Laurence Ketels: Business Analyst
Thirty-year-old Laurence Ketels is in the spotlight for the second time as part of VINCI Energies’ Women in Technology campaign, this time while pregnant. As a Business Analyst at Actemium, she is in close contact with clients in the animal feed sector, analyzes their needs, and manages projects and programming teams in a work environment that fosters both professional and personal growth.
“Pregnant at VINCI Energies: where growth takes on more than one meaning.”
- Name: Laurence Ketels
- Age: 30
- Studies: Master’s in Bioengineering: Land, Water, and Climate (Ghent University)
- Function: Business Analyst
- Hobbies: Dancing, teaching dance, and swimming
You’ve participated in the Women in Technology campaign before. What was it like to be asked again, this time for a maternity photo shoot?
Laurence: I genuinely really enjoyed it. It felt like a confirmation that my story remains important and that I can continue to grow. When I first participated, I was 27; today I’m 30, pregnant, and I have a different perspective on my life and my job. That’s exactly why taking part a second time felt even more meaningful to me: you still don’t often see pregnant women represented in technology, even though it’s precisely important to show what that looks like in practice. Here, that evolution isn’t seen as something that interrupts your career, but as a normal and accepted part of it. I’m not viewed or treated any differently today, even though my life is changing. It’s precisely that trust and that space to grow through various life stages that make VINCI Energies such a valuable employer to me.
Being pregnant and continuing to work full-time: how do you experience that combination?
Laurence: Being pregnant while continuing to work full-time is special, but sometimes also just intense. What makes the difference for me is that at VINCI Energies, there is real attention for how I’m feeling. As long as I can manage it, I can keep doing my job the way I like to, without pressure. You can also feel that openness in the reactions of colleagues and customers. When I told everyone I was pregnant, the whole office immediately got involved: the very next day, there was already a baby poll up, and we even did a little gender reveal together. That says a lot about the atmosphere here and ensures that this period not only goes smoothly but also brings people together.
What has it meant to you to be able to openly discuss your doubts and uncertainties?
Laurence: What perhaps helped me the most were the conversations with other Women in Technology colleagues who are already moms. During the lunches organized as part of the campaign, topics like pregnancy, returning to work, and uncertainties were discussed very openly. I noticed that I often put extra pressure on myself and wondered if I would have to fight for my place when I returned. It was incredibly reassuring to hear from this wonderful community that those doubts are normal and, above all, that everything will be okay. That openness carried over into my conversations with my Team Lead and Business Manager. We clearly agreed on how my tasks would be handled during my absence and how I could step back in smoothly when I return. Looking back on my journey at VINCI Energies, I see how much I’ve learned here, both professionally and personally. After a difficult period, I’ve learned to better set my boundaries and share responsibility. Today, I take on more of a leadership role in projects and work collaboratively across different teams. Funnily enough, I even bring that skill into my personal life: just like with projects, I keep track of everything related to my pregnancy in an Excel spreadsheet, with to-dos and deadlines for myself, but also for my partner and our parents. It seems organizing is simply part of who I am, both at work and at home.
