“Creating value”: Laura & Stijn about their fulfilling jobs at Goodman

Laura Ciliberto and Stijn Van der Putten have been with Goodman since 2019 and 2017 respectively. Both have witnessed a lot of changes over the years. Yet, Stijn says, “one thing has remained the same: we are extremely agile. The world doesn’t stand still, so we can’t afford to get stuck in old habits. The people at Goodman always look ahead.” Read more about how Stijn and Laura have succeed in creating value and why everyone can be a leader at Goodman.

Space to perform and grow

“Goodman likes to set the bar high,” Laura admits. “But we are all given the space we need to perform, learning from each other and helping each other grow.” When someone wants to take up another role, they get the chance to start on a new trajectory. Stijn, for instance, felt it was time for a new challenge after having been with Goodman for two years: “I started as a Valuation and Deal Analyst, but as a trained Civil Engineer, I longed for a more technical role and wanted to be closer involved with the end product.” In tight collaboration with his old and new team, and always with an eye on the needs of the company and the market, Stijn gradually made the transition.

And Stijn is not the only one who is given the opportunity to grow. “People at Goodman want to learn and be challenged. An attitude like that of course fits in perfectly with a company that has flexibility in its DNA. Mind you, I’m not talking about ‘climbing up the corporate ladder’. Goodman has deliberately chosen to do away with management structures and other hierarchies.” 

Creating value by staying ahead

Stijn: “The world around us is changing fast, so as team, we also have to be agile.” Laura adds that such agility requires “scanning the market, rather than sticking to certain processes, and carrying out different tasks depending on the priorities at the time. There is never a leader who says ‘you need to do this’. We listen to fresh ideas from everyone, because we are committed to creating value by focusing on providing future-proof assets and buildings that respond to the needs of the market.”

Goodman is one of the few companies that ‘walk the talk’ , Laura stresses: “We really want to be sustainable, It’s a genuine objective. We don’t wait for others; we believe it’s the right way of doing business.

Stijn emphasizes how Goodman’s mindset is exceptional especially in property development, which tends to be quite conservative as an industry: “We don’t rely on old habits and fixed routines, we look to the future to try and determine which practices will still be relevant in ten years’ time. We continually question the status quo at Goodman, thinking outside of the box to get the most out of every situation. And that requires people with an entrepreneurial spirit and an agile mind, above anything else.”

Everyone can be a leader

Laura feels that an agile mindset is necessary, “because everyone can be a leader at Goodman. You get all the support you need, but it’s up to you to get the ball rolling.” She adds that, while she leads her own projects, she does like to consult with the rest of the team. “I am initiating, but I need to gather others around me who have the right expertise in order to create something special. So we are continually working together to reach ambitious objectives..” Stijn, too, is impressed with the level of autonomy and responsibility that all Goodman employees get, including those who are still quite junior. “

Want to take on responsibility, like Stijn and Laura?  Take a look at our job vacancies, and get inspired by Stijn & Laura's video testimonial.