Paul De Caluwé joined Brabo in 1985. He is a boatman and shift supervisor and has been a member of the Board representing group B for 12 years. Paul studied business organisation and law and feels like a proverbial fish in water at the company.
Paul De Caluwé: “In the Board of Directors we discuss among other things, financial, socio-economic and legal issues. Fascinating subject-matter. I need something like that. I enjoy my job as a boatman, but the combination of manual labour and brainwork suits me down to the ground.
Brabo’s cooperative management model is pretty unique. Cooperation is highly prized here: helping each other, identifying points of interest and pointing them out, coming up with solutions, boatman and pilot working together as a team.
The management doesn’t rule from an ivory tower, but is closely involved in the shop floor. That creates a fertile soil. Ideas are constantly bubbling up and we are able to act very quickly.
Participation works at Brabo, because the right business culture has evolved historically here. Like a tanker, we keep a steady course while at the same time showing enough flexibility to meet challenges.”
