Nicolas G. Braham
Head of Sales and Business Development
Welcome to the 6th edition of “Stories from the Ground“. Today we have the pleasure of featuring Nicolas G. Braham, Head of Sales and Business Development at MDWind. In this interview, Nicolas shares with us his insights and experiences working in the renewable energy industry. Let’s dive in and learn from his expertise. Check out what he shared with us here: 👉
Tell us a bit more about your company.
MDWind was created in 2010 and provides services in the sector of wind power. Today we provide all services for the full life cycle of wind farms, which means that we offer our expertise for installation, maintenance, lifetime extension, blade inspection and repairs, as well as repowering of existing wind farms. We are focused on and aiming to develop our services abroad to eventually cover most of the markets in Europe.
Does the company’s mission and vision reflect your values?
I believe so! I was interested in the company’s mission and the proposal to work here because it was a medium-sized company working in a very interesting industry sector with a lot of potential. We all want to participate in the wind solution. MDWind has a great potential that has not yet been fully met.
Can you explain your job at MDWind?
When I joined MDWind, I took over the sales and commercial responsibilities of the founder, Matthieu Dessailly. I have been working on the sale management aspects for three years together with another colleague of mine. My next step in the following years will be working on commercial strategy of MDW. Essentially, this will be more about reflecting on how we want to build the company to the next level and what we want to propose.
How did you evolve within the company?
My function here was quite new for me because I was doing something completely different from before. I was working in the import and export field. I have been learning a lot every day and am constantly challenged because I feel that I am developing my skills and learning every day. After all, I’m also surrounded by very smart and talented people. I like that I first wanted to organize the sales aspect of the business and then now I’m aiming to go more on the business development and strategic level. I’m following the growth of the company which is also interesting because I’m part of this journey and not just observing it.
Can you tell us about your personal development goals within the company for the next five years?
Our company aims to work collaboratively with management and colleagues at a strategic level to design value and drive growth. In the next 5 years, I see myself taking on more responsibilities and contributing more to the company’s growth. I am inspired by being part of a team that is committed to making a difference and achieving its goals.
How did Artemys approach you during the recruitment process?
Artemys approached me through a former colleague, Loic, who co-founded the company. He reached out to me when I was looking for job opportunities and I trusted him as the founder of the company.
Did Artemys prepare you well for the interview with the client?
Yes, Artemys prepared me well for the interview. We had several calls to prepare, and everything was explained clearly. I had open discussions with them, which helped me shape my presentation for the interview.
Did Artemys follow up with you during the interview process?
Yes, Artemys followed up with me during the interview process and kept me informed about the status and progress. Even after I got the job, they continued to follow up and check in with me from time to time. They are still involved in human sourcing and following up with the company, as new colleagues have joined since I started. It’s an ongoing process, and I appreciate their support.
Can you tell us about your experience with Artemys in terms of answering your questions and listening to your needs or concerns regarding the salary package or management expectations?
In general terms, I think yes! However, one difficulty we faced was that MDWind is based in Luxemburg, and Artemys was not used to working with a company based outside of Belgium. Also, MDWind is quite specific since in Luxemburg, you don’t have those extra advantages in the salary package as we have here in Belgium.
How does Artemys overcome these challenges?
Loic acted as a link between MDWind and me, trying to understand more about what I could ask and what was expected from my side. So, he was a good intermediary in making discussions possible. Then, at one point, I had to take a risk and just go and see. For me, the project itself was more than just the package. So, I was ready to take the risk and see how it would go.
What is your general opinion about Artemys?
I would say that Artemys has provided a bespoke service to MDWind. I have seen that Artemys is very much dedicated to fully understanding the needs of our company to propose something more tailored that fits the purpose of our company. It’s not just about offering a standard service, but they dedicate themselves to looking for the perfect match and making more than what would be necessary in terms of efforts and talent sourcing. So, indeed, they offer a bespoke service, which is well done, and this is the added value that Artemys offers compared to other recruitment agencies.
Would you work with Artemys again or recommend us to someone you know?
Definitely yes! I would recommend Artemys more for specific functions or profiles than just for generic human sourcing. Essentially, I could say that I would recommend Artemys for the quality rather than the quantity.
What do you think would be the added value that Artemys brings compared to other competitors? I believe that Artemys is well-placed to help and support companies to better organize themselves internally. This includes the capacity to search for highly qualified profiles, conduct interviews and make a compelling assessment of the candidates, etc. But also, the ability to support companies in their strategic career path and methodology. So, it’s more than just providing companies with candidates.