Balako’s journey into consultancy driven by growth and new experiences

Working in the world of consultancy supercharges the development of your professional skills. Take every opportunity that comes your way, so you can accelerate your personal growth and have an impact in society. That is the mantra Balako Hado lives by when it comes to his working life. He is an HVAC consultant with a passion for programming and automation who wants to share his know-how in order to make a difference in the world. His unique path into consultancy shows just what determination, eagerness to learn and a drive to develop and change can achieve. We asked Balako to tell us about his career as a consultant and what motivates him.

A fantastic education

“I had a fantastic education, if I say so myself,” Balako starts by saying. “After finishing my school education, I was keen to get into the world of work, but a good friend gave me pause for thought. He had already started studying Energy Technology in college and he told me how much he was getting out of it. “You’d be better off continuing your studies!” was his advice to me. “So, that’s what I went on to do – a decision I’ve never once regretted. That friend may well know how grateful I am to him for setting me straight.”

Semester in Madagascar

As part of the program, we had the opportunity to do a placement abroad through the Erasmus exchange scheme. Together with a fellow student, I went to Madagascar with an open mind, keen to learn all I could. I can honestly say the time I spent there was one of the best periods of my life. Our internship project involved helping to install solar panels for a small local firm. Working as a team, we installed enough solar panels to supply electricity to as many as 2,000 people. The region we were in was extremely poor and I’d never seen a situation like that before. So, it was quite a culture shock for me. But, knowing that I was able to play a part in making life a little better for the people in that community is something I will always cherish. Yet, more than that, it gave me a desire to help people in other situations too.

Consultancy is flexible

After graduating and my amazing internship experience in Madagascar, I was motivated to start on a new challenge. I wanted to see my career grow and evolve. As a consultant, you have great flexibility and many opportunities to learn and grow. After I’d finished my studies, I went to work for AlfaZ, a consultancy firm based in Ghent that specialized in engineering. I was working as a technical design consultant when the takeover by Pauwels Consulting suddenly opened even more doors for me.

Steady progress

My aim is to be able to look back every three years and clearly see how far I’ve come. So I want to be able to see that in those three years I’ve progressed from where I am now. There are a number of roles I want to take on and skills I want to put into practice. For instance, I recently moved on from a project since I felt I’d gone as far as I could in that particular role. The moment I’m in my comfort zone, I start to get itchy feet. Pauwels Consulting is the perfect place for someone like me! I discuss what’s on my mind with my Talent Manager and we put our heads together to look at the options.

New challenge

I was looking for something completely different from my previous role as an Electrical Design Engineer and started work as an E&I Automation Engineer for a Belgian multinational that develops, produces and sells analog and digital modeling systems, IT systems and products in the hydrogen production industry. I am responsible for climate control with a SCADA system (Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition) that allows us to automatically control the HVAC systems. If there’s a problem, I go on site to fix it and do an inspection.

Learning programming on the job

The role is a technical one, but it also allows me to indulge my passion for programming. Before I started on this project, my knowledge of programming was still quite basic, but I was very eager to improve my skills. I can now program PLCs (Programmable Logic Controllers) and control them using SCADA. My role also involves using virtual machines that allow us to use previous software versions. This comes into play in the case of machines with older operating systems.

Development support

Pauwels Consulting and the client have supported me along this path. Pauwels Consulting by giving me the opportunity to start on a project that was completely new for me, and the client by having the belief in me to take me on and giving me the support of a mentor. As a result, I feel supported by both parties and can continue developing my programming skills. As I become more familiar with the role, I am increasingly able to take the initiative in what I do. There’s a strong emphasis on working independently in the project. For instance, I am responsible for planning my work and for materials that need to be ordered.

"I have benefited from more training at Pauwels Consulting while working there. Last year, I followed a tailored Training Program that included training in communication skills and design thinking. They were both fascinating topics with an immediate practical application." - Balako

Opportunities for growth

I am hugely grateful for the many opportunities I’ve been given to further develop my skills and for personal development. I’ve still got a long way to go and many avenues to explore in my career, and I want to get the most value out of every step on that path. There’s no doubt working for Pauwels Consulting has been a good move. That’s why I decided to volunteer to act as a Pauwels Ambassador for the client. This entails being a point of contact for all consultants at Pauwels Consulting involved with the same company where I am working. Now that I’ve had all this training in communication, I thought it would be a good opportunity to put it directly into practice for the benefit of my colleagues while also honing my skills.

Personal ambition

I am ambitious in the sense that I want to challenge myself. By being willing to learn and seizing the opportunities that come my way, I hope over time to experience new places and to step into new roles. Possibly as a manager or project manager, with a mix of technical and communication responsibilities. I have already worked on many projects for Pauwels Consulting, so my next move might be to look for a project abroad or a business manager role.

But my real passion is helping people. I know I am very fortunate to have had the education I’ve had, as well as opportunities for personal development. That’s why I want to share my know-how with those who have not had this opportunity. My experience in Madagascar was a light-bulb moment for me, where I understood just how lucky I am and that I need to make the most of it.