He is the COO of Shock Media, will celebrate his 10-year anniversary with our company next year, and considers Interstellar the best movie ever. He started at Shock Media in 2011 and is now an indispensable part of our team. In this blog, we get to know… Kevin!
Can you tell us a bit about yourself?
So, I’m Kevin and I’m 32 years old. I live in Almelo, I’m married to Arlene, and I have three children. In my free time, I enjoy doing fun things with my family and friends. And I love watching movies and series. My favorite? I thought Game of Thrones was a really good series (except for the ending) and Interstellar is a movie you really have to see.
How did you end up at Shock Media?
During my studies, I worked in a computer store nearby, and at that time, Shock Media’s office was located there as well. The company was much smaller back then. That’s where I got to know Alain (Götz, CEO). After I finished my studies, I was quickly offered a job at Shock Media. So, I started as an account manager in 2011.
What did you study?
I studied Business Informatics at HBO level. This program is at the intersection of business management and computer science. So I understand the technology and usually know what is or isn’t technically possible, which allows me to collaborate effectively with our technical team on a daily basis. Although the techniques we use at Shock Media are very specific. You really only gain knowledge of Managed Hosting by working with it or by working at a company like this.
Because I also had technical knowledge, I was able to take on more tasks alongside my work as an account manager. For example, I looked at how processes within Shock Media were running and what improvements could be made. Because of that, I’ve been able to shape my own role over the years.
What exactly does this role entail?
Officially, I am the COO at Shock Media, so Chief Operational Officer. That sometimes sounds quite formal, so when people ask, I say that I am responsible for operational management within Shock Media. I look at how the processes are running and what we can improve. In addition, I am also partly responsible for sales, ensuring that we sell the right services to the right customers.
What does a day for Kevin at Shock Media look like?
My work is incredibly broad. I jump in wherever I’m needed, so everyone in the company interacts with me in one way or another. This makes my workdays very diverse. One moment I’m in a performance review, the next I’m working with Remon (Weijermars, CTO) on implementing a new configuration management system, and sometimes I’m with a client to come up with a new solution. The variety in my work is what makes me look forward to coming to work every day.
In your opinion, what makes someone a good COO?
I think it’s important to be approachable, so people can easily come to you with questions. I also believe it’s important to create an environment where the team feels comfortable presenting new ideas, knowing they will be heard. You need to have a sense of responsibility and encourage these ideas.
What is the coolest thing Shock Media has achieved since you started working here?
As a company, we are always developing, but when I look at the team we have now and the amount of technical expertise we possess, that’s truly something unique. Everyone at Shock Media wants the best for our clients and goes all out for that. It’s quite an achievement that we have built and maintained this team. Besides that, our growth is of course really cool, but that’s a bit obvious.
What is the goal for the future?
We want to continue growing so that we become the market leader in Managed Hosting for web-based applications. That’s what we’re good at and where our focus lies. That’s why we’ve started quite a few projects to make our team and our services even more scalable. That’s actually an incredibly great challenge. You get the chance to review everything and see where you can take further steps.
Shock Media is also known for its fun outings. Why is that important?
It’s very important for team spirit. As I mentioned, we have a very technical team that needs to collaborate a lot, also between different departments. Of course, that team spirit develops during daily work, but sometimes it’s good to step out of that together and do something completely different. For example, playing an escape room together or going out for dinner. We also see that pretty much everyone signs up for these activities and really enjoys them. People talk about it for weeks or even months afterward at the office. The highlight was definitely the celebration of our 20th anniversary at Moviepark Germany.
For the hesitant reader: Why should someone apply at Shock Media?
Because this company is growing so much, there are a lot of opportunities for people who want to develop themselves. Like me, you can shape your own role. There’s a lot of freedom to take on certain responsibilities and further develop them. For example, Mike (Luttikhuis, System Engineer) has really focused on IT security, which you can read about in the blog on the Wazuh project. Someone joins the company and, of course, gets a certain set of tasks, but within that, we facilitate and support the chance to further develop what you’re passionate about. In addition, everyone is very helpful, and we really just have a fantastic team!
Are you already convinced that Shock Media is the company for you? Then apply for one of our current vacancies! Still unsure or curious about the stories of our other colleagues? Then read our other blogs.
