The nice thing about that is that it’s not a must; you only participate in things you actually want to participate in. And it helps that we get the time to make it happen, it’s not something we need to do after work or during lunchtime.”

Viccari: “Even though I’m usually detached fulltime at a client, they still make sure I get some time for those things too. I can’t imagine that’s always easy.”

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Back to the word ‘ownership’. How does it manifest at Roboest?

Viccari: “It’s such an obvious thing here that it’s genuinely tricky to pinpoint. To put it in Lorenz’s words: “If you want it, do/take it.” Admittedly, easier said than done sometimes. Here at Roboest, it’s the simple truth. Whatever you want to try or do, chances are slim you’ll get a ‘no’. That’s something you then take ownership over, I suppose. If possible or necessary, you create a team and lead it.”

Tuur: “Nele and Lorenz are very aware of our strengths and they’re good at pointing them out to us to explore. And they’re so available and approachable. That definitely helps us to build confidence and a strong bond.”

“We’re allowed flexibility in almost everything. If you have a dental appointment or need to start your day sooner or later; that’s okay. Have an ‘off day’? No worries. As long as we get our jobs done and stay connected to the team, it’s all fine. That's something I appreciate immensely. It keeps us assertive and independent and gives us a lot of breathing room.”

Viccari: “Same goes for the job. If a project wouldn’t suit me, I’d feel perfectly safe to say so and I’m 100% sure they’d find me a new one that suits me better.”

Do you feel supported by Nele and Lorenz?

Tuur: “Nele and Lorenz understand that facilitating growth effectively requires a personal approach. When something's on my mind, for example, I typically reach out for a chat. Meanwhile, others prefer scheduled catchups. Together, they find a way to stay in touch.”

Viccari: “It’s funny that it felt so weird in the beginning, when they proactively called ‘just to check in’. For me, being detached, it helps to still feel very much part of Roboest. When I compare myself to other consultants from different companies, I consider myself quite lucky. I’m not isolated, on the contrary.”

“They also offer lots of training opportunities. I ran out of my amount of training days pretty fast last year, but it didn’t matter to them. I was still allowed and encouraged to do some more. When I said that I wanted to learn more about a specific topic but couldn’t find the right courses yet, they helped me find them.”

Tuur: “At times, I struggle finding relevant trainings because I have no idea where to start. Fortunately, Nele and Lorenz are aware of my interests and actively keep an eye out for courses that align with my personal growth. That’s how I got into the leadership programme of OECO Academy, and it was so much fun and so instructive! I’m grateful for the opportunity.”  

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What about wellbeing at Roboest?

Viccari: “Like we said, there are many moments where Nele and Lorenz check in to see how we’re doing. Even before we start a project. They first make sure that we’ll fit that company’s culture, that we’ll like it there, and so on. I’ve never had issues before but I’m completely confident that I’ll always be able to talk about it.”

Tuur: “Nele and Lorenz pay incredible attention to everyone's work-life balance. Moving house? They know and take into account that you might be very tired. Getting married? They are there to congratulate you and ask how the preparations are going. Things like that seem to be top of mind with them. Pretty impressive.”

Viccari: “I remember Nele accidentally mailing us at night and then apologising profusely to everyone because she didn’t want to interfere with our personal lives or put unnecessary pressure on us. Such things really do adorn her, I think.”

Anything else about Roboest that you'd like to share?

Tuur: “As a matter of fact, we’re also still part of RoboRana and I think it’s awesome that we’re still so connected through short-ski trips and such. The entire bunch is a happy one and I feel lucky to be a part of it.”

Viccari: “Right! And remember those things we do aside from work? I’m actually in a sort of ‘task force’ at RoboRana, called the Security Champion programme (an initiative from OECO Groep). We try to enhance the security and awareness of each entity of RoboRana Group, and I’m the delegate, so to speak, of Roboest. It’s a cool way for me to keep that extra link with RoboRana.” ‍

Tuur: “(Looks at Viccari) I honestly don’t know where I’d rather want to work. I love it here.”

Viccari: “(Nods) Me too. I’m not leaving anytime soon.”

Tuur: “If anyone is still wondering whether or not to apply; just come and talk to Nele and Lorenz. You’ll soon see what we mean. They’re amazing at explaining our culture and all about the team.”

Viccari: “Yes, or come join us on a Thursday! It’s the best way to get a sense of who we are and if/how you’d fit in.”

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