A day in the life of… Rafael

Of course you can read on our website how much fun it is to work at Zenya. It would be a bit strange not to say so, wouldn’t it? But every company writes that, of course. That’s why you don’t have to believe us, but you do have to believe your future colleagues! They tell in a nutshell why they love working at Zenya. And no, that’s not for just the ping-pong table….

Today, you read the story of Rafael Roders Almeida. Young, energetic, from Brabant with Portuguese and Brazilian roots, and a football fan through and through. He takes you along on his journey.

Hi Rafael! Can you briefly introduce yourself?

I’m Rafael Roders Almeida, 26 years old, and I live in Tilburg. Born and raised in Brabant—except for a six-month stint in Rome—so I can confidently call myself a true Brabander. Although my surname might suggest otherwise: my father is from Portugal and my mother from Brazil. That mix has shaped who I am—someone who loves good food, music, friends, and of course… football.

Since when and how did you join Zenya?

During the final semester of my master’s program, I was figuring out what I wanted to do next. Since I didn’t have much relevant work experience yet and wasn’t entirely sure about my direction, I decided to do an internship alongside writing my thesis. I came across a LinkedIn post that led me to Zenya, and that’s how my journey with Team International began.

What appealed to you about the company and the role?

The first thing I noticed was the informal atmosphere and the warm welcome I received. Colleagues were genuinely interested and involved, which immediately felt right. I was also drawn to Zenya’s international ambitions. Building on a strong foundation in the Netherlands, we’re working toward sustainable success abroad.

What does your ‘typical’ working week look like?

There is no such thing as a ‘typical’ working week! At Team International, we focus on Zenya’s growth abroad. One week we might be doing market research, the next we might be working on implementations for customers, and we also regularly travel abroad to visit trade fairs. No two weeks are the same, which keeps things nice and dynamic.

What is your fondest Zenya memory?

Two moments stand out for me.

The first is my trip to the Antilles in March. After years of only having online contact, I was finally able to meet our customers in person. I saw with my own eyes how our software contributes to better healthcare on the islands, which gives me a lot of energy and satisfaction.

And the second is our company outing to Berlin in 2023. A sunny weekend with the whole company in such a cool city, I won’t forget that anytime soon.

What would you like to say to future colleagues?

If you are looking for a place where you can make an immediate impact and develop yourself in a pleasant, open working environment, then this is the place for you.

And now… time for a game of table tennis!