What do you do as an HR Manager and why do you enjoy it?
I manage and apply local HR processes, such as payroll and social legislation. I make sure EMEA and WEX projects are implemented in an effective and timely manner
in Belgium. The best part of HR has always been working with people. I find exchanging with teammates, management and peers to be a very enriching experience as I get to learn a lot about human nature.
I enjoy the variety and complexity of the projects that I work on. It requires me to try new things, to think outside of the box and to regularly get out of my comfort zone, which is where I learn and grow the most. I’m given the freedom to try new things and give local HR my personal twist, while at the same time being supported by all the programmes and projects that are already in place. I love being part of a larger team and looking for solutions together.
Whether it is locally, in Belgium or globally within EMEA & WEX. I appreciate that my voice is heard, which adds the feeling of purpose.
What does success look like to you?
Personally, success is the ability to learn and grow in a job which is aligned with my personal values and in which I can evolve while being myself. At Insight and professionally, success is our HR initiatives are being implemented and respected locally while also engaging and motivating our Belgian teammates.
Why did you decided to join Insight?
Having had a quite a negative experience at my previous job, I was specifically looking for values when I applied at Insight. After my interviews with Angela, my manager and Marie, our Belgian country manager, it was clear how much they cared for people and that being able to be my authentic self would be preferred and valued.
What do you do for your own personal and professional development?
I attend self-development and yoga retreats and I try to learn new things regularly through reading, podcasts, travelling, writing, etc. I am currently training to become a Jay Shetty Certified Coach.
To try and understand how humans work and why they behave the way they do, I ask a lot of questions to a lot of people. I am very in tune with my “inside voice”, because intuition often has a lot to tell us about what is going on in our internal and external world and is personally a great help for me to navigate life’s challenges.
Describe how it has been working at Insight during the pandemic?
I started in January, had 1 week of induction training near Amsterdam and then spent 9 weeks at the office before we switched to home-working. This was quite challenging, to balance personally adapting but also supporting others while following and ensuring safety guidelines. The pandemic sparked this 2020 motto for me, “Together We Can”.
One of my favourite quotes is, “If you want to go fast go alone if you want to go far, go together”. Insight helped by ensuring we all had the equipment to do the same job from home and HR made sure that we were supported, checked on and taken care of. Locally, we connected even more than we had before, by implementing a lot of different virtual social
initiatives. I have learnt so much in the last 6 months.
What would your advice be to someone looking for a new role?
Whether it’s your first job or the next one you’re looking for, being self-aware is very critical, even if it can be challenging at times. Knowing what you want and what you are ready to achieve are two key elements to finding a job that is right for you. What type of culture are you bringing to the job and are you aware of the one you are going to join?