My LinkedIn page is a bit stuffed so here's a summary of what I've been up to until now (although LinkedIn is still the go-to page for detailed experience).
I didn't include my experience as a Web Writer (since 2008) as it's my current focus, and it's better described in my /now page
Software Engineering
From January 2020 up to February 2025, I was a Software Engineer. I've worked in three different companies, first as a consultant (first company), then as an internal developer. I liked coding for the intellectual challenges it brought. I was lucky to work for two companies developing software for pharmaceuticals and medical applications, which was fascinating and fed my curiosity.
I had the opportunity to be the Lead Developer on a 6-month project and to take over more than the coding part of the project, which was a blessing (I loved it) but also a curse (after that, being back as "just" a developer didn't feel enough anymore).
I spent my last year in a Data Warehouse team and enjoyed figuring what data engineering actually meant. But to be honest, I never developed a passion for ETL, and the technical environment wasn't satisfying for me.
Highlights
- I've always been the go-to person for any task involving writing, and even took initiatives like improving internal documentation or creating a body of knowledge.
- I have a passion for knowledge sharing and led campaigns in my teams to improve it.
- I was eager to learn more than coding. Although I prefer backend development, I made a lot of research in order to improve the user experience and the accessibility of our apps, also trying to raise awareness among my coworkers.
- I was really interested in CI/CD, automation and the "ops" of DevOps. I don't consider myself proficient in those parts, but I'm quite knowledgeable.
- I took additional, non-technical responsibilities, like being Scrum Master, or kind-of-Product-Owner, on projects where there was no such position.
Collective Intelligence
At my latest company, I had the opportunity to attend a training, certify as a facilitator and practice Collective Intelligence, aside from my Software Engineering job (approx. 10% of my time). From December 2022 to February 2025, I facilitated workshops for different teams in the company. I designed the workshops based on the request, animated the session and worked on the follow-up (gathering output).
I also actively participated in creating a body of knowledge that could be share company-wide, creating training material for managers and teams who wanted to learn how to practice Collective Intelligence and facilitated hands-on workshops.
Highlights
- My certification report was about the link between Collective Intelligence and DEI (Diversity, Equity and Inclusion), and how they influence each other.
Speaker on Minimalism and Decluttering
During my career break, while I was working on my transition from administrative roles to the job of Software Engineer, I took the opportunity to develop some freelance activities. My most successful activity was giving workshops and conferences about minimalism, that is "how to declutter", "how to better consume" (durability, ethics...) and so on.
I usually organized those myself, but I was asked a few times to give such workshops to members of an organisation or company.
This is also the moment I took time to write my self-help books and online trainings on decluttering.
Novel writer (French)
I also tool advantage of my career break to finalize what became my first published novel: "Big Universe" (science-fiction, dystopia).
It was first published by a French editor for five years, then republished by the Belgian editor "La Lucarne Indécente".
Administrative assistant
I started my career with a degree of "Management assistant". I worked at three different places and always held "Swiss knife" positions where I could use multiple talents in one role. I had the opportunity to work in Marketing, Medical, HR, Logistics and Sales. I enjoyed the organisational part of those jobs, and learned a lot about company dynamics, as I worked at very different types of structures, in various fields.
Highlights
- I put in place a system to follow up the 650 staff members of an organization to make sure they all received their invitation to the annual medical exam on time, and to follow-up no-shows.
- I wrote a monthly B2B newsletter (French and English), translated marketing and technical content into English or proofread them (technical FAQs, packaging, SEO keywords, video subtitles, newsletters, leaflets...).
- I created a whole brochure for a product launch with InDesign and received a company recognition for it. (It's worth mentioning I wouldn't be able to use that software anymore.)
- I wrote working procedures for the whole logistics department based on individual interviews (French and English).
Education
- Bachelor degree in Business Informatics ("information de gestion"), and many trainings and certifications in addition.
- Bachelor degree as a Management Assistant, with focus on languages (Dutch, English, Spanish). Internship in The Netherlands (4 months) and graduation work in Dutch about "Intercultural communication".
Other
- Strong interest in DEI and accessibility: I participated in initiatives for inclusion whenever I had the opportunity. I also regularly train on this topic and am especially interested in the inclusion of women and neurodivergent people.
- Passion for knowledge sharing: apart from initiatives at work, I was involved in mentoring programs as a volunteer.
- My mother tongue is French and, as a language lover and writer, I'm pretty good at it. I have a C1 level in English (I hope it shows...). I'm learning Japanese, I passed the JLPT N4 exam but am probably still far from the N3 level. I used to be very skilled in Dutch and used it for years at work, but haven't spoken it for ages. However, I can still understand podcasts in clean Dutch (I mean, not Flemish nor local dialects) or read news. I also studied Spanish but have never actually used it outside of school (or during my very few trips to Spain).