Eya Laatar

Junior Data Engineer

What is - in your own words - your role at RetailSonar?
I play a key role in making retail information readily available and valuable for the RetailSonar team. I create and manage end-to-end ETL pipelines, from design to implementation, focussing on structuring and preparing retail data to ensure it is accessible and actionable for our consultants. Beyond that, I am dedicated to maintaining robust pipelines to ensure data reliability.

What did you do before your job at RetailSonar?
I completed my computer science engineering study. This equipped me with the knowledge and skills needed to tackle the complex challenges of data management.

How did you end up at RetailSonar?
Somewhat serendipitous! I stumbled upon a job posting on LinkedIn. I was immediately drawn to the diversity of tasks and the opportunity to work in the dynamic retail sector. The company culture and position aligned perfectly with my professional aspirations. 

Your first impression of our company?
Highly positive! Right from the start, I felt a sense of comfort and belonging. What particularly stood out to me was the kindness of my colleagues, even as the only woman in a team of male data engineers (laughs). I was warmly welcomed, well-guided, and received excellent support and training.

What do you see as the biggest challenge in your job?
Creating pipelines from scratch and exploring new technologies. Each new project is an opportunity to learn, surpass myself, and refine my skills. This continuous process of adaptation and personal improvement makes each day a stimulating adventure!

How would you describe yourself in a few words?
A lively, warm, and caring person with an artistic touch.

What do you prefer to do in your free time?
I love spending quality moments with my loved ones, whether it's sharing a meal around a table, sipping tea while enjoying a sunset in Sidi Bou Said (my guilty pleasure), or engaging in activities like picnics and camping. My passions include traveling, theater, painting, pottery and pastry making. I enjoy creating things with my hands. 

What do you prefer to eat?
My favorite dish is a delicious couscous prepared by my grandmother. It's the best and immediately takes me back to my childhood.

Your favorite travel destination?
Portugal, a true open-air museum! Every corner of the country breathes history, with its cobblestone streets, majestic castles, and picturesque beaches.

Anything else that’s funny to know about you?

As a kid, I was convinced that I would have a career in music and become a star. I dreamed of participating in The Voice or ”Nouvelle star”, despite my singing voice being more 'saucepan' ("casserole") than 'superstar'! (laughs).

Sam Pauwels

Junior Consultant

What is - in your own words - your role at RetailSonar?
I work in the consultancy team and configure applications to the needs of our customers. And because I often prepare testings to find the best locations (“hotspots”) from a batch of thousands of possible locations, my colleagues started to call me “the Batch Boy” (laughs).

What did you do before your job at RetailSonar?
My utmost best in various endeavors. 

How did you end up at RetailSonar?
That is a funny story: I studied together with the brother of our well known company trainer Frances Tavernier, and he casually dropped the RetailSonar name during a project. I was impressed by the story of the company and remembered this when I started solicitations for a job

Your first impression of our company?
Sincerity and teamwork are the standout features for me. It's a great environment where being a part of the team feels less like work and more like an epic quest, minus the dragons (unless you consider Excel spreadsheets as mythical creatures).

What do you see as the biggest challenge in your job?
Managing deadlines, multitasking, and finding that sweet spot for work-life balance. It's a juggling act, but it keeps things exciting.

How would you describe yourself in a few words?
Enthusiastic, original, and just a tad insecure. It's all part of the Sam-mix.

What do you prefer to do in your free time?
I'm a bit of an all-rounder – climbing, running, soccer, badminton, volleyball, cooking, baking, sewing, scouting, reading, and (board)gaming. Oh, and escaperooming, as well!

What do you prefer to eat?
Durum chicken – all vegetables + fries - looksaus/samurai - €8.50. Also, Pizza-Pitta-Snack Yavuz.

Your favorite travel destination?
Anywhere with my girlfriend is great, but if I had to choose, Thailand gets my vote.

Anything else that’s funny to know about you?

Well, I have a 100% (3 out of 3 times) pass-out rate whenever a doctor has drawn some blood from my arm. It's my unique talent, I guess.

Antony Marsal

Consultant

What is - in your own words - your role at RetailSonar?
I crunch the data to configure the most efficient tools for our customers. It's all about optimizing the use of our tools to meet our clients' needs.

What did you do before your job at RetailSonar?
I spent 3 years at the Ministry of Environment working on territory development. Later, as a geomarketing analyst at Biocoop, the vibrant world of organic food ignited my passion for the fascinating geomarketing field.

How did you end up at RetailSonar?
I aimed to shift my focus in geomarketing towards software and tools while engaging with various companies. RetailSonar provided that perfect blend.

Your first impression of our company?
The company has a fantastic energetic vibe and atmosphere. People here are very open and make an effort to ensure everyone feels as comfortable as possible.

What do you see as the biggest challenge in your job?
Mastering the art of configuring predictive models for each customer is a fresh challenge, particularly as it's a new aspect for me. Time to delve into the intricacies of personalized setups!

Do you have a specific connection with or love for the retail sector? 
Absolutely! Having worked for a retailer before, I’ve witnessed the passion and sincerity with which retailers change the world through consumption. 

What do you prefer to do in your free time?
I like playing tennis, going to the cinema, theater, or museum, and occasionally having a few drinks with friends – sometimes all three on the same night!

Your favorite travel destination(s)?

The Norway trip I made 2 years ago was quite memorable.

Rick Pieters

Data scraping

What is - in your own words - your role at RetailSonar?
I would describe myself as a collector of addresses, ensuring their quality through thorough checks.

What did you do before your job at RetailSonar?
Before RetailSonar, my time was mostly dedicated to studying and juggling various student jobs.

How did you end up at RetailSonar?
I got a student job here thanks to our financial maestro Jeroen Vandenberghe, who led me to this opportunity.

Your first impression of our company?
My first impression is that it's a cool team. Everyone seems to be on the same page, creating a positive working atmosphere.

What do you see as the biggest (positive) challenge in your job?
The biggest positive challenge for me would be web scraping, navigating through a new field of programming with lots of new opportunities to explore!

What do you prefer to do in your free time?
I love juggling between bar escapades and TV show marathons to achieve the perfect recipe for relaxation and recharging.

What do you prefer to eat?
Belgian (not French!) fries with frikandells of course!

Tibo Quintens

Junior Infrastructure Engineer

What is - in your own words - your role at RetailSonar?
I’m part of the international development team. I flex my coding muscles by writing Python scripts to enhance our systems.

Before joining RetailSonar, you were a student. Can you tell us a bit about your journey and how you ended up here?
I discovered RetailSonar through an interim office, initially signing up for a three-month internship. The welcoming vibe and valuable learning experiences made me decide to extend my stay.

Your first impression of our company?
My first impression was overwhelmingly positive. The people here are not only friendly but also incredibly nice to work with. I've found a supportive environment with colleagues who are always ready to help.

What do you see as the biggest challenge in your job?
Navigating through the various technologies and understanding the bigger picture. It's a continuous learning process that keeps me on my toes!

How would you describe yourself in a few words?
I'm dedicated, a problem-solver, and a professional button-masher when it comes to coding challenges.

What do you prefer to do in your free time?
I'm an avid gamer, mostly into first-person shooters, and I love spending quality time chilling with friends.

What do you prefer to eat?
I'm shamelessly devoted to Italian cuisine, especially the dynamic duo of pizza and pasta.

What can we wake you up for?

I absolutely cherish my sleep! There's nothing that can convince me to wake up easily. (laughs)