He may seem modest at first glance, even a little shy, but as time goes on, his clear vision for the future becomes evident. With 100 days of ‘internship exploration’ ahead of him, he started in the workshop at Kolmer on January 2.
Moving from an international leadership role to the workshop not only gave him sore muscles but also new insights. He was particularly surprised by the complexity of an electric motor—often seen as the simplest component of an application. But he was also positively struck by the ‘field bouquet’ of colleagues. “Everyone has their own color and style, but together, they form a beautiful whole.” His mantra on the work floor?
Despite the sore muscles, he has experienced his first month as a ‘soft landing.’ “I’ve seen it happen differently—starting somewhere without clear guidance. At Kolmer, things are completely different, and that deserves a big compliment,” says Rob.
After a month in the workshop, Rob will move on to the business operations department, which includes planning, logistics, and purchasing. In his final internship month, he will get to know his own department: Sales. Although Rob has a technical background, he started with no prior knowledge of electric motors. "I expected to have a decent understanding of electric motors within a month, but I quickly had to revise that expectation. Due to their complexity, I think a new employee at Kolmer needs at least six months to a year to really find their footing. The extensive onboarding process, which involves working in different departments, is incredibly valuable and helps to fully understand the organization and its processes."
On the other hand, his fresh perspective brings an advantage. “I’m not hindered by prior knowledge or company blind spots, so I write down everything that stands out to me. After these 100 internship days, I will report my findings to the management team. From this, we will create a detailed SWOT analysis to identify opportunities and areas for improvement.”
Who is Rob in his private life?
Rob is (just barely) 39 years old, married to Marina, and the father of two wonderful kids: Floris (one and a half) and Pip (four). “We are a young family with all the dynamics that come with it. It’s a great experience,” he says with a warm smile. He enjoys skiing, but since that’s not always possible, he regularly works out. Football is another passion, although he is less active on the field than before. However, he remains involved as a board member of the local football club.
Rob, we wish you a great time at Kolmer. May you be a valuable addition to our ‘field bouquet’!