From Architecture to Product Development

Sahar started her career in architecture, but quickly discovered that her interests extended beyond design alone. She became fascinated by the processes behind projects and the way technology can improve them.

Today, she works as a Product Owner at BIMcollab. In that role, she helps shape the product by deciding which problems to solve, which priorities to pursue, and how BIMcollab continues to evolve.

I first discovered BIMcollab during my studies

I was first introduced to BIMcollab while studying Architecture in Eindhoven.

During my bachelor’s degree, I heard about the software for the first time, and later I attended a workshop at the BIMcollab office. There, I learned more about BIM, collaboration, and the role software plays within the construction industry.

That experience stayed with me.

After graduating, I started working as an Architectural Engineer. It was a valuable experience because it gave me a deep understanding of how projects work in practice and the challenges teams face on a daily basis.

At the same time, I realised that my interests went beyond design itself.

I wanted to have a bigger impact

Architecture is often seen as a creative profession.

And it is.

But in practice, you are often responsible for only a small part of a much larger process.

It was those processes that increasingly caught my attention.

Why do some projects run smoothly while others struggle?

Where do inefficiencies occur?

And how can technology help teams collaborate more effectively?

I found myself becoming more interested in those questions than in designing buildings.

I wanted to contribute to something bigger than a single project. I wanted to help create solutions that could make a difference for many people across the industry.

From BIM Product Specialist to Product Owner

Three years ago, I joined BIMcollab as a Junior BIM Product Specialist.

Within the DCX team, I helped customers get more value from the software. We created training materials, documentation, and learning resources, while also maintaining direct contact with users.

That meant I heard firsthand what was working well and where customers were experiencing challenges.

What I found particularly interesting was that this feedback didn’t disappear into a system somewhere.

We actively brought those insights back to the product team.

For the first time, I felt that I was not only helping users, but also directly influencing the future development of the product.

Close to both customers and decision-making

Today, I work as a Product Owner.

My role is all about understanding problems before we start building solutions.

That means spending time with customers, collaborating with developers, working closely with the go-to-market team, and making decisions about priorities.

Which problems should we solve first?

Which developments will create the most value?

And how do we ensure we are building the right things?

That is what I enjoy most about my role.

You stay close to the users while also being involved in the decisions that shape the product.

Growing by speaking up about what you want

One thing I appreciate about BIMcollab is that development is not treated as something abstract.

After about a year and a half, I realised that I wanted to become a Product Owner.

I shared that ambition with my team lead.

From that moment on, I gradually received more responsibilities. Not because a vacancy happened to open up, but because there was a conscious effort to help me develop towards that role.

As a result, the transition felt very natural.

It was not a leap into the unknown, but a logical next step in a journey I had already started.

Here, you feel that your ideas matter

What makes the biggest difference for me is that you genuinely feel your voice matters.

If you have ideas, people listen.

If you take initiative, you are given space.

And if you want to take on responsibility, you are supported in doing so.

That is incredibly motivating.

In the construction industry, I experienced how slowly change can sometimes happen. In software development, I see results much faster. You can improve things, experiment, and quickly see the impact of those changes.

That dynamic suits me very well.

An international environment with different perspectives

Another thing I value is the opportunity to work with colleagues from different countries, backgrounds, and disciplines.

That diversity makes the work more interesting.

Different perspectives are welcomed, and there is a strong culture of learning from one another.

The environment does not feel hierarchical.

Instead, it feels like everyone is working together towards the same goal, each contributing in their own way.

When will you feel at home here?

I think BIMcollab is a great fit for people who are curious.

People who want to understand how things work.

People who enjoy improving processes.

And people who are interested not only in solutions, but also in understanding the problems behind them.

Especially if you have a background in architecture, engineering, or BIM, this can be a very interesting next step.

You stay connected to the industry while gaining the opportunity to make an impact on a much larger scale.