Niels and Luc, 45 years TOPIC expertise!

In recent months, we’ve had the pleasure of celebrating the jubilees of several TOPIC team members who have been with the company for over a decade or more. To mark these milestones, we sat down with two longtime TOPIC’ers to get a deeper insight into what it's like to be part of the family since the early days. 

We spoke with Niels (Technical Specialist, 25 years at TOPIC) and Luc (Software Designer, 20 years at TOPIC). Together, they bring over 45 years of combined experience and expertise to the table. Our conversation explored their beginnings at TOPIC, what they enjoy most about working here, their most memorable moments, and how they continue to stay challenged. 

How did you start 20+ years ago at TOPIC? 
Niels: “After completing my Applied Physics studies, I joined TOPIC directly as a programmer, making TOPIC my first employer.”

Luc: “After graduating, I spent five years working at Canon before switching to TOPIC, where I started as a software engineer. It's interesting to note that, after 20 years at TOPIC, I’m back working on a consultancy assignment through TOPIC at Canon again.”

20+ years of service is something you don’t often come across anymore. How did this happen?
Luc: “This certainly wasn’t a preconceived plan; it’s something that just grew over the years. And honestly, it doesn’t feel that long at all. They say time flies when you're having fun.” 

Niels: “I agree. Since I’ve had the opportunity to work with many customers through TOPIC for extended periods, it doesn’t feel like such a long time at all.”

What has changed over the past 20+ years?
Niels: “The company has grown significantly. When I started at TOPIC, I believe I was employee number 35, and now we have 140 colleagues. Over the years, the business lines have expanded as well, moving from sole secondment to include consultancy, in-house projects, product development, and farm-out services. We also moved to a much larger and more modern office.”

Luc: “Working at TOPIC has become a lot more international. We've welcomed many colleagues from abroad, which has added a new and exciting dynamic. Of course, this shift also led to a change in our company’s working language, with English becoming more widely used.”

What is it that keeps you at TOPIC?
Niels: “I appreciate the pleasant work environment at TOPIC. There's a great atmosphere, strong communication, and short lines of contact. The company truly listens to you. For instance, I prefer working with a customer for longer periods rather than switching assignments frequently. TOPIC recognizes this and has always made that possible.”

Luc: “I value the freedom to choose my unique career path within TOPIC. They acknowledge my goals and provide the support I need, whether it’s through training or finding assignments that help me grow professionally. On top of that, the social gatherings are always great fun and help me stay connected to the company.”

How do you stay challenged?
Niels: “After working in Consultancy for a long time, I recently transitioned to working on TOPIC’s Farm-out projects. It’s been a new challenge, and one that has brought me into the office more often, which I really enjoy. It has helped me stay well-connected with both TOPIC and my colleagues.”

Luc: “To stay challenged, I frequently take part in the training opportunities offered by TOPIC, both on the technical side and for soft skills. Recently, I participated in mentoring and coaching training, which helped me take the next steps in my personal development and align with my ambition to coach and support a team.”

What TOPIC core value do you relate to the most?
Niels: I would definitely say 'open,' as we have a very open way of communicating at TOPIC. This openness makes everyone accessible and approachable, and knowing that the door is always open is something I deeply value.”

Luc: “The core values at TOPIC — openness, honesty, respect, feeling at home, attention, solution-oriented, and innovative — are all deeply connected. For me, the combination of openness, honesty, respect, and attention creates the feeling of being part of a family. It’s a place where I feel at home and can trust my colleagues. Of course, being solution-oriented and innovative is also essential to the professionalism we strive for."