Belgium is certainly where Luc Chomé feels at home. He was born in Rwanda and has lived in many places during his adult life – the USA, Bosnia, Ivory Coast and Ireland. His varied professional career – in a humanitarian agency (Handicap International), the localization industry, university administration, and project management for digital businesses – connected unexpected dots.
When he’s not busy taking care of clients, you might run into him when he’s playing ultimate frisbee or travelling. He also enjoys reading essays and novels, and playing poker.
I caught up with Luc to learn more about him and what makes him tick.
Jerick: Before joining ZN, what you were doing? And how did you join ZN?
Luc: For two years I had contributed to the development of an online company, Netprint.com, which creates cool photo products. After that I worked freelance. But I got in touch with ZN while doing project management work for a friend who knew about ZN’s need for an Account Manager. I was drawn to ZN because I liked the general vision of the digital age being an opportunity, not a threat, and the possibility for me to be able to combine account and project management. Also, as ZN is a growing company, I felt like I would get the advantages of a small-sized company (multiple hats, proximity, atmosphere) coupled with the advantages of a bigger one (appropriate work tools, a full team of experts to support).
Jerick: What’s your work at ZN like? What do you do? What are your main responsibilities/clients?
Luc: I’m an account manager for a large biopharma company and for TOURISMlink, a pilot platform facilitating the flow of information between tourism service buyers (travel agents and tour operators) and tourism services suppliers (hotels, transport and complementary services). Among other things, I manage client expectations, allocate internal and external resources, have a grip on budget, and have to be creative as well. To me it’s like driving fast cars. You’ve got your foot on the gas pedal and your hands on the steering wheel, and everyone expects you to drive the car to the destination, but sometimes conditions change – the road gets slippery or narrow, sometimes the lights are off – but you’ve got to keep calm and carry on. It’s better than a video game, and it’s real!
Jerick: What do you like most about working at ZN? What makes your work at ZN different from other companies doing something similar?
Luc: It’s the constant flow of new ideas and tools. Being in such a dynamic business, you never stop learning new ways to interact with your clients and with others in general. We use tools that are very efficient for our clients and also fun and useful for one’s personal life.
Jerick: Are you a Hyperthinker? Why?
Luc: Am I? Hyperthinking is a journey. I’m travelling. A hyperthinker, in Philip Weiss’ view, asks what “we can practically do, in this challenging world, to help ourselves live, and live well.” I like that. A hyperthinker does not lament, a hyperthinker thinks positively and is not afraid of failure. Failure is now better accepted as part of a learning process. Beckett said, “Try Again. Fail again. Fail better.”
Jerick: Could you suggest a book, movie, travel destination, or a website?
Luc: Arf! So many, but maybe an ancient classic: Meditations by Marcus Aurelius and a more contemporary read: Everything is obvious by Duncan Watts. On the novel side, my favourite author Romain Gary’s Promise at Dawn. A movie? The Thin Red Line by Terrence Malick is a war movie that’s about more than war. A travel destination? The Annapurna trek in Nepal. A website? Well, my frisbee club, because ultimate frisbee is by far the most satisfying sport out there. No kidding! Check it out on youtube!
Find out more about Luc by checking out his profile.