How is ... doing these days?
Wouter Bruggers
Wouter Bruggers joined Turner in 2006 at the age of 27, and after more than seven years of “learning and having fun,” he left Turner—and the “ ” consultancy. Today, he is Head of Site Supervision at Nedcon. How does he look back on his time at Turner? What exactly does he do now? And what lessons does he take with him from his time at Turner?
How would you describe your time at Turner?
“Exciting, challenging. I learned a lot. I started out with little work experience, but very quickly became responsible for bringing people on board and managing (part of) the project. Because we worked in small groups, I couldn’t just rely on someone else. I threw myself into it right away. That really shaped me. Plus, I worked at Turner between the ages of28 and35—a time when a lot happens in your life. I look back on a wonderful, inspiring, and valuable time with fond memories of the people, projects, and adventures.”
How do you feel about your coworkers?
“The Turners were all very enthusiastic and driven, but also very different. It was nice that we could talk easily, adapt quickly, and that we were genuinely interested in each other and each other’s situations. All of these were Success Factors in our ability to work well together. We’d see each other outside of work for drinks or at birthday parties. It went beyond just collaborating on projects, and that created a warm sense of connection.”
What was the reason for leaving Turner after all?
“I always wanted to continue working with the clients I was helping. I didn’t like the idea of leaving again, so my projects tended to be relatively long-term. At some point, I just wanted to stay with one company. So after Turner, I actually joined a company full-time. I worked there for two years, and then NEDCON came along. I’ve been working there for five years now.”
What are you doing now?
“NEDCON designs, manufactures, and installs fully automated warehouse systems all over the world. Think of large sports arenas housing 25-meter-high steel racks. Our clients are major logistics service providers and e-commerce companies. We are part of the steel giant Voestalpine. I’m responsible for an international team of 27 Site Managers representing nine nationalities. For each project, a Site Manager travels to the site and organizes the construction there with a team of 10–50 subcontractors and equipment. I have to ensure that the right person is in the right place and that the paperwork for such an international project is in order. And, of course, I also continuously implement internal improvements. Everything that’s sold, technically developed, produced, and conceived comes together during installation. We resolve any issues at the end and try to prevent them from happening next time. My key question is: “How do we ensure that the next project is even better?”
"At Turner, it went beyond just working together on projects; that gave me a warm feeling."
Wouter Bruggers, a Turner alumnus
Do you still use the skills you learned during your time at Turner?
“Absolutely. At every meeting and discussion, I draw on the many soft skills training sessions we’ve received and conducted at Turner. Twice a year, I fly all the Site Managers to the Netherlands for team-building and meetings. They’re always well-prepared with red and blue elements. In my first year, I asked my team of 17 people to line up from the longest-tenured to the shortest-tenured at NEDCON. The person who’d been with the company the longest asked the person next to him, ‘When did you join, and what was your first impression of me?’ That was really fun and meaningful to do. These people hardly ever talk about their feelings, and all of a sudden, the entire history of NEDCON was laid out on the table. Some had been working there for 40 years, which naturally led to wonderful stories from the past. That’s how you draw attention to the human side of things. I take a different approach than what people in the installation industry are used to. Moreover, I manage based on trust: I trust that my people will do their jobs as well as possible.”
What's the coolest thing that's happened to you at work recently?
“Between the waves of COVID-19, I traveled to Switzerland last year to visit four people from my team at their projects. None of them live in Switzerland, and they were all working on different projects. It was truly fantastic to be right where it’s all happening. It was great to see how proud the guys really are of their work. It’s also good to talk to them in their own environment and to have the time to do so. I try to take a trip like this once every two months; right before COVID-19, I spent ten days in the U.S. That’s a really fun part of my job!”
“NEDCON’s 50th anniversary, with a massive party and fireworks from the roof at the end, was also a unique experience.”
Do you feel like you're in the right place?
“That’s always a tough question. I’m always looking for challenges and ways to improve—including for myself. Five years ago, I joined a team that wasn’t very well organized, lacked capacity, and had no structure for consultation. We’ve now made that transition toward greater professionalism. Of course, there’s still room for improvement—especially now that COVID-19 has made things a bit more complex—but overall, things are going well. So yes, at some point I’ll be ready for the next step. I’d definitely like to take on a bit more responsibility. I’d also like to reduce my span of control so that I really have room to support my team.”
Do you still have any dreams for the future?
“I used to dream of having a job, a house, and a child before I turned thirty. I have all that now. After that, I dreamed of an even better job, a great group of friends, and more children. I have all of that now, too. Actually, I don’t really have that many dreams left, except to enjoy life even more and to pass that joy on to the people around me and my three sons. Enjoy the moments life offers you in all kinds of ways. It can be something very small, like a ray of sunshine in the garden. But it can also be something big. I’d really love to take a big trip with my whole family and show my children the world. Their interest in nature and technology has already been sparked.”
"It's fantastic to be right where it's all happening. The guys are really proud of their work."
Wouter Bruggers, a Turner alumnus
And what about in the workplace?
“I’d like to move up a notch. I’d like to manage a few managers, each with their own team. I know I’m good at the job I have now, but I always have a lot more ideas that could still be put into practice. But I’m in no rush—the right opportunity will come along eventually.”
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