Interview – Geert Vanhove

Geert Vanhove takes up the position of Practice Manager at Sogeti

We are excited to announce Geert Vanhove as our new Practice Manager, Core Testing at Sogeti! Geert transitioned into this role in April, bringing in nearly 24 years of invaluable experience within Sogeti. Starting his career during the peak IT advancements in Belgium, Geert’s journey from a junior test consultant to a Practice Manager is truly inspiring and interesting. Let us hear from Geert about his past experiences and thoughts on this new role.

Q: Congratulations on becoming the Practice Manager at Sogeti! Tell us about your new role.

Geert: Since April, I have taken up the new role of practice manager at Sogeti, wherein I will be leading a test unit, next to Bart Vanparys, focusing on quality engineering and testing.  My main responsibilities comprise following up and supporting our talents, recruiting new people, ensuring successful project delivery to clients, and aligning with our annual objectives and priorities. Sogeti operates as a people-centric business, where we are working with the people, for the people. In my role as practice manager, my foremost focus will be on ensuring utmost client satisfaction, while maintaining high motivation and empowerment among our teams to excel in their respective roles.

Q: What motivates and excites you most about your job?

Geert: I find true happiness in the diverse and dynamic nature of my job, engaging with various stakeholders including Sales, other (practice) managers, EM’s, HR, Finance, and consultants across different projects. I also interact directly with clients through presales activities. These interactions drive my growth, as I constantly try to learn, align, and synchronize various practices within Sogeti. I’m grateful to Olivier Vandekerkhove and Fabian Galoppin, my mentors for this opportunity. With a longstanding tenure in the company, I seek to expand my role and responsibilities as a manager, supporting our team, and meeting our company’s expectations.

Q: Can you tell us more about yourself and your professional journey?

Geert: Well, I have been with the company for nearly 24 years, starting my career in 2000 at Gitek, which merged with Sogeti in 2005, and later integrated with Capgemini. Despite my background in languages, I began as a junior test consultant without any prior testing knowledge. Over the years, I learnt on the job, progressing through diverse roles in consultancy, project management, presales, and training. Since 2009, I have focused on advisory and broader delivery responsibilities and management activities, recently transitioning to the role of practice manager in April. Even in this new role I continue to learn new things each day.

Q: What have been your key achievements?

Geert: Being with Sogeti over the past two decades, truly feels like an accomplishment. Over the years, I have experienced considerable personal and professional advancement, marked by several noteworthy accomplishments. In my previous consultancy role, I secured a substantial project with a leading Belgian banking institution, which was a monumental sales win and a major milestone in my career. Securing a framework contract with a federal government organization, marked another achievement. I’ve also played a crucial role in overseeing a digital insurance company’s successful offshore transition and team expansion, highlighting our strong client partnerships and operational excellence.

These experiences have enabled me to contribute significantly to Sogeti, particularly in banking, insurance, and public sectors, advancing our Quality Engineering services. Lastly, presenting at Eurostar, a prominent European testing conference was a proud moment that reinforced my commitment to industry thought leadership.

Q: Leadership is a key aspect of the Practice Manager role. Can you talk about your leadership style and how do you motivate your team?

Geert: I am still exploring my leadership style, drawing inspiration from Carlo Ancelotti, the famous Real Madrid football coach known for quiet leadership. I aim to be a calm and caring leader, understanding, and nurturing my team, helping them grow and achieve success. With a background in testing, I use my experience to guide individuals at various stages of their careers, encouraging their growth and development. In this fast-paced world where we are already under time and work pressure, I consider maintaining a calm and focused approach towards leadership.

Q: What do you hope to achieve in your role and how do you envision contributing to the overall success of the company?

Geert: I believe we should emphasize on empowering our team to succeed in their assignments, establishing a sturdy base for our company’s success. Additionally, I am enthusiastic about enhancing operational excellence, aiming to become trusted consultants for our clients, leveraging our ‘local touch and global reach’ at Sogeti.

This year, we are prioritizing adopting Gen AI in testing, enhancing automation with Leapwork and Tosca, and expanding our market presence through our specialized consulting services known as ‘Advisory Transformation Automation Consultancy’ (ATAC). My focus is on driving growth, innovation, and client satisfaction in quality engineering and testing, ensuring high-quality solutions that exceed client expectations.

Q: What are your interests apart from work?

Geert: In my spare time, I dedicate myself to my children’s hobbies. My two boys play soccer, while my two girls are into volleyball. I attend their matches as much as I can, acting as a delegate for soccer and a referee for volleyball. I also play in an indoor soccer team on a weekly basis. Beyond that, I am regularly jogging to stay healthy and clear-headed. As a food enthusiast, I relish small tapas, BBQ, and Italian cuisine, appreciating good food and drinks whenever possible.

Q: What does ‘Become Your Best’ mean to you?

Geert: I think I’m an apt example of ‘Become Your Best’, embodying this principle and thriving in a great company like Sogeti. While individuals can set their own goals, achieving them often requires support from others. I also believe that patience and a bit of luck are essential for success. Building a rewarding career is about taking initiatives and not assuming that everything is predetermined.

Q: Your favorite quote / mantra in life that you live by?

Geert: My favorite mantra is “Think big, act small” by Jason Jennings, one of the prolific authors on business and leadership. I think this philosophy also aligns with Sogeti’s identity as a progressive company. Personally, I also believe in “can-do attitude” and my daily mantra involves taking small steps towards bigger goals. I am quite pragmatic and believe in steady progress, continuously advancing towards big dreams and ideas.

Congratulations again! We wish you luck and success in this new role.