More short stories of long service at RELX
Across RELX some of our colleagues have enjoyed particularly long tenures with our business. We have over 33,000 employees, serving customers in more than 180 countries and with offices in about 40 countries.
Here we meet five of our long service employees, who have 130 years of employment at RELX among them. We hear their stories, the changes they’ve seen and find out what’s made them stay with the company so long.
"Thieves stole half of our department computers"
Diana Roebersen, RELX, Netherlands
Joined: 1983
I didn’t know what to study when I finished High School so I applied to an advertisement in a Dutch newspaper in August 1983 for a job at Elsevier Scientific Publishers. After almost a year of mainly coding invoices at General Ledger (Accounts Payable) I applied for a job as Credit Controller in the Debtors Administration at Elsevier. People told me that this was the wrong order and that ‘normally’ people went from Accounts Receivable to Accounts Payable. I did it the other way around, without regret, and went on to hold several more positions within accounting. In 2001, I switched to Business Analyst and became involved in various projects concerning internal systems, of which some are still in use, like Oracle, Delta, Hyperion and CRM.
In 2006, I noticed a vacancy in Global Procurement at Elsevier. I decided to apply and got the job. So, after 22 years in Finance I moved to Global Procurement. In 2008, I became country lead for the Netherlands and moved across to RELX. I help generate savings, mitigate risks and support the business by making processes more efficient and aligned.
Over the years I’ve clearly seen the change from a scientific publisher to a data and analytics company. We used to get subscriptions to newspapers we owned and vouchers (also on your birthday) to buy books we published. Also subscriptions to magazines we published were part of the employment conditions of a publisher. When I started, a punching machine was used to book costs on the correct accounts and for years, we did not even have a computer, and would manually write letters.
Sometime during the 90s, when we finally did have our own desktop computers, we were located on the ground floor of the Molenwerf building in Amsterdam. One night, thieves threw stones through the windows and stole half of the department computers. A few days later it happened again! IT did not have enough computers available for the whole department so as soon as someone left their desk, someone else quickly took their place!
I am proud of how RELX is tackling inequality and launching so many diversity and inclusion programmes. Currently the RELX Netherlands ‘working from home during a pandemic’ attitude gives me a real warm feeling and makes me go the extra mile. What the future will bring, especially during Covid, is to be seen. I like to work on process improvements and making them more efficient. Why do something in five steps when we can do it in three?
"I could grow a career here"
Lucimara Thomazo, Exhibitions, Brazil
Joined: 1998
I joined the company in 1998, when I was 19 years old, working for Equipotel team, the most important hospitality exhibition in Brazil.
Reed Exhibitions (RX) was always a great environment for me to grow. I started as a receptionist and I was always very curious to learn more. My goal was, and is, to provide support to our business. So, with this mindset, I was always offering help to different teams and connecting with different people, until my first opportunity for growth came. I was invited to join the marketing team accountable for PR and performed that role for many years, until I was invited to become Executive Assistant at a director level, which I was pleased to accept! I always had the opportunity to be there in person at our shows, so I could learn a lot about all that happens behind the scenes when we are delivering them. The operations team offered me a Customer Success role, which I did for a few years, before I was invited back to be part of the Executive Assistants team, now supporting all Portfolio Directors and VPs in Brazil. Most recently, in early 2020, I was promoted to my current role as Facility and Office Support Coordinator, now accountable to lead a team, develop people, support all of our office needs in Sao Paulo City and also assist our Senior Leader in shows. I decided to take my university degree on Events Management in 2021 to keep growing my knowledge and contribute to the RX business.
My most remarkable work moment happened during difficult times. Our company was suffering market pressure and was at risk of losing one of our biggest shows. I was asked to organise a meeting between high level clients and business partners, which would be a key opportunity for the business. It was really tough, but I can proudly share that I did it. I never gave up on the task and I was recognised for that.
This company can give you all the learning you want and you can build your path to grow. It is about being willing to contribute, collaborate and energise the people around you. At RX I can combine learning, growth and a sense of accomplishment. I have had opportunities to be exposed to so many great things, different people from other countries, learning languages, learning about different processes, leading projects… I could build a career here.
My advice to a new starter would be to join our team ready to humbly learn and teach. Be open to connect with different people, value each of your colleagues, embrace diversity and give the best of yourself.
"Most times my animals are easier to deal with than people!"
Brendan Curtin, Scientific, Technical & Medical, Ireland
Joined: 1989
I started working with Elsevier on 29 October 1989, having completed my studies in Computer Science in college. At the time I played a lot of sport and grew up on a farm which I still live on. I had a super time travelling around Ireland playing matches every weekend for nine months of the year and going on tours abroad. My plan was, once I finished college, to get a Rugby League professional contract in England. Unfortunately I injured my knee, my dream was over and I got a “normal” job with Elsevier.
I have always been based in Shannon, Ireland working in Operations. My first role was in IT Support. Over the years I have worked in many different areas, becoming an Operations Manager in 2000 and Managing Director of Elsevier Ireland in 2004.
In 2008, I became responsible for establishing a global Operational Excellence team, initially hiring external Master Black Belts in Lean Six Sigma, who developed a programme and trained over 150 internal colleagues to a level between Green and Black belt. As part of Operational Excellence, the team developed an approach to fixing problems which we called “Rapid Improvement Event (RIE)”. I ended up running RIEs for Operations and many other business units outside of Operations and travelled to Beijing, New York, locations in India, UK, and Europe. I currently work in the Data Platform Operations team and report to Kanwar Singh. Over the years I was also fortunate to occasionally work on projects for the Elsevier Leadership Team.
When one is in a company over 30 years one sees many changes but also cycles where something comes back into fashion. Some of the big changes I have experienced include outsourcing, offshoring, centralisation, decentralisation and massive technical developments. Machine learning and Artificial Intelligence are commonplace today in many parts of the organisation. Regards outsourcing, I experienced a huge amount of work moving to vendors in the late 90’s and early 2000. Much of this work is now coming back inhouse driven by automation. On the softer side we focus on different themes “Customer Centricity” is topical today, 15 years ago we called it “Put yourself in our customer’s shoes”. I find the different approaches as they evolve over time very insightful.
Most people’s reply to the question ‘What’s the best thing about working here’ is “the people they work with” but as I also work on my home farm and most times my animals are much easier to deal with than people! On a personal level, the best things are the opportunities I have been given over the years to develop on many different levels. One is constantly exposed to different technologies and the latest approaches.
The main reason I’ve stayed with RELX so long is I enjoy what I do. Even though I have been in the same location for over 30 years I have changed roles many times. Elsevier really does develop people. We also get opportunities to work with many different cultures, to challenge oneself, to learn and develop. I am often in awe at some of my co-workers, their knowledge, experiences and willingness to share and help people like me to develop.
"When I first joined RELX I didn't think that I was starting a long journey"
Flora Xu, Legal, China
Joined: 2010
I joined LexisNexis China in 2010 as Product Development Manager, during the early stages of when we started to build local solutions in China. As our business in China grew, I was promoted to China Content Head in 2015, responsible for significant content initiatives, including content strategy, portfolio management and key partnership development. Now I am the Product & Content Head of China with the aim of establishing LexisNexis as the clear leader in China legal information market.
My proudest moment with our company was participating in the launch ceremony of our Global China Law Platform in 2017, as a member of the platform development team. This platform not only covers all China’s laws, regulations and important local regulations since 1949, but also includes instructive and authoritative cases selected from China’s court judgment documents. LexisNexis took part in the construction of the platform by using our data, technologies, human resources and markets globally. The Chief Grand Justice of China, Mr Zhou Qiang, the Grand Justice of China Mr Shen Deyong and grand justices from other three silk road countries, announced the launch of Global China Law Platform. At that moment, I deeply felt proud to be a member of LexisNexis, and proud to contribute my knowledge and experience to participate the development.
The China legal information market is growing, but on the other hand the competition in our industry is growing as well. Our product development in China has experienced offering primary content and translation to meet basic legal research needs, to providing in-depth, practical guidance, and now to providing data-analytics solution by utilizing our advanced technology. Over the years, our strategy and team have made some adjustments to adapt to trends and market changes. However, I feel so lucky to work with a core team which is stable and full of passion-to-win. “What’s made me stay” is the people. I am lucky to work with some kind and talented people here.
When I first joined RELX I didn’t think that I was starting a long journey. Now, after over 11 years, our company and my colleagues have become an important chapter of my life. Input yourself in your work, be open and kind to your colleagues and your gain will beyond your expectations.
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