GET TO KNOW

Since 2008 , Collibra , a data intelligence company , has been uniting organisations by delivering trusted data for every use , for every user and across every source . Stijn Christiaens , Founder and Chief Data Citizen of Collibra , talks to us about the growth of the enterprise , his management philosophy , Collibra ’ s key values and the clients they serve .

Tell us a bit more about your business and how it started

Collibra ’ s story started when we were students and researchers at Vrije Universiteit Brussel

( VUB ) in Belgium . Our research was around semantic technology or the field for helping computers understand and report the meaning of data . We were able to extend that idea to develop software that ultimately became very relevant due to the 2008 financial crisis when global banks needed to better understand what data they had in their organisations and how it was being used . That was when we were first able to bring on some big names as customers .

In the years since , we ’ ve expanded to build a data intelligence platform that serves as a system of engagement for data teams , allowing them to find , organise , govern , trust and understand the massive volumes of data they have .

How has the business grown since it started and how did you ensure growth ?

When we founded Collibra we were coming into this with an academic research background , but we were also really inspired by the companies that were getting big in Silicon Valley . We wanted to see if we could achieve something in Belgium like what was happening in the US .

Our first step internationally was working with customers in London , but early on it was clear that the biggest opportunity was going to be the US market . By 2014 , many of our customers were large US-based financial institutions , so doubling down on the US was the right next step . It ’ s important when you ’ re building a business to be mindful of where the market opportunity exists and ensure you ’ re expanding your business thoughtfully . Fast forward to today , and Collibra is truly a global company .

What ’ s the business ’ approach to management ?

One of our core values is ‘ embrace and drive change ,’ and I think that mindset has been an important factor in our success . As a founder , I ’ ve had many different roles at Collibra , and I know firsthand that in a high-growth environment the only constant is change . Embracing each shift , learning on the job and adapting to how your role grows and evolves is critical . The growth of the business depends on the growth of the people .

What is your company ’ s vision and goal ?

Collibra is a single system of engagement that unifies all an organisation ’ s data processes . Think about what Salesforce is for the sales organisation or Workday is for HR – Collibra provides for the data asset . Just like you might shop for a product on Amazon , read reviews and ensure you ’ re getting the right item for your needs , we help you easily shop for the data you

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