In November 2022, I'll have been working at NLO for five years. I started as a system network manager and a year ago I became Supervisor IT management. My work involves managing teams engaged with application management, system management and front office. For each team that I manage, I check what they can do every day. I also make sure that they can do their work well and accurately. I'm the link between the IT teams, the management team and the manager of the IT department.

I'm also involved with the security of the company and writing policy and procedures for that. Security has high priority at NLO. We work with extremely confidential information here. If a client has worked on a drug for twenty years, for example, you don't want the patent to be leaked. It's fun and challenging work. You learn to view IT differently.

Knowledge about patents

I studied ICT at senior secondary vocational education (mbo) level. Following my studies, I spent three and a half years doing my graduate internship. After that, I started my own business. I had my own IT company for three years. Then I decided to look for something else and ended up at NLO.

When I joined NLO, I didn't know much about patents. I'd read something about them in the past, but not in any great depth. So, I didn't know what NLO did. Since coming to NLO, my knowledge has grown. You learn quickly. By talking to colleagues, but also through the NLO Academy.

"At NLO, there's a lot of scope for personal development. Which is how
I've been able to move into the position of Supervisor."

NLO Academy and training opportunities

During my first year, I did the NLO Academy. This is an NLO training that you do with everyone who starts in the same year. It was fun and very educational. You learn more about what NLO does and what it stands for. Also, you get to know your colleagues better and you're all in the same boat.

At NLO, there's a lot of scope for personal development. Which is how I've been able to move into the position of Supervisor. In this role, I focus more on management. I did a course in that: situational management. In addition, I'm now doing a course focused on security. At NLO, you get lots of opportunities to develop and learn new things. Which makes it an attractive working environment.

A warm bath

From the very first day, the IT department was like a warm bath. It's a nice department where everyone knows each other, despite being a large group. You can always ask a colleague if you have a question. Everyone makes time for each other. And we also arrange to meet outside work for drinks and I regularly see former colleagues too.

At NLO, there's no rigid hierarchy. Colleagues are approachable. It doesn't matter whether they're partners or colleagues from your own department. There's no distinction. At NLO, they organise a lot to help us get to know each other and so that we can all work easily together. Drinks parties are organised and next year there's going to be an anniversary trip, for example. These are nice ways of getting to know your colleagues.