"There is a lot of knowledge and little ego here. People are eager to work together. If you have a good idea, you get the space to work it out."
Erix Santman | Product Manager
From events to IT
Before Erix joined HeadFirst Group, he worked in the event and music industry for nearly 20 years. Not a standard route to tech, you might think. But for him, it felt like a logical step. "I was doing a lot of legal stuff and systems there. So the switch to IT wasn't really that big of a deal at all." In addition to his work as a product manager, Erix is still active as a DJ and teaches part-time at the conservatory.
The core of Striive
Erix started at HeadFirst Group as a business analyst. He was immediately close to the core of what is now Striive: the platform that connects freelancers, professionals and clients. "I was involved in the very first brainstorming sessions. What should the platform be able to do? Who are we building this for? That whole process of thinking, designing and building immediately appealed to me."
He now works as a product manager within the compliance team. His mission: to make the legal onboarding process for professionals as logical and smooth as possible. "Professionals have to go through dozens of separate steps before they can start working for a client. We have translated that into a streamlined process. From an average of three to four weeks to about ten days. And often even within one day."
Improve based on data
That acceleration is no accident. Erix and his team make continuous adjustments based on feedback, data and test results. "We look at where people take longer or seem to get stuck, then you know: we need to improve something there. Small iterations, but constantly in motion."
To be able to have the right conversation with developers in this, he also delved further into technology. "Among other things, I took a database management course. That helps tremendously in reading the data, making connections and ultimately making better product choices."
Moving forward together
On office days, the team at Erix starts as early as 7 a.m.. Not because they have to, but because it works. "The developers were already doing it, and I really like it now too. You start fresh and can discuss a lot with each other before the rest come in. The team also consists of those real North Holland, hard workers."
What appeals most to him? The collaboration. "With us it is very equal and independent. We make decisions together and everyone feels ownership. That makes the work not only more efficient, but also just more fun."
Learning, growing and staying sharp
"What I find both challenging and incredibly fun is that I work with really smart people. I hear developers and product managers say things that make me think: wow! They make connections at lightning speed and have in-depth knowledge of how to build software as well as how the entire platform works technically. It's just a cool environment to be in." After four years, Erix himself has a good understanding of how everything works. "Certainly within my field and through experience from outside IT, I feel I can really contribute something. But it's that constant interaction with people who each think and build from their expertise that makes the work so fascinating."
According to Erix, that is exactly the strength of working at HeadFirst Group. "I always say: you should never be the smartest person in the room. Well, that's not the case here, and that keeps you on your toes. This is not a job where you can run on routine. It requires you to keep thinking, shifting gears and developing yourself." And there is plenty of room for that. Since he started at HeadFirst Group, Erix has already attended five training courses. "There are ongoing opportunities here that you can tackle, but then you have to make sure you keep up, and that is encouraged here."
A place for people who want to build
What Erix appreciates about HeadFirst Group compared to his previous industry is the open, substantive atmosphere. "There is a lot of knowledge and little ego here. People like to work together. If you have a good idea, you get the space to work it out."
His advice to future colleagues? "You don't have to be able to do everything already. If you are curious, take responsibility and enjoy working together, this is a place where you can grow. "You work here on something that is seen by thousands of people in a short period of time - exactly what I loved most about the dance industry, and I have that same feeling again now at HeadFirst."