Freedom, technology, and great colleagues, that’s how Lisa describes CRANIUM. Working from the Ghent office and on-site with clients, she’s currently a privacy consultant on a wide range of projects for private companies – with a surprising amount of room for creativity.
We spoke to her about her journey, her motivations, and why she chose CRANIUM over a PhD.
You started via the Young Graduate Programme. How did you experience the shift from student to consultant?
The programme gave me the time and space to grow. It starts with training, so you still feel a bit like a student – then you do an internship, and finally you kick off your first real projects.
What I also really valued was starting as part of a group. You’re not the new person; you’re in it together with people facing the same challenges. That support matters, especially in the beginning.
What stuck with you the most from the programme?
The variety. You get hands-on training on things like privacy law, but also soft skills sessions: how to work with different personality types, presentation training, building slide decks… That well-rounded approach really helps you grow professionally in a short time. I still rely on those lessons today.
And that’s visible in your current projects too?
Definitely. I now work mostly in the private sector, from SMEs to international players. The projects vary a lot, and that’s exactly what I like.
At a real estate development multinational, for example, I even get creative assignments, like making internal explainer videos about company policies. I use tools that let me explore my creative side. It’s great to contribute something visual as a DPO and make complex information more accessible.
That doesn’t sound boring at all. Do you notice the typical stereotypes around privacy consulting?
Yes, they do exist and sometimes they’re partly true. Some days, you’re just behind your laptop writing policies. But in the end, it depends on how you approach your projects. There’s plenty of space for creativity: posters, videos, different formats… It’s about more than dry theory and legal texts.
So you actively shape your role. Does that apply to your future plans too?
It does. I don’t look too far ahead, that’s just not my style, but I do know I want to keep learning and deepening my expertise. And at CRANIUM, you genuinely get the space to do that.
And outside work – how do you unwind after a busy week?
Very simple: walking my dog, cooking, trying out new recipes, working in the garden… And honestly? After a long day, some trash TV is exactly what I need.
How would you describe the team dynamic at CRANIUM?
There’s always something going on at HQ in Zaventem, although I usually work from the Ghent office. But the events I’ve joined have been great. They’re a chance to see everyone face to face, not just your immediate team.
In Ghent, we’ve got our own little squad that meets up from time to time – for lunch, afterwork drinks… That social side really makes a difference.
Finally: what would you say to someone considering applying to CRANIUM?
Make a list of your pro’s and contra’s. For me, the deal-breaker was the freedom to organise my own projects. CRANIUM doesn’t have that formal, distant vibe you sometimes get with consultancy firms.
I was choosing between doing a PhD and starting at CRANIUM. In the end, this felt right: I could still grow and keep learning, but without the pressure of the academic track. For me, that was the better choice.
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