Lotte Hermans studied geology, later earned a master’s, and found her way into the IT sector through a simple job fair. Her journey is one of following curiosity, trying new things, and continuously reinventing herself.
Today, Lotte works as an SAP Consultant at Flexso Digital, where she builds applications for clients and thrives on the variety her role offers.
From rocks to an unexpected passion
After completing a science & math focused secondary education with, Lotte chose to study geology, but not necessarily because she was into stones... “To me, it seemed like the obvious choice,” she explains. “My parents thought it was important that I earned a degree. Beyond that, I didn’t really think about it much. I was seventeen, studying and living away from home was just going to be fun!”
While she enjoyed the scientific approach, she soon realized that the subject matter itself wasn’t quite what she was looking for. The turning point came through an elective course in entrepreneurship. “It immediately appealed to me. I had never done anything related to economics before, but I instantly felt: this is it.”, she tells us.
She decided to pursue a complementary master's degree in business economics and discovered that studying could actually be enjoyable.
Today, she also appreciates the value of her geology background.
“Analytical thinking, recognizing patterns, breaking down complex problems - you definitely learn that in a scientific degree. Those skills stay with you, even if you don’t end up working with rocks.”, she laughs.
Enactus, Syrup, and Tumblr
During her studies, Lotte was active in Enactus, a student organization focused on sustainable entrepreneurship. Together with fellow students, she helped build Saveur, a syrup brand with a sustainability-driven mission. That entrepreneurial experience ended but left a lasting taste.
“I love the fact that you can define your own goals and direction. Those complex challenges and strategic thinking - that’s something I also see in my work as a consultant now. You constantly have to find your way in a new project and reinvent yourself.”
“When boys got into tech by playing video games, I was on Tumblr customizing my blog. I’d look up how to change colors, layouts, and styling in HTML.”
Before joining Flexso, Lotte did something that a lot of young millenials and older Gen-Z’ers did: she ran a Tumblr blog. On the online platform, people share photos, texts, and content they discover online. What started as a creative hobby soon became her first introduction to coding.
“I always thought it was really cool to customize my blog. I’d look up how to change colors, layouts, and styling in HTML.”
Those small experiences turned out to be more significant than she initially realized. “Where little boys might hack a video game, I wanted to customize my blog. I learned that you can teach yourself so much through the internet and create things with code. I found that incredibly fascinating.” It also lowered the barrier to entering the tech world. “Tech seems difficult, scary, and complicated, but it’s actually manageable. The confidence you build through those small steps stays with you.”
And that’s exactly what she hopes others experience as well: “Small experiences help you realize it’s not as difficult as you thought. Then you start trying bigger and bigger things.”
A convincing job fair
After graduation, Lotte visited a job fair and stopped by Flexso’s booth.
“I didn’t go there thinking about IT. I always assumed: I don’t have a technical background, so IT isn’t even an option for me.”
The people at Flexso explained that coding skills weren’t necessarily a prerequisite for a career in IT. What ultimately convinced her was the variety of the role.
“Running workshops about business processes, guiding clients, implementing solutions - that really appealed to me. It was more about the daily variety than the idea of ‘I work in IT.’”
“Good guidance from the start makes an enormous difference.”
The company culture also stood out immediately.
“The flat structure, the way they presented the company, the importance they place on knowledge sharing - it felt right from the beginning.”
“I started with the Flexso Academy, several weeks of training at the beginning. It immediately gave me the feeling that I could make this work. In the first months, I worked alongside an experienced colleague who taught me so much. Good guidance from the start makes an enormous difference.”
A Typical Week: Clients, Code, and Lunch Sessions
Today, Lotte works as an SAP Consultant at Flexso Digital, the branch of Flexso that develops applications for clients.
We asked her about a typical week at work: “Monday is usually at the client’s site: lots of meetings, alignment, and discussing requirements. Tuesday I work from home: emails, developing apps, and getting through my own tasks. At lunchtime I work out because it gives me energy.”
“Wednesday is office day. We have knowledge-sharing sessions over lunch. We call them ‘sandwich sessions’: someone explains a topic while everyone eats lunch, nowadays often about AI.” For Lotte, that accelerated way of learning together is one of Flexso’s biggest strengths.
“Thursday I work from home again, and Friday I’m back at the office. Sometimes after work we grab a drink with colleagues. Nothing organized, just casual.”
“It’s an office job, but you’re constantly creating things with your computer and problem-solving. I counterbalance the hours on a chair with working in my garden, building cabinets at home, and I’m learning to sew.”
Lotte intentionally keeps her role broad. “I’m a technical consultant, but I also want to bridge the functional and architectural sides. Translating a client’s needs into an application they actually use - that’s what energizes me.”
She also more recently earned an ABAP certification, SAP’s programming language. “It was challenging and very theoretical. But I really mastered it by applying it on a project afterward. That is how I learn best: by doing.” She also sees project-based team changes as a major advantage, because of the many colleagues with different skills. That knowledge sharing accelerates your growth tremendously.
Ride the wave, then go with the flow
When we ask Lotte about her own future, and her advice for others, she remains loyal to her ‘go with the flow’ philosophy. Looking ahead, Lotte sees herself moving more toward product development. At Flexso, they build packages for specific sectors such as universities and the food industry. The idea of truly building a product - working with Scrum, Agile, and product ownership - really appeals to her.
“Trust your instincts. What feels like the right choice? What gives you energy?”
“I’m not someone with a ‘I want that title in five years’ mindset. I live very much in the present and let opportunities come my way.
Maybe there’s entrepreneurship in my future too - that sounds cool - but I haven’t found the golden idea yet,” she laughs.
To women considering a career in technology, Lotte offers one piece of advice: “Trust your instincts. What feels like the right choice? What gives you energy? Think less about where it will lead or what the outcome will be. And remember: nothing is set in stone forever. You can always change direction.”
Thanks to Flexso for supporting women in tech and making this story possible. Check out their website here
More stories from women at Flexso? Read them all here!
Stories like Lotte's don't just happen.
They appear when we build spaces where women grow.
Is your company ready for this?
