Our René is a familiar face to many. Afgelopen februari he had already been working at Seven Stars for 9 years. And if you're talking about impressive growth paths… here's one, you know. From Junior Account Manager to Business Unit Manager Northern Netherlands. A role he has held since 1 november 2023. Time, then, to catch up with him about his growth path, this switch and his vision of his role. Will you read along?
A New Star is Born.
"I started my career folding payslips at 15and "René begins his story. With a smile he looks back on his modest start in employment mediation. After having gained experience as a Junior Account Manager, he ended up at Seven Stars nine years ago. How did he end up with us? “Sheelagh (now Business Unit Manager Public) worked about 9 years ago as an IT Recruiter at Seven Stars. She also handled corporate recruitment there at the time and approached me via LinkedIn because they were still looking for a new IT Account Manager at Seven Stars. I came by for an interview and there was an immediate click. The rest is history.”
"I came by for a conversation and we hit it off right away. The rest is history."
And so René began his growth path at Seven Stars. From Junior to Senior Account Manager and eventually to Sales Manager. It was for him a journey of continuous learning and growing." The beauty of Seven Stars is that you get the chance to grow further. Sometimes you have to be patient for a while, but after that beautiful opportunities arise," he reflects. This philosophy of patience and perseverance has brought René to where he stands now. To his new role as Business Unit Manager Northern Netherlands. And we want to know more about that.
"It was a natural step in my growth path within Seven Stars."
The switch to Business Unit Manager.
When the position of Business Unit Manager became available, René immediately knew it was a great opportunity for him. "It was a natural step in my growth path within Seven Stars," he explains. "What attracted me was the opportunity to create more cross-team collaboration and to be part of the management team. There I can contribute to the vision and strategy of the organization." The transition from Sales Manager to Business Unit Manager brought new challenges. "I was responsible for the commercial side, but now also for the team and for breaking down barriers within teams." For René, his new role means not only a shift in responsibilities, but also a chance to take the organization and his team to a higher level.
"We trust each other and can rely on one another. A perfect foundation for a high-performance team, that's what I want to work towards."
IT’s a close team.
"A day as a Business Unit Manager is dynamic and varied," says René. He emphasizes the importance of trust and empowering his team members. "A self-managing team is the most capable," he firmly believes. Team North, René's team, is close-knit, both professionally and personally. "We are not only colleagues, but also friends." This dynamic contributes to strong collaboration within the team, something René finds indispensable for success. "Outside work we do a lot of (sporty) fun things together. For example, we've been on ski trips together twice, we regularly work out together during lunch breaks, take part in the 4 Miles of Groningen, obstacle runs, or play a game of padel. But also going out for a nice meal together or playing games is something we often plan." The great thing is that because of this dynamic, collaborating just happens naturally, that's no longer a question. We trust each other and can rely on one another. "A perfect foundation for a high-performance team; that's what I want to work toward," he says.
Unfortunately vs Manager.
Although René does not see himself as someone driven by ambition, he steps up when leadership is needed. "I am more a leader than a manager. I want to achieve successes together with the team," he says. He continuously develops his leadership qualities, partly through business coaching and learning from experienced colleagues. “Through Seven Stars I get the opportunity to see a Business Coach monthly. But I was also able to turn to my colleague Sheelagh, who is now Business Unit Manager Public, a lot in the beginning. “Very valuable, René says.”
I am more of a leader than a manager. I want to achieve successes together with the team."
René’s vision of the future.
Effective collaboration within Seven Stars is, for René, the key to success. He is committed to promoting collaborations with other teams. “Supporting each other, helping and learning from each other. Becoming smarter. That way we can achieve our goals together,” he says. For the future he sees opportunities in further expanding the private sector. “Ensuring there is more balance there. In recent years we have mostly been active in the public sector. The ambition is to build this out with the private sector. A challenge, but I mainly see it as a great opportunity for my team and organization.”
To those who aspire to a leadership role within Seven Stars, René has one more valuable tip: "Keep growing, be patient, and seize the opportunities when they come."
