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“Commitment creates opportunities — and you’ll find that at De Boer”

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“Commitment creates opportunities — and you’ll find that at De Boer”

Over the past ten years, De Boer Group has grown into a major player. A decade ago, the company was only active in the Netherlands; now De Boer is a multinational with branches in multiple countries. As the company expanded, the number and variety of positions grew as well. And with that, the opportunities available within the organization. According to Gaëtan, those opportunities are certainly there. He shares how, over the years, he has seized every chance with both hands.

From Forwarder to Project Manager

Gaëtan talks about his experience at De Boer. “I joined about seven years ago as a forwarder, because they were looking for someone who had the right qualifications, spoke French well, and wanted to help set up the French branch. I met all those criteria, and although I didn’t fully know what to expect, I decided to take on the challenge. Together with two colleagues, we successfully established our French office. But I also wanted more, to develop further, to take on a new challenge. So I sat down with Marcel. Luckily, he was open to it, and after a good conversation we decided that I would work towards becoming an IT Project Manager.”

“I was given the opportunity to work on developing the transport management systems. Of course, I grabbed that chance with both hands, even though I had little IT experience. I immersed myself in the subject matter, observed, brought the right people on board, assembled the project team, and further developed the systems. Successfully. After that, I moved on to the next challenge: setting up the Supply Chain Management, Order Management & Customer Service department. That’s what I’ve been focusing on lately—bringing together people with the right skills and placing everyone in the right position. By now, that team stands strong.”

“If you’re hungry for more, this is the right place. You’re given every opportunity and plenty of room to grow, horizontally or vertically.”
— Gaëtan Boutard,
IT Project Manager at De Boer Group

Creating and seizing opportunities

When asked whether you’re given opportunities at De Boer, Gaëtan immediately and wholeheartedly says “yes.” “If you’re hungry for more, this is the right place. You’re given every opportunity and plenty of space to develop yourself, horizontally or vertically. But you do need to see and seize those opportunities yourself. They don’t just fall into your lap, and they’re not handed to you. And you must be willing to invest in yourself.”

Shaping your own career

Being able to shape your own career at De Boer doesn’t mean you have to switch roles. Gaëtan explains: “That’s the great thing about De Boer. People here get the freedom to do what they’re good at and what they enjoy. Whether you stay in the same position for years or need a new challenge every few years—it’s all perfectly fine. What matters is that you can determine your own career path. You have the freedom to be entrepreneurial within the company. If you want to master something and have the drive to go for it, then a lot is possible here.”

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