People with impact: introducing Seppe Van Beneden
In our series "People with impact" you'll get to know the people behind the scenes, at Atlas Copco Rental Europe. From values to families and hobbies, we cover it all.
The next guest is our Digital Communications Manager, Seppe Van Beneden. Check out our talk with Seppe here.
Who you are… and what are you passionate about in your life?
Seppe Van Beneden
So, as you might have read, my name is Seppe. I don't even have to think for a fraction of a second about what's the most important thing in my life. My three furry buddies: Diego the dog. The cats Otto and Noor. They are everything to me — my reason, my joy, my home. And they are the best, seriously. Those three together, I guarantee you’ve never seen anything like it.
Then there are my creative passions. I always warn new people in my orbit that I venture from one hyperfocus to another and my world is “big.” I’m a sucker for anything creatively inspiring. And that’s a lesson I share with anyone and everyone I can.
When you’re creative, you need to be inspired. If you’re not interested in a lot of things, it’s probably not the right career path for you. That’s harsh, but you need to look at what others do to give yourself, or the people around you, creative sparks. There’s this illusion that every idea has to come from within or out of some ancient magic ritual. You’ll have your unexplainable epiphanies and aha moments, but you also need to kickstart your next thing or train your brain, and that's something vital many (young) creatives forget - or don't get taught.
I swing from TV shows and movies to art, fashion, and even miniature painting. Quentin Tarantino, Guy Ritchie, Rothko, Tom Ford, Lewis Hamilton, Yves Saint Laurent, Kurt Cobain, Taylor Sheridan, Bukowski, … They’re all inspiring. And yes, I’m a Swiftie too. I have to stop myself here because I can go on and on. Also brands like Porsche, Hermès, Apple, … OK, now I’m really stopping. I think you get it.
Let’s have a look at the professional side of your life. What is the role you have today?
It’s kinda hard to describe what I do without elaborating way too much because it’s challenging to give an exact framework and I don't fit a specific pre-determined mold. I’ve helped develop platforms like the Rental Europe eBook and Power to choose (both editions). But also played my part in the creation of tons of video content, visuals for LinkedIn and mailings. Created magazines, managed photoshoots, give presentations and training sessions, create a cultural framework, dabble with brand guidelines, it's a lot but also a lot of fun.
Maybe I'll put it like this: a continuous creative journey where data and structure are used to create content and media that fits our unique narrative.
I think it's safe to say that we (REO and our team) made a long-lasting mark here and there along the way. I’m also incredibly fortunate that I'm involved in projects at every level of our organization and indescribably grateful that my quirky talents are appreciated, and sometimes harsh opinions are valued.
However, don’t let the job title fool you. I strongly believe that, despite digitalization and non-negotiable essential online activities, we can’t lose track of analog experiences. Human-to-human, emotional connection, and creating memorable high-end materials or content. Maybe that sums it all up? Make sure we’re memorable, online and offline.
What is the biggest challenge within your role at the moment?
It's a not-so-positive personal trait. I’m a behind-the-scenes person. I don’t like attention or the spotlight. It’s definitely the absence of confidence and my very introverted side (INFPs, assemble!); however, my job pushes me to the front of the curtain and even center stage more than often. I’m told it doesn’t show, but inside … unseen levels of stress. I love helping and motivating others beyond the outskirts of their comfort zones – and getting the attention they deserve. As for myself, I don’t need/like to be seen. I'm totally fine in the background. I genuinely enjoy letting others shine. But, I promise I’ll work on that and enjoy the moments more. There, now it’s in writing, so I have to.
What’s the one thing you have learned during your career that you didn’t know/couldn’t find the answer to on the internet?
Two things that are very similar come to mind. You have the right to think before answering any question. Take a second to give your thoughts some structure. The other one: when giving a presentation, you have to be quiet more than you think. Silence is your ally, allowing you to emphasize certain aspects of your message. It also allows you to safeguard “your own energy." When you keep talking without strategic pauses, which is what we tend to do when presenting, the message gets lost. The strength of silence - that’s something I learned not too long ago and has really impacted me.
If you could do one thing over that led you to where you are now in your career, what would it be and why?
On the one hand, I wish I had the chance to follow my creative voice much, much, much sooner. I should have fought to get that voice heard when I was younger. My life could have been a lot different. Yet, I don’t feel like I wasted time. Anymore, at least.
Everything happens for a reason. It all lead to this point. My 10 years of sales experience help me to be better at Communication (and writing) because I understand the points of view our salespeople have – but can also challenge them. I’ve been on that side of the table for a long time, so I can empathize. It’s really been something I’ve struggled with for years, but right now as I write this, I found peace in my path. Thanks to tackling a higher education at a later age, and completing programs I attended thanks to Atlas Copco Rental, I feel like I truly add some value to our business – and lives of colleagues and customers. And that’s something we in communication don’t always realize, but it’s an honor and not something everyone is able to do.
If there was only one thing you hope the people watching this video would do as a result of our conversation, what would it be?
Inspiring someone, even if it's just provoking a single new thought or small aha moment, is a privilege. So, if someone remembers something from reading this, I hope it would be the following: Allow yourself to take your time while you journey through life. Happiness and your own story will happen along the way. There's this poem I really like, which is a good final note, I think:
INVICTUS - William Ernest Henley
Out of the night that covers me
Black as the pit from pole to pole,
I thank whatever gods may be
For my unconquerable soul.
In the fell clutch of circumstance,
I have not winced nor cried aloud.
Under the bludgeonings of chance
My head is bloody, but unbowed.
Beyond this place of wrath and tears
Looms but the Horror of the shade,
And yet the menace of the years
Finds, and shall find, me unafraid.
It matters not how strait the gate,
How charged with punishments the scroll,
I am the master of my fate
I am the captain of my soul.
