Marjolein Geesing | Commercial Manager Cmotions since April 2021 | 44 years | Mum of three | Pragmatic | Efficient | Honest | Energetic
Marjolein has been working at Cmotions for over six years now and was appointed Commercial Manager in April last year. She manages a team of 5 people and is also part of the Management Team. “My function is strategic and managerial at the same time. The combination of these two disciplines is both challenging and rewarding to me, I’m very pleased to be able to decide in which direction our company is heading together with other members of the Management Team. I also value steering my team and seeing each individual develop and grow in their function”.
Linking Pin
As Commercial Manager, Marjolein coaches and guides the team of sales consultants in their commercial projects. She is also a strong advocate of the linking pin model, whereby cross-selling opportunities between Cmotions and the other labels of the Broad Horizon Group come to play. “This is a very exciting part of the job, by analysing the requirements of our customers, we are qualified to offer tailor-made solutions thanks to the various levels of expertise within the Group of Broad Horizon. This integrated approach allows us to work closely with our customers and build a long-term relationship with them.”
More women in Tech
Marjolein would ideally like to see a finer balance between men and women working in this industry. For her, it’s about breaking the boundaries and pulling down certain firmly established values. “This often already manifests itself at a very young age when children are automatically made to play with dolls or toy cars depending on their gender. There should be no set rules, not in the choice of toys, the study options, or the industry a person wants to work in. The same can be applied to the tech industry, the perception is that it is a male-oriented one, while I’m convinced that women have a lot to contribute in this sector. The added value of women in business is that they can often help put things in another perspective by paying more attention to certain human factors and also by considering the opinion of various stakeholders. I believe that great results can be achieved when combining a business approach with a more interpersonal point of view. Another great plus of working with women is that they mostly already combine a large number of tasks and tend to find a better work-life balance. Working mothers have the ability to keep going and are incredibly skilled when it comes to dealing efficiently with their time.”
How do you stimulate other women in this industry?
One thing that can be said about Marjolein is that she radiates enthusiasm. “The passion I have for my job is something I try to convey when talking to other women or as part of a job interview, for example.” She adds: “Innovation and entrepreneurship are key at Cmotions and I’m convinced that this propels a certain company dynamic that a lot of women are searching for in their careers. The challenging part of the job is being able to work with different types of personalities be it, colleagues or customers. I’m convinced great results can be achieved by contributing to each other’s strengths and by respecting one’s field of expertise. By broadening my professional horizon, I hope to spread the word, share experiences and stimulate other women to do the same!”
Do you still encounter stigmas?
“I do not find that I have been stigmatized during my professional career in any way. I do not shy away from discussions and do make my point of view clear when it is necessary, but this does not mean that I’m a feminist. I think it is important to let your boundaries be known and to share your point of view on certain topics, however hard this may seem. This would be a piece of good advice to younger women at the start of their careers. Don’t let yourself be influenced too much, but remain open-minded. Sometimes, women can make it hard on themselves by combining work-related and home-related tasks. My advice here would be to set your professional priorities but allow yourself to take a break from time to time.”
What are your professional ambitions?
“To further develop in my current role as Commercial Manager and allow my team to also expand and grow. As a member of the Management Team, I want to be an added value to the company and contribute fully to its strategic development. There is still a great deal to execute and accomplish, so this will keep me on my toes for the next two to three years.”
And your ambitions on a more personal level?
“Giving my children a sound foundation and letting them make their own choices. Offering them possibilities, but allowing them to decide for themselves which path they want to follow. Giving them sufficient space to grow and making sure they will always have a place they can fall back on. Be bold and try new things from time to time. This is something I personally also try to take the time for. By doing things that are outside of my comfort zone, I get a great deal of energy and tons of inspiration!”
Who has had a strong influence on your professional choices?
“I admire both my parents, my dad in particular as he taught me that if you want something in life, you must undertake whatever possible to achieve your goal. He combined a full-time job with his studies in order to achieve his objectives. This required a great deal of discipline and perseverance and I respect him for that. I also admire the open-mindedness and honesty of my children (aged 6, 10, and 12). I believe that we as adults can learn a great deal from them and should allow ourselves to be more unbiased and bold from time to time.”
What’s your favourite quote?
‘Do what you say and say what you do’. For Marjolein, this is essential both at home and at work. “Be transparent and honest to others and remain truthful to yourself. When you make promises, keep them! For me, it’s a fundamental way of life and a good basis for personal and professional relationships.”
