Meet Ledgnd Niels Suijkerbuijk

Niels joined Ledgnd while looking for a graduation internship. After completing his MBO4 Logistics Supervisor course, he progressed to HBO, where he studied commercial economics. During his MBO4 course, he met Ramon. “When I was looking for a graduation internship for my HBO, they asked if I wanted to intern at Ledgnd. That seemed fun to me because I had been in the LED world for a while, and horticulture was a new market for me,” says Niels.

Niels recalls his first impression of Ledgnd as a hardworking and motivated team that always wants the best for the customer. And this impression hasn’t changed much, as when we ask him what he likes most about Ledgnd, he answers, “The team atmosphere and celebrating (personal) successes.” According to Niels, the work-life balance is also good: “I enjoy my work a lot, which makes finding a balance easy for me,” he says.

Niels has already achieved several important milestones during his time at Ledgnd. “Landing your first client always makes the biggest impression,” he says. Additionally, he found the busy Ledgnd stand at HortiContact particularly impressive. “It’s fantastic to see how our work is appreciated and how much interest there is in our products and services.”

As accountmanager, Niels has a wide range of responsibilities. “I ensure that the field service schedules are full and logical,” he explains. “Additionally, I am responsible for inventory management and purchasing sensors, the sales process, and the handover from sales to the execution department within Ledgnd.”

“I have two typical workdays,” says Niels. “I am either on the road all day visiting potential clients, or I have an office day. On an office day, I start by updating my emails, contacting growers and suppliers, and spending the lunch break on a short ping-pong match. Then I continue with phone calls and handling emails.”

Niels has clear future plans within Ledgnd. He wants to gain as much experience as possible now to later lead a team. “As the company grows, I hope to lead a number of people so that I keep learning and don’t stand still,” he says. He is determined to further develop his knowledge and skills and play a larger role in the company’s growth.

Within Ledgnd, Niels is very varied, and so are his hobbies and interests. “I play football in a friends’ team, and I follow every Feyenoord match,” he says. He also has a passion for history, particularly the First and Second World Wars. “I have birds in an aviary, and I enjoy gardening,” he adds. Additionally, he has been with Christel for three years, who is currently studying to become a veterinarian in Ghent. “When she finishes her studies, we will move in together,” says Niels. When asked about his favorite vacation destination, he enthusiastically answers Austria. “The nature there is very beautiful; you can enjoy wonderful walks. Additionally, I partly speak the language.”

For new employees or people considering applying to Ledgnd, Niels has valuable advice: “Show enthusiasm for the sector and be open in a friendly work atmosphere where it’s hard work and hard laughter.” He emphasizes the importance of a positive attitude and the willingness to collaborate in a dynamic environment.”