Cristina - The Quiet Strength Behind Our Dream
In every company, some people are noticed immediately. They are the ones who speak the most. Who stand at the forefront. Who constantly propose new ideas. But there are also people without whom a company could never truly grow. People who never seek the spotlight, but who, quietly, day after day, make sure that everything continues to function. For Piramedia, Cristina was one of those people. I still remember very clearly the first time I heard about her.
I was at home, laid low by severe back pain. Marco told me about one of his fellow students, with whom he had formed a strong friendship during their studies in business and communication. He spoke about her with great respect. Not only because she was particularly capable, but above all because she was dependable. That word remained in my mind. Dependable.
Later, I had the opportunity to get to know her personally. My first impression never changed. No grand words. No need to put herself forward. Simply a calm young woman who listened carefully before she spoke. That was a quality I especially appreciated. When Marco and I decided to create Piramedia in the Glass Pyramid in Lummen, we wanted to build far more than a company.
We wanted to form a team. A group of people who complemented one another. From the very first day, Cristina naturally found her place within that team. Every company needs people who can dream. But it needs just as much the people who know how to transform those dreams into reality. While Marco and I often discussed dozens of ideas at once, Cristina remained remarkably calm. She listened. She took notes. She did not ask many questions.
But they were almost always the right ones. And very often, those simple questions brought us straight back to reality.
"Who is going to handle this?"
"When does it need to be finished?"
"Have we already thought about this?"
At first glance, they seemed like ordinary questions. In reality, they were essential. Enthusiasm alone cannot build a company. Structure is also needed. Organization. Planning. And the ability to continue overseeing the whole. Cristina possessed all those qualities. I have always admired people who quietly take responsibility without expecting applause. Cristina was one of them.
When visitors entered, she welcomed them warmly. When an Italian manufacturer arrived unexpectedly, she made sure everything was carefully organized. When documents had to be prepared or translated urgently, we could always count on her. She worked with the same determination Marco brought to software development and I brought to visiting our customers. It was precisely that dependability that gave all of us confidence. Of course, we also laughed a great deal.
Sometimes the pressure became so intense that a simple joke was enough to make all the tension disappear for a moment. I still remember her smile very clearly. Not loud laughter, but a sincere smile that lightened the atmosphere in the Pyramid. Sometimes we truly needed that. There were days when everyone seemed to need something at once. The telephone never stopped ringing. The fax printed one message after another.
Visitors were waiting. Marco was calling me from his office because he already wanted to show me a new idea. And I had only just returned from Italy with new samples. Yet somehow, we always found our calm again. Not because the work was easy.
But because everyone was willing to help everyone else. That was Piramedia's spirit. No one said:
"That's not my job."
When help was needed somewhere, someone else stepped in without hesitation. That is one of the qualities I admired most in our team. When I think about Cristina today, I remember more than her work. I remember her loyalty. Her honesty. Her commitment. And above all, the trust she placed in us. A company does not become great through those who speak the loudest. It grows through the people who, day after day, often in silence, take responsibility.
Cristina was one of those people. That is why her contribution deserves a lasting place in this story. She helped build a dream that became far greater than anything we could imagine at the time. Even though life eventually led each of us onto a different road, in my heart she will always remain connected to one of the most beautiful periods of my existence.
When I think about the Glass Pyramid today, I do not see only Marco and myself. I also see Cristina. Working calmly. Listening attentively. With the same loyalty and dedication she showed from the very first day. And I will always remain profoundly grateful to her.
