Colleague of the month for July: Chris!

At Chris, no day is the same, and that's exactly what he enjoys about his job. Whether it's planning dev projects, helping with design questions or just helping a colleague out: Chris is a jack of all trades. In this blog he shares what his days look like, what gives him energy (fortunately not just coffee), and what you can wake him up for at night. Want to take a look behind the scenes? Then read on!

What does a typical workday look like for you?

My workdays are rarely the same - which is exactly what I love about them. I usually start by making a to-do list, a habit I adopted when I worked with Daan. Back then, we started every morning with a stand-up meeting, a cup of coffee and (back in the day) a cigarette. He always wrote things down in a notebook, and that worked so well that I kept that habit. Nowadays, our stand-ups are digital and all the developers participate.

Once I get my priorities straight, I get to work - that ranges from planning development projects (as I'm doing now) to doing design tasks. Some days I do research if I'm dealing with something unfamiliar, and on other days I answer customer service questions, usually from partners or their members. I also enjoy helping colleagues with design or digital marketing tasks when I have the time. It's a nice way to give something back, especially since everyone is also always there for me when I need help - that really strengthens the team feeling.

Lately I've also started setting up and managing processes for cold email outreach. There is always something new to learn or work on, and that constant variety is what makes my days so much fun.

Is there a project you are particularly proud of?

I particularly like UI/UX projects. One project that stands out is the redesign of the member page for WWK. It's still in development, but I really enjoyed the process. I got to work with our designer, Tom. He laid the groundwork and I adapted the design to fit both our technical limitations and the needs of our partners. Finding that balance was challenging, but for that very reason very satisfying - especially to see the design come to life and really be used.

What is your dream destination?

It's hard to choose just one place - the world is full of beautiful destinations! In an ideal situation, I would love to take on a challenge, like traveling around the world in 100 days. But when it comes to a more relaxed trip, surfing in Padang Padang, in Bali, Indonesia, seems fantastic to me. That mix of nature, culture and adventure sounds like the perfect combination to me.

What can we wake you up in the middle of the night for?

Wake me up for a skydive over a bustling city? I'm there - especially if we wear luminous suits! Or even for something simpler, like surprising a friend at midnight with birthday wishes. I'm always up for spontaneous, fun reminiscing.

What is your favorite moment of the work week?

Since my work week is flexible, I prefer to share my favorite moment of the day: the second half of the afternoon, when I realize the day is almost over. That moment suddenly gives me a boost, and then I get into a hyper-concentrated, productive flow. I work more consciously then, and it feels great to end the day on such a high.

What office tradition do you enjoy most?

Going out to dinner together in the city. I always discover cool new places, and it's a great opportunity to get to know colleagues better in an informal way. After a few drinks, any language barriers disappear, and you really get to know each other in a fun and relaxed way.

(Chris is not from the Netherlands, which is why we speak English in the office. That just doesn't always run smoothly. Meanwhile, he has learned a lot of fun Dutch phrases and words like treurie kan gebeurie!)

If you were to host your own talk show, who would be your first guest?

Your first guest should be someone with charisma - someone who sets the tone, warms up the audience and brings some flair. I would choose my sister. I trust her completely, she has great stories and loves being in the spotlight - she studies theater and sings too. She wouldn't mind breaking the ice at all, and she would definitely bring the energy to start the show stylishly.