Meet Ernest
Ernest studied Business Engineering at Ghent University with a Data Analytics specialization and spent an Erasmus year at the Technical University of Munich. He works as a data engineer on international projects, bringing the structured thinking of a business engineer to the messy reality of data pipelines. He once outran a crocodile in Bolivia, which probably helps with tight deadlines.
We asked Ernest some thoughtful questions
Ernest, how did you discover your passion for data?
In my second year at Ghent University, I took a course called Object-Oriented Programming, my first real dive into coding, using Java. I still remember how fascinated I was by the logical structure behind it all. The simplicity of “if-then-else” logic just resonated with me. That moment sparked my interest in programming. In the same year, I also followed a course called data mining which struck a perfect balance between mathematical theory and hands-on programming in R. I was drawn to the foundational mathematical axioms behind the advanced models used in practice. What fascinated me most was how seemingly complex problems and algorithms could be reduced into a single, elegant mathematical formula. A logical next step for me was to choose for data analytics in my master’s. Beyond the academic side, I’ve always enjoyed writing things down, even my thoughts, almost like creating a personal dataset to revisit, analyse, and refine over time.
Why did you specifically choose Plainsight?
After my exchange in Munich, I knew I wanted to be part of a startup or scale-up environment. I first discovered Plainsight at a student career fair in Ghent, and was immediately struck by the energy and passion of the team, the kind of drive I admire so much in startups. What truly drew me in was the combination of a motivated team and a culture of continuous learning. At Plainsight, I’m challenged daily, working with cutting-edge technologies while receiving the support I need to grow. One of my favourite quotes is: “The day you stop learning, is the day you start dying.” That mindset of continuous learning perfectly describes my experience at Plainsight so far.
What was your first month at Plainsight like?
Amazing! I was welcomed by a great team and quickly felt at home. I was immediately put on an exciting project with an international scope, which I really enjoyed. The atmosphere at the office is warm and motivating, it always feels good to go to the office. I also, rather ambitiously, joined a food contest in my first few weeks with “worstenbroodjes”. No regrets, but I definitely didn’t win.
What’s the most adventurous thing you’ve ever done?
While travelling through Bolivia, my family and I went on a canoe trip along one of the tributaries of the Amazon River. At one point, our guide told us it was safe to jump into the water. Now, we’d already seen a few crocodiles along the way, so it didn’t exactly feel reassuring, but in a moment of boldness, my brother and I jumped into the water from our little boat. Just a few seconds later, we spotted a crocodile on the riverbank watching us. It was staring at us and without taking its eyes off us, it slid into the water and started moving in our direction. I don’t think I’ve ever climbed back into a boat that fast in my life.
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