Raising a glass to our proud ambassadors
Colruyt Group's IT department places great value on ambassadors—co-workers who embody and share the organisation's values and updates both internally and externally. On 28 January, the ambassadors gathered to toast the new year.
Showcasing another side of Colruyt Group
During the gathering, the ‘Ambassador of the Year’ award was presented to Elien Tondat. Elien, who has worked at Colruyt Group for 18 years, was honoured for her efforts. Even before joining the IT department as a change manager, she had taken on an ambassadorial role for the group: "I've always identified with the company's values, so I’m happy to share them with external stakeholders and colleagues."
As an ambassador, Elien shares Colruyt Group news with family, friends, acquaintances, and her LinkedIn network. "Sometimes it’s about IT, but I often check the group’s press releases. I don’t share everything. I first consider whether the news aligns with me. If it does, I will put pen to paper. For instance, I proudly shared the renaming of our foundation from Collibri Foundation to Colruyt Group Foundation. It’s something I’m proud of because it highlights how we’re more than just a retailer. We go the extra mile for a better world. I’m happy to showcase that other side of Colruyt Group."
The warmest team
Elien also speaks highly of Colruyt Group IT as an employer. "I really resonated with Arianne's story . I started here as a temp, and now I’ve been part of the warmest team at Colruyt Group for years. That’s only possible because we believe in everyone's talent and provide tools to shape careers. There are so many growth opportunities here, and that’s why people stay for so long."
We’re much more than a retailer. I proudly showcase this other side of Colruyt Group.
Breakfast for the whole team
To highlight the importance of ambassadorship, all team managers underwent training last year about what ambassadorship entails and how to use LinkedIn effectively. The team managers were challenged to gather as many impressions as possible on the social network. The winner? Wim Derijnck, manager of the Network Solutions & Application Servers team. His team was rewarded with a breakfast.
It was a well-deserved reward for Wim's motivated team. "Motivation is the foundation of everything," Wim explained. "It’s a prerequisite for allowing your skills and knowledge to shine. As a manager, I foster motivation by giving people the freedom to determine how they achieve their goals. Instead of dictating tasks and methods, I ask what they need."
Continuing to invest in ambassadors
At Colruyt Group's IT department, we will continue to focus on ambassadorship in the future. We believe it boosts engagement, collaboration, and knowledge-sharing within teams. Having employees who embody the organisation's values also significantly impacts Colruyt Group IT's employer image.