Meet Silke,

1 of our Account Managers

What do you do at Cheops?

As an Account Manager, I’m responsible for managing the commercial relationship with several customers within the Managed Services division. My main job is to build a good rapport with them, based on mutual trust. My customers can always contact me with any questions they have. I often work in the office, alongside my colleagues, but I also spend a lot of time on the road. I go on ‘coffee dates’ with my customers. These are open discussions, during which I ask them about their concerns and how business is going. I also attend Service Delivery meetings with my colleagues.

What are the qualities you need in your job?

You need to be a bit of a jack of all trades on the operational level, and at the same time you need to enjoy working with different customers. You can’t afford to be phased by unexpected events. Flexibility is key, because when a problem arises, the customer expects you to pick up the phone when they call. Finally, you must be able to adapt easily and work with both technical colleagues and the C-suite, bridging the gap between the technical side and what’s in it for the business. This job is all about a good mix of relationships and rationality.

How did you find out about Cheops?

I had already seen their campaigns, including in my LinkedIn feed. I also encountered Cheops on previous projects, albeit as a competitor. They piqued my curiosity, which is why I talked to some of their customers – who had nothing but praise for Cheops, the people, the solutions, and the quality of their service. So I decided to send an open job application and I turned out to be a match!

Why did you choose Cheops?

I felt the engagement of the team at Cheops from the outset, during my first interview. Everyone is very skilled and hands-on, which is a great combo. Obviously, Cheops’ customers also had a hand in convincing me of the company’s merits. They said that Cheops really delivers on its promises, which isn’t always the case at other companies.

What are your ambitions?

What I like is that I have a lot of freedom here, when it comes to decision-making. I’m mainly interested in helping to develop customised services, which are completely tailored to the customer. This means focusing on their business even more: this is the challenge they are dealing with, and how can we at Cheops help them overcome this, with our services? In the long term, I want to become more specialised, as a Subject Matter Expert in Managed Services.

What does "Winner" mean to you? How do you help customers get ahead?

I am a keen tennis player, and over the years, I've developed a strong winner’s mindset. I used to spend all my free time on the tennis court, and played in many tournaments over the years. These days, I'm more of a doubles player. What’s nice about this, is that you support each other and help each other to succeed. That is exactly how I feel about my job. I know my customers and I really make an effort to understand the ins and outs of their business. Therefore I can propose solutions that are completely in line with their needs. You always start by asking yourself ‘What does the customer need?’ rather than ‘What can Cheops deliver?’. I'm very proactive and I keep in touch with my customers. I don’t want them to see me as someone who just sends the occasional email, but as an effective, trustworthy person, whom they can always contact when the need arises. That way we both win, together.