A word from Heart Hunter Liesbeth Vrolix
She tackles every financial, HR-related, and administrative issue for her colleagues. On the weekends, she mostly mows down her direct opponents on the football pitch. And during team-building events, she regularly treats us to a rendition of My Heart Will Go On that would put even Céline Dion to shame. As you can tell, this Heart Hunter flies into the challenges that cross her path with total dedication. We introduce you to Liesbeth Vrolix, office manager and ambitious all-rounder.
For Expliciet, it was a double first, just over two years ago. For the first time in our existence, we went looking for an office manager, because more and more Heart Hunters meant a greater need for internal order and structure. Equally unique was one of the applications that blew our way. A video from one Liesbeth Vrolix, a blonde whirlwind who introduced herself to us while singing and dancing. Admittedly, we didn’t quite know what we were seeing at first, but it turned out to be a shot in the top corner.
‘Yet Jan and Maarten didn’t select me at first, because I hadn’t yet built up enough work experience in office management and HR. But a little later, I received another call from Expliciet. Asking if I wouldn’t like to sit around the table again after all. There was even a contract waiting for me when I arrived. I didn’t know what was happening myself (laughs). They told me that experience is ultimately a matter of time, but that in terms of culture, I was a 100% match for Expliciet.’
‘Today, office management makes up only a small part of Liesbeth’s tasks. Today, together with Jan and Maarten, I am responsible for financial management and HR at Expliciet. Over the last two years, we have grown so much as a company that things suddenly had to become a lot more professional. In terms of onboarding, organizational charts, and salary policy, for example, we have taken huge steps forward together, and I love that I am given the freedom to share my ideas and can play an important role in the lives of our Heart Hunters. It is my ambition to grow even further in this in the coming years, especially in everything related to HR.’
In addition, Liesbeth is the chairwoman of the Expliciet Culture Committee. ‘One of the reasons I love working at Expliciet so much is the atmosphere and friendship that prevail here. Heart Hunting is not just something we do for our clients; it’s something that truly lives on the work floor. It’s up to the Culture Committee to do everything possible to ensure everyone feels and remains an important part of the group.’
Though it’s best not to approach Liesbeth too early in the day. ‘It’s true, I am absolutely not a morning person (laughs). In the morning, I can be grumpy and quiet; in the afternoon, cheerful and loud. I just need a little time to get going.’
Where our Ambitious All-rounder needs no warm-up is on the football pitch. ‘I’ve been playing football since I was a child. It can get a bit rough with me, but that’s because I always go for it 100%. I even see a training session as a match, sometimes to the slight frustration of my teammates (laughs). A muddy jersey or a scraped knee won’t stop me from going full into a duel. That’s something my sport and Expliciet definitely share: cheering each other on, seeing everyone rise above their level. Something like that gives me an enormous amount of energy.’
Finally: which Expliciet value is closest to Liesbeth’s heart? Open, warm, empathetic, or entrepreneurial? ‘I’m simply an open book; I always speak my mind honestly, and that is fully appreciated here. At many companies, that probably wouldn’t be a match.’
Totem: ambitious all-rounder
‘That pretty much sums it up. Everything that doesn’t fit into a specific box ends up on my plate. Moreover, HR and finance are very broad domains, so almost everything in terms of organization and office falls under that. And I am certainly ambitious too. Standing still is not an option for me; I want to move forward and improve things. Although I do have to learn to slow myself down sometimes.’
Food
‘My way to relax and be creative. For me, discovering new cultures definitely means getting to know new flavors and dishes. Although I will almost never follow the recipe. It will always be with a Liesbeth-style twist, even if that means adding four extra cloves of garlic.’
Traveling in nature
‘It can sometimes get chaotic in my head, and then I need nature to find peace. A simple fluffy dandelion, snow-capped mountain peaks, little fish in the brightest colors… The world is too beautiful not to explore to the fullest. It’s my dream to see as many of those beautiful places as possible with my own eyes.’
Cats
‘My two cats are my babies; they are born heart hunters! When I’ve had a bad or busy day, they really calm me down. I’m just a cat person. I even have a whole collection of cat figurines, cards, and posters at my parents’ house (laughs).’
