Not the traditional architecture career path

Michelle started her career as an architect but gradually discovered that her energy was better suited elsewhere. She has now been working at BIMcollab/KUBUS for almost nine years, where she grew from support and sales into her current role as Business Marketer.

I quickly realised architecture wasn't making me happy

During my architecture studies, I mainly enjoyed the creative side. Designing, thinking about concepts, and visualising ideas really appealed to me. But once I started working, the reality felt different from what I had expected.

The work was less creative and often quite repetitive. It also came with a lot of responsibility, long working hours, and constant pressure from deadlines. Especially in Belgium, I noticed how uncertain the industry could sometimes be.

After a while, I started asking myself more and more: Is this really what I want? Interestingly enough, what I continued to enjoy was working with software. I was especially interested in Archicad. I enjoyed figuring things out, finding smarter ways to work, and helping colleagues solve problems. At the time, I didn't know that this would eventually lead me in a completely new direction.

I actually already knew KUBUS

At the architecture firm where I worked, we used Archicad every day and regularly contacted KUBUS support. Because of that, the company already felt somewhat familiar when I later came across a vacancy for a support position. Still, making the move felt like a big step. The Belgian office was still in its early stages, and during my onboarding I travelled to Eindhoven every day. It was a major change.

What ultimately helped was a conversation with a KUBUS colleague, Laura, who had also studied architecture. She understood exactly what I was struggling with. She made me realise that I wasn't "failing" as an architect—I was simply discovering that I was better suited to a different role. That realisation was incredibly valuable.

Here, I discovered what truly suits me

When I started at KUBUS, everything suddenly came together. I worked in support, helping customers via chat and phone, and later also delivered training sessions. It was there that I discovered how much energy I get from communicating, explaining things, and working together with others. Much more than spending hours designing behind a screen. I enjoyed helping customers move forward, making software easier to understand, and thinking along with them about how things could be done more efficiently. That was something I had never really discovered about myself during my studies.

My work evolved alongside the organisation

What I appreciate about BIMcollab/KUBUS is that you don't quickly get placed into one fixed role. After a while, I got the opportunity to temporarily work within sales. I joined customer meetings, gave demos and webinars, and discovered another side of myself.

I especially enjoyed the combination of content and communication. I didn't have to "sell" in the traditional sense. It was much more about sharing enthusiasm, bringing customers along in the story, and explaining how software can make their work easier. From there, my role gradually moved further towards marketing.

Now, everything comes together

In my current role as Business Marketer, I feel that everything I enjoy comes together. I work on campaigns, content, webinars, and social media, while also thinking strategically about the market and our target audience.

Because I come from the architecture world myself, I understand the challenges our customers face. This helps me translate technical topics into content that is easier to understand. That combination of creativity, knowledge, and collaboration is what makes my work so varied. And honestly, I never expected that I would eventually enjoy this more than architecture itself.

A warm organisation with lots of dynamism

Even though BIMcollab/KUBUS has grown enormously in recent years, it still feels very personal to me. People know each other, have lunch together, and make time for one another. At the same time, you work in an international environment with lots of ambition and movement.

Of course, growth also brings challenges. But that is exactly what creates opportunities to help build the organisation and influence how things develop. I also really appreciate that colleagues are encouraged to be themselves. The mix of personalities, backgrounds, and cultures makes collaboration stronger.

When will you feel at home here?

I think you will fit in well here if you are curious and open to development. You don't need to know exactly where you want to be five years from now. People who want to explore, learn, and adapt can discover many opportunities here. But you do need to enjoy taking initiative, collaborating with others, and taking responsibility. If you do, there are many different directions you can grow in.

Sometimes your career takes a better turn than planned

I think that without this environment, I might have continued believing for much longer that architecture was the "only right path" for me. Here, I discovered that your career can sometimes take a completely different direction than you expected—and that this can be a very positive thing.