Miquel

Say hello to Miquel, our Lead People & Operations NL in Rotterdam! For Miquel, sales isn't just about hitting targets, it's a masterclass in business understanding and personal growth. Want to know how he uses his background in operational growth to coach the next generation of commercial talents at Bright? Dive into his story below!

Who you are and what exactly does your role as Lead Operations in Sales entail?

My background lies in operations, commercial growth, and team development. Because of this, I don't just look at sales results on the surface, but especially at the structure and behavior behind those results. In my role, sales, coaching, recruitment, and process improvement all come together!

Instead of just looking at flat targets or call numbers, I focus heavily on the quality behind the work. I spend my time coaching young talents on how to have a good conversation with a CFO, how to recognize if a company truly has a relevant challenge, and how to grow smarter as a team.

What was the deciding factor for you to join, and what do you enjoy most about the scale-up environment here?

For me, the deciding factor was the BrightAnalytics story, the phase the company is in, and the opportunity to build with young people. We operate in a fast-moving market where finance, data, AI, and SaaS come together, making it substantively strong and future-oriented.

What I love about the scale-up environment is how dynamic it is! For example, we are constantly implementing new updates and releases based on the needs of our customers. This means we are constantly learning about new industries and the specific reporting challenges we help mitigate. It’s an organization where you as an employee can still have a real, visible influence, allowing us to copy, adjust, and write our own exciting chapters of the Bright Story!

What did you immediately notice about the atmosphere and culture on the work floor during that initial period?

What immediately struck me was the true sense of togetherness and a high bias for action. People don't talk about things endlessly here; if something can be improved, it gets picked up immediately. Put it in motion, try it, learn from it, and move on! That mentality suits me perfectly.

I also noticed that colleagues are always focused on getting better. Young team members are incredibly open to feedback and continuously look for those last few percentage points of improvement, easily sharing tips, tricks, and conversation techniques across different teams and offices. There is an authentic togetherness on the floor, combined with the honesty needed to make each other better. It really feels like we are building together on something much larger than our own individual roles.

What would you say to talents who are hesitant to join us, and what mindset must a new colleague bring to the table?

Don't look at sales as something flat or simple. At BrightAnalytics, it is highly substantive. To succeed, you need a healthy dose of curiosity. You must want to understand what lies behind an organization, why they still rely on Excel, or why a CFO lacks the right insights to steer effectively. If you only want to rattle off a standard pitch, this role will be difficult.

Secondly, we certainly don't expect you to walk through the door as a fully polished commercial talent at the start of your career. But if you are someone who is eager to receive feedback, act on it, and take true responsibility for your own growth, then you will thrive here. You don't even need to see sales as your final destination because in almost every professional role, you need the ability to listen, build trust, and bring people along in a solution. If you bring that mindset, you will experience a massive amount of personal growth and professional sharpness here in a very short amount of time!

What is something you learned along the way about the market that you absolutely did not expect when you started?

I completely underestimated how complex the market actually is! From the outside, you might think we just sell financial reporting software, but in practice, you are talking to finance professionals about fragmented data, month-end closures, and international consolidation.

Every conversation is different because every organization faces different financial bottlenecks. It makes this market incredibly educational for people because you learn how companies operate and how finance teams think at an accelerated pace.

What is it like working in the Netherlands with a headquarters in Belgium?

It’s an interesting and valuable dynamic. BrightAnalytics started in Belgium, so there is a massive foundation of knowledge and experience to build upon. At the same time, the Dutch market requires its own approach, as the culture and pace of conversations can be different.

The contact with Belgium is very accessible and personal. It doesn’t feel like everything is imposed centrally, which gives us the perfect amount of freedom in the Rotterdam office to make our own choices and discover what works best here!

Why would you recommend other people to come and work for BrightAnalytics?

I would recommend BrightAnalytics because it's a place where you learn quickly and are taken seriously. You get the space to think along, take ownership, and visibly contribute to the growth of the team.

The real strength of Bright lies in that perfect combination of substance, ambition, and team spirit. The bar is high and serious work is being done, but you remain part of a supportive team where everyone wants to better each other. Your contribution truly matters here, which is why I would absolutely recommend BrightAnalytics!