bloom: Amina Vloeberghs
"I love working so much!" You believe it immediately. Amina's expressive eyes and permanent smile emphasize every word she says. Inspiring ladies and IT. It's apparently a natural combination.🤩
The unknown
Curious is an understatement. Amina Vloeberghs enjoys challenging herself. Her choice of study is a prime example. "I came from Latin Math and wanted to study something totally new. I especially enjoy learning things I don't know anything about yet. In KU Leuven's brochure, art sciences caught my eye. Despite the name, that program has little to do with sciences. Rather, it is art history on an academic level and that seemed fascinating to me." She adds, laughing, "It was that, philosophy or kine."
"I did Latin Math in high school and then wanted to study something totally new. Like art studies, philosophy or kine."
And meanwhile, you work in IT. Is "wanting to learn" enough of a prerequisite to start in tech at some point?
"You have to have some aptitude for it, of course, but wanting something is often a first step, yes. Being flexible also helps. Today I notice that even more than before. I combine my job as a consultant with parenthood. Since two years I am the mother of a wonderful son (Amina's smile only gets bigger, nvdr). That is quite a dynamic combo, but if you are flexible, it all works out. You often get back what you give, lol. If you indicate what you can handle and go for it full force, then your employer is probably willing to think with you about the most favorable work formula for you."
"Everything I have learned and done has ultimately led to who I have become."
"Young people need not worry too much about which studies or job they would best choose. Everything I learned and did ultimately led to who I became. Should I start over, I wouldn't do it any differently. "Are you interested in something? Then just try it! You'll find out afterwards if that job fits your life. I found technology and IT intriguing, for example, and I haven't regretted my move there for a minute. In any case, there is plenty of work."(laughs)
Have you never worked in the art world?
"In the beginning I did dream of a job in art, but my first work experience, at an art collector, was not nice at all. Actually, I just didn't have a good connection with my then boss and the corporate culture didn't sit well. This made me realize that the human aspect and the business context are as important to me as the content of the job. It didn't take long before I started applying again. My choice then fell on an administrative position as a buyer for the R&D department of Zoetis, the former veterinary medicine branch of Pfizer."
Another totally different thing.
"I'm someone who likes everything, so it doesn't really matter what work I do. As long as the atmosphere is right! At Zoetis, the total picture was right. It was a really cool job. By the way, they had just implemented SAP software there, which I was not familiar with. The implementation was not optimal, which had a direct impact on the processes of the department I was working for. I quickly discovered that SAP interested me and as key user at that time, I felt responsible for solving 'the difficulties'. In order to do so, I had to first master the package. Afterwards, I then started training other people internally.
At some point everything went back to running smoothly and my job became much more administrative again so I began to get bored. Unfortunately, there was no other position for me at that company. So I started career counseling, where my core qualities were identified: analytical, creative and communicative. According to my career coach, I would make a good event planner. Or SAP consultant, which also turned out to be something for me."
"I quickly discovered that SAP interested me, and as a key user I felt responsible for keeping the processes running optimally."
Imposter syndrome
At the time, there was just a job opening at Flexso that seemed like the perfect match with what Amina was looking for.
And there you went, yet another new challenge!
"I always want to keep learning and the less I know about something, the more enjoyable I find it. That's why I chose IT and consulting. IT in itself is constantly evolving and as a consultant you get to visit many different companies, each with its own context, its own approach and different people. For me, that's ideal."
Does that never scare you, such a radical switch?
"Sometimes I suffer a bit from imposter syndrome. Then I wonder when the day will come that I will fall through. After five years as an IT consultant, with almost nothing but satisfied customers, I gradually dare to think that I can do it. I have the same in my role as a mom. It's such a big responsibility, am I doing it well enough? Fortunately, I manage to convince myself every time that I'm doing okay, but it's still a bit of a struggle. Something to work on."
You are now functional analyst. So you can do that without IT training?
"Helping clients discover what they really want is what I enjoy most about my job."
"Apparently it does, doesn't it? The SAP application I specialize in is Cloud CRM & Marketing. That doesn't require me to be able to write code. What I do a lot of, a bit atypical for an analyst perhaps, is configuring. I analyze the customer's existing processes, find out what any problems are, which standard package can provide a solution for them and whether additional customization is needed. The idea is always to see if you can let the customer enjoy the benefits of existing SAP solutions. Thus, we try to build as few new stand-alone custom solutions as possible since that makes your internal processes less efficient and often more expensive. If I manage to present a solution that meets the customer's needs and is innovative at the same time, that gives me great satisfaction. Helping customers discover what they really want is what I enjoy most about my job. The more I ask questions at the beginning of the process, the better the final solution meets expectations. Overcoming resistance, change management, it all has to do with it."
Balance
Amina is quite proud of her path so far. "I would prefer to just continue doing as I am doing. I find it important to share my knowledge and experience with clients and younger colleagues and also to keep learning myself. Always. I really don't see me ever bowing out! What I do have to watch out for is keeping things somewhat in balance. Besides my work, I really enjoy being creative. If I don't do that, I become unhappy. I recently started evening school at the vocational training program for florists. And I can use all my creativity there. The ideal balance. Although I really like everything and that's my problem. Because of course I also want to put a lot of time into my baby!"
We have come to the end of the conversation with Amina. Her eyes are still smiling.
