Grow your career at SGL

Marc: “I actually started as an intern at SGL during my Business Administration & Agribusiness studies in Delft, so I never had a ‘real job’ before coming here.”

Noortje: “After finishing my Media & Entertainment studies in The Hague, I worked at an online marketing company for over a year, but it wasn’t the right fit for me. Funny enough, their specialty was also LED, though in a different industry. I’m not a huge lighting enthusiast or anything, that was just a coincidence!”

Daan: “I graduated in Sport Marketing & Management from the Rotterdam University of Applied Sciences in 2019. Like many other students in my programme, I aspired to work in marketing for Feyenoord Rotterdam or at a major sports marketing agency. In the end, I stayed at the company where I did my graduation internship, which sold communication systems for football referees, so I was already active in the sports and technology sector.”

Marc: “In 2009, during the final year of my studies, one of my teachers connected me with SGL’s founder, Nico van Vuuren. They were actually looking for an agronomist, which I wasn’t, but I was still invited for an interview. I almost didn’t go because I thought it would be a waste of time, but I ended up having a great conversation with Nico and Frank van Beusekom (now Managing Director of SGL). The next day, I was hired to work one day a week. So, I unexpectedly landed my first job while I was still studying.”

Noortje: “In 2015, I was looking for a new job and applied to several companies, including SGL. They invited me for an interview, followed by a second one with Nico and Frank. That was a really fun experience, and we had a good laugh. I accepted their offer right away and became the first hire in the marketing department.”

Daan: “In 2022, I was looking for a new job when my dad got a tip from a colleague about SGL, he was amazed that a company active in such a unique sector was located in Waddinxveen. For me, this was convenient because I live in Gouda. I decided to apply for a position in the Operations & Sales department and got hired after a great conversation with both Marc and Noortje.”

Marc: “I started working one day a week next to my study and I also did my graduation internship here. In 2010, after I graduated, I stayed on full-time at Operations & Sales Support, but I got a lot of different tasks during that early days of the company. In 2016, I became the manager of the Operations & Sales department. I got an extra task in 2020, I started overseeing ‘special projects’. In this role, I’m responsible for projects such as the Kingdom Arena, where we help grow a top-quality pitch entirely indoors.”

Noortje: “I was hired in 2015 as a Content Marketer, but I ended up doing a lot of different things as the company grew and changed. I got involved in Service when the service manager left, and the same happened with the Research & Development department. At one point, I even became the Office Manager, all while continuing my full-time marketing role!”

“In 2018, I became Marketing Manager, and over the years, the department grew from one person to five. But I wanted to connect more with sales, so in 2022, I also took on the role of Sales Coordinator. It was a combined role with my Marketing Manager position, but both were essentially full-time jobs, so it was a very busy period! I had ambitions to evolve into a more central role within the company, so I discussed it with management and developed a game plan. It paid off, and now I’m working as Business Innovation Manager.”

Daan: “I joined SGL in 2022 in the Operations & Sales Support department. My tasks ranged from logistics to invoicing and commissioning. After about a year, during my half-yearly review, Marc asked if I’d be interested in a new role in sales. At the time, Noortje was juggling a double role as Marketing Manager and Sales Coordinator, so they needed someone to take over the Sales Coordinator role. I liked the idea, but I had to admit that organisation wasn’t my strong suit and that I needed to work on that. I was given the freedom to grow into the role and improve my organisational skills, which was really helpful.”

Marc: “The company has changed massively since I joined 15 years ago. Of course, any company changes when it grows from five to fifty people, but this is still a fantastic organisation. It’s incredibly interesting to be part of such a rapidly growing company, and I believe that growth will continue in the coming years. We’re active in a fantastic industry, especially if you love football. It truly is a unique setting; SGL remains the best place to work for me.”

Noortje: “Unlike many others in the team, I’m not necessarily passionate about football or grass, but I love the company’s culture and drive and I’d quickly grown to love the industry, its people and technology. It’s amazing how such a diverse group of people, with all kinds of skills and interests, can work so well together because of passion and a shared goal. Everyone is down-to-earth, and we have a great team where anything is possible. I appreciate the flexibility and the freedom you get here. Everything is achievable as long as you’re willing to work for it. People tend to stay here for a long time, and I don’t think that’s a coincidence.”

Daan: “From the moment I joined SGL, I felt welcome. It’s a company full of young people with passion. In my first conversation with our founder Nico, he mentioned that he saw himself more as a captain than a boss. I get that same feeling at SGL, where everyone listens to each other, and ideas and opinions are valued. SGL is always looking for improvement and innovation, striving to get the best out of everything. Everyone is willing to go the extra mile to help one another.”

Marc: “I want to stay at SGL because this is the place for me. Being part of this growth is amazing, and it’s going to be incredibly interesting to see where the next few years will take us. Our world is unique, and I’m happy to be part of it.”

Noortje: “It’s hard to put my ambition into words because, honestly, I’m not sure yet. I’ve always had a clear next step in mind, but right now, I don’t. I’ve only recently started in this new role and I’m just eager to take on new opportunities and help the company grow, so that’s my main focus for now.”

Daan: “I’d like to grow into a management role in the coming years. I also want to gain more sales experience to fully understand what life is like for the Area Managers. I think it’s really important to walk a mile in their shoes to be able to support them better.”