24/7 – A day in the life of a Valcon employee | Debbie Camerik

My day starts at 7:00 AM when my alarm goes off, though I usually allow myself 15 minutes before getting out of bed. Breakfast isn’t my favourite meal, but I never skip it. I always make a bowl of Skyr with oats, fresh fruit, and seeds to give myself the energy I need for the day ahead.

I usually work from the office, though I spend one or two half-days a week working from home. I much prefer being in the office, as I live alone – well, apart from my cat, Momo – and I enjoy being around people. It’s also much easier to collaborate with my team in person, especially when we need to discuss issues or brainstorm ideas. That said, working from home has its perks, like being able to tackle my laundry, which would otherwise pile up during the week.

My commute depends on where I’m heading. If I’m going to my client’s office in Amsterdam, it’s just a quick 15-minute bike ride. On days I go to the Valcon office, it’s a 25-minute drive, assuming there’s no traffic.

I work as a Senior Data Insights Consultant in Valcon’s Data Capability group, and my role is wonderfully varied. I lead the Billing Operations team at Adevinta (Marktplaats), a global leader in digital marketplaces. My team ensures that monthly billing and invoicing are accurate and on time, and we also take on projects ranging from data-driven process optimisation to delivering high-quality solutions for change initiatives. I love that my role allows me to combine so many of my interests – business, data and analytics, process optimisation, strategy and people management.

My workday starts at 8:30 AM to prep my day and our team stand-up at 9:00 AM, where we review what we accomplished the day before and plan for the day ahead. Depending on the day, I might have brainstorming sessions, check-ins with stakeholders, 1:1 meetings to support my team’s personal and professional development, or focused time to dive into technical challenges. Recently, we kicked off a project to optimise the Order-to-Cash process. It’s all about uncovering hidden value by identifying and analysing critical process gaps, which helps us make more insightful, data-driven decisions.

Over the past year, I’ve become much more confident in my technical skills, particularly coding. I’m self-taught, but my current project at Adevinta has given me the chance to expand my knowledge even further, thanks to the support of my colleagues.

Lunch is usually a social part of my day. When I’m at the client’s office, I often eat with my team in the canteen, or, if the weather is nice, we’ll go for a walk and grab a sandwich in the city. At the Valcon office, I’ll head to a café or the supermarket with colleagues.

I typically finish work around 5:30 PM, and my evenings are a mix of activity and relaxation. I love working out, and my latest favourite is Reformer Pilates. On other evenings, I might have dinner with friends or enjoy a quiet night at home with Momo and a good book.

My weekends are always varied. Sometimes, I’ll start with a “vrijmibo” (Friday afternoon drinks) in the city with friends or colleagues, while other times I’ll kick things off with a sports class. I try to fit in at least one workout over the weekend, but I also make time for friends and family. In the summer, you’ll often find me at a festival, either enjoying the music or supporting my brother, who’s a DJ – actually, I’m his (tour) manager in my spare time.

I have so many hobbies that I can’t really sit still. I love travelling, photography, reading, going out for dinner and drinks, and, of course, attending festivals. I have also always wanted to learn how to play the guitar, so I might pick up some lessons soon.

But my ultimate dream is to live and work in New York. I spent six months there after high school, and I’ve been wanting to go back ever since. For now, I’m patiently waiting for Valcon to expand to the US 😉 but I’m keeping that dream alive while enjoying everything I do here.

Insights