Three months into his new job Sven Steijvers is pleased to let us in on his past, his future and his job at Soulbricks. 

From stress to high pressure

“At first sight, the move from the hotel business to co-working and office space management may seem rather odd. In fact, it’s not. Let me tell you first of all that I have worked in the hospitality industry for over 25 years. It’s a highly demanding and stressful world. Many people do not appreciate that serving guests in renowned international hotels is not just a matter of attending and catering to their needs. It’s keeping a constant balance and making efforts to stay ahead of all possible wishes and trends in the international hotel business.

I was fortunate to build part of my career in the international environment of high-end hotels, where the pressure is tremendous. The same goes for my experience curve, by the way. Hospitality managers are HR managers, event and location managers and logistical wizards all in one, creating an environment where guests and business contacts can thrive.

After years of interesting challenges and cultural changes I was offered the opportunity to develop the operational and commercial activities of 1898 The Post, a prestigious hotel in the centre of town. It seemed like the right time to strengthen my European and Belgian network, so I accepted and I enjoyed the challenges and tasks ahead.

Transposing hotel experience to an office environment

When talking with the Soulbricks partners, I quickly came to understand the opportunities of implementing hospitality trends in their environment. And the rest is history. Obviously, a long road still lies ahead of us, mostly related to the rapid expansion of branches and activities. However, the ambition of this group is clear: create coworking and office spaces that meet the highest possible standards.

It’s quite interesting to apply my experience to these concepts. Again, we’re not talking about run-off-the mill experiences, not just ordinary facilities. We are talking about creating an atmosphere of well-being that envelopes the whole office concept. Let’s not forget either that we were well versed in sustainability and ecological issues and solutions. Indeed another range of solutions that can equally be adopted here.

The future

Everybody can provide coffee-making facilities and meeting rooms, or even cater for lunches. But how can you delight clients and their external partners and contacts in the process? How can you develop an eco-conscious, yet luxurious and productive workspace? That is the challenge we are about to tackle in the coming months. In all operating Soulbricks branches, but also by brainstorming and developing ideas for the future sites.

The expectations within the group and the different projects that require my attention are huge. I am convinced that we’re all up to the task. Exciting times, to say the least.