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In the last few years and months, Optimy has grown by leaps and bounds. We have solidified our position as the European leader in the social impact space, and have grown tremendously in North America as well.
This period of growth has been possible because of our people, who are the lifeblood and driving force of our company.
Very few people embody the Optimy ethos more than our Senior Account Executive, Christophe Dreuw, who has been with Optimy for over nine years. Chris recently joined us to talk about his journey of growth at Optimy!
Do you remember your first day?
Chris: Yes, and I was late. I wanted to come early (German-style) but there was such a massive traffic jam due to an accident and I was 30 minutes late.
What has been your biggest achievement/success?
Chris: My first deal. I hadn't done sales before and I wanted to help the team as fast as possible. When my first deal dropped, it was a massive relief, a great feeling and I wanted more of that.
What's your favorite memory of the 9 years at Optimy?
Chris: There are lots of great memories at Optimy but if I have to pick one I would go for the early times. We were a small team, the office space wasn't great, we didn't have many references, the Optimy tool offered a fraction of what it does today and we were trying to get the job done mainly with free tools which wasn't always easy. But all of this didn't matter. We were a small team that believed in the project and we just gave our best to be successful. Jean-Philippe (our Customer Success Solutions Expert) was in charge of implementations, HR, salaries and contract negotiations with customers. Our former CTO was in charge of developing the system, the wifi, the team's computers and the office. Kenneth (our CEO) was the CEO, CFO and selling the system. Sebastien and I were hunting prospects and trying to sell as much as possible. It was tough but it was fun.
Now, I look forward to the next milestone that we will reach together and I'm confident with the great people we have in the team today, there are no limits to what we can achieve if everyone plays along.
What is your greatest strength/talent?
Chris: I would say being curious and being interested in learning and improving my skills. A professional athlete doesn’t stop training once they are professional, they keep going to remain at the level or get even better. This doesn’t apply just to athletes but to any job in my opinion.
In a typical workweek, what do you look forward to doing? If you could design your job with no restrictions, how would you spend your time?
Chris: In a workweek, I look forward to the exchanges with our clients, companies, and foundations. They share their daily challenges and I like to unwrap the processes and find solutions for them. I would compare our sales job to an escape room which I consider fun.
What are your highest priorities in life and how does your work fit in?
Chris: Personally, my highest priority is to remain humble, treat others with respect and help others in need if I can be of any help. Each one can contribute to creating a better community. At Optimy, we help foundations and companies which want to make the world a better place. For me, this is a perfect match.
What creates a sense of purpose? Why do you come to work every day?
Chris: Helping companies and foundations to enhance our lives and the communities is a great motivation to come to work. Furthermore, seeing the company grow and create new jobs, allowing people to pay their rent and build a life with their families is a great motivation for me as well.
Amplify your positive impact at Optimy
At Optimy, we value diversity of all kinds, including diversity of thought. Our team has the autonomy and flexibility they need to do their best work how they want. As we all work to better ourselves and the world, we prefer to do so as our authentic selves and alongside like-minded people in an atmosphere of belonging.
If you’d like to learn and grow while helping companies do good in the world, you should consider Optimy as the next step in your personal and professional growth. Download our Culture Playbook to learn more about the company culture at Optimy, and apply to our open positions today to be a part of the Optimy team!
