In the dynamic world of technology and engineering, Hubert’s career journey stands out as a testament to passion, adaptability, and continuous growth. In a short interview, Hubert shared insights into his career before and during his tenure at Ubisense, shedding light on the diverse experiences that shaped his professional trajectory.

Hubert’s journey begins

Hubert’s journey began with a solid foundation in engineering, where he studied electrical, radio and computer science in the South of France. His academic journey was enriched by an exchange semester in Sweden, offering a global perspective to his education. Post-graduation, Hubert embarked on a two-year stint with a South African company specializing in passive RFID technology.

Following this initial phase, Hubert took a bold step into the unknown. “I went travelling the world, especially in Australia and New Zealand, for a year. And then I went back [to France] and started a business with an ex-colleague of mine” Focusing on passive RFID technologies applied to various fields, he started to track Nordic ski enthusiasts in ski resorts.

A change of direction and an important lesson

However, the unpredictable nature of dealing with public entities led Hubert to reevaluate his career path. “The customers were public entities. They would be happy one day and the next day would change their minds – so it was unreliable. Soon we didn’t have any more money to spend. So, this was when I went out looking for a new job.” He found himself drawn to a Technical Support role at Ubisense, advertised in Toulouse. Initially resistant to relocating to Paris, Hubert eventually accepted a pre-sales position in the French capital, marking the beginning of Ubisense’s French entity in 2011. “When I started, I said yeah, OK, I’m fine to come to Paris but for no more than two years. So, I stayed two years in Paris then I moved back to Toulouse.” He still works from Toulouse now.

Over the next six years, Hubert made significant contributions in the pre-sales domain, demonstrating his technical expertise and customer-centric approach. In 2017, a unique opportunity arose, leading to his transition into sales, where he covered the South Europe area with a focus on France and Spain. He turned out to be a good move for him.

Proud Achievements and Life at Ubisense

A noteworthy achievement Hubert highlighted during our interview was the successful sale and deployment of a project at PSA Vigo, Spain, started from scratch. This accomplishment not only showcased his sales prowess but also underscored his commitment to continuous improvement. “I’m quite proud of that one, especially because I had to learn Spanish.” Hubert’s commitment to learning Spanish to aid his work was a testament to his adaptability and long-term goals.

As Hubert reflects on his time at Ubisense, he emphasizes the aspects that brought him the most satisfaction. “It’s the people. They are quite brilliant and I like to work with them. I’ve known them for many years. There are some that I’ve known less time but I still enjoy working with them.”

The second point of enjoyment was the diversity of customers. “I like the customer as well. Going to meet customers, seeing their production processes, and listening to them. Most of the time they are passionate about explaining what they are building.”

Hubert’s advice to new employees

When asked about his advice for those starting their careers, Hubert emphasized the importance of communication and seeking help within the company. He encouraged new employees to talk to colleagues when faced with challenges and praised Ubisense’s culture of people helping each other.

Looking ahead

Looking toward the future, Hubert expressed contentment with his current role as Head of Pre-sales, stating that he is more focused on stabilizing and improving his team’s performance than seeking the next step. “I’ve been in this last role for a year now, which is great, so I still have a lot of things to do to improve what I’m doing at the moment. The next step is stabilising what I’m doing, improving the team and having a bigger impact on what I’m doing as well.”

This pragmatic approach aligns with his character, where he values the present moment and aims to make a significant impact on his current responsibilities.

In the closing moments of the interview, Hubert tackled a more whimsical question about time travel. We asked, “If you could travel anywhere in human history, past or present, where would you go?”

After a few moment’s thought he said, “I will be curious to go maybe 200 years ago, you know, before technology was here. The charge on your brain was probably way simpler – you were more concentrated on staying alive and finding food. Depending how much thought I put into it, you may get a different answer.”

It’s actually a revealing answer. Even technology evangelists need a detox once in a while.

Please click here to read more of our employee interviews.