New faces at Cyclops, this time a chemical engineer with two degrees, a ton of drive, and a clear plan: learn as much as possible, across as many sectors as possible.

Younes El Berrad recently joined Cyclops as a Project Manager – Engineer. Professional bachelor in chemistry at Karel de Grote University of Applied Sciences, master in industrial engineering (chemistry) at the University of Antwerp, and not a single resit along the way. What stands out when you talk to him is his drive.

Choosing his own direction

Science was always the subject Younes enjoyed most. He completed his secondary diploma with an overload of drive and ambition, and from that moment the choice of what came next was entirely clear.

“I remember thinking: now I’m going into higher education, and I’m going to choose what I do.”

He chose chemistry, and it clicked. “It went flawlessly. I never had a resit. I was driven, motivated, completely focused.”

His family noticed, and so did he. He describes that drive as his main quality, and his family as the reason behind it. “My parents did so much for me. The least I could do for them was get that diploma.”

One degree wasn’t the finish line

With the bachelor in hand, he could have started working straight away. He chose to go further. “I felt I could still develop myself further.” So he went on to the industrial engineering master at the University of Antwerp, again in chemistry, and finished it the same way.

After graduating he took time to travel, to Morocco, where his family is from, and to Dubai, before starting a career he expects to last a long time.

Why Cyclops

Younes found Cyclops while searching on LinkedIn, and two things made the choice.

The first is variety. A chemistry degree opens doors to many industries, and he wants to see them before choosing one. “I saw that at Cyclops you work on lots of projects, with lots of different things. That’s how I can find what my calling is.” He’s also clear about how he wants to learn project management: on the job, on real projects.

The second is the team. He looked at the website and the LinkedIn page, the outings and team lunches, and then met the people. His first conversation was with Michelle. “A very relaxed conversation, not too formal. We could just talk about all sorts of things. I had an optimistic feeling: okay, I want to work here.” Then came a case on the whiteboard with one of our PMs, which he worked through on the spot, and a final conversation with one of our managing directors.

“At the end of the day you spend eight hours a day with those people. For me, a good atmosphere is a very important factor.”

On site from the start

Younes went straight into the field. He’s supporting a construction manager on an industrial site, where a roof is being fully re-insulated. His part: site follow-up, making sure the work runs safely, and handling the permits.

His background points towards the chemical industry around the port of Antwerp, and that’s where his preference lies. But he’s interested in everything around him. The project manager on his assignment has been taking him through electromechanics and building management systems, and Younes is soaking it up.

Always learning

Ask him where he sees himself in five or ten years, and the answer is consistent. “I hope I keep learning, and that it never stops. As long as I can keep learning, that’s what matters most.”

“I want to be challenged every day. I want to make something of myself.”

Outside work

The same discipline shows up in his free time. Younes trains almost every day: calisthenics outdoors in a forest, for about two years now, which he calls his way of coming to rest. Boxing three days a week, with conditioning on Tuesdays and Thursdays and sparring on Sundays. “People who don’t know it think it’s just attacking. Boxing is an art.” And laps in the pool every week.

Why this matters to us

Younes brings the qualities that are hardest to teach: drive, discipline and real curiosity. He set himself a goal, reached it, and then set a higher one.

He also knows exactly how he wants to grow: on site, on real projects, across different sectors, asking questions until he understands. That’s how good project managers are made.

Our part is to give him the variety he came for and the challenge he’s asking for.

Welcome to the team, Younes.