30 years at VIB: A front-row seat to an extraordinary journey

When Melinda walked into VIB on 2 November 1995, there was little to suggest that she was about to become part of one of Europe's leading life sciences success stories. The organization was brand new, biotechnology was still unfamiliar to many, and VIB itself was little more than an ambitious vision with a handful of people determined to build something exceptional.

25/08/2026

Thirty years later, Melinda can look back on a career that has spanned VIB's entire history, from its earliest pioneering days to the internationally recognized innovation organization it is today.

Joining the unknown

When Melinda applied for an executive assistant position at VIB, there were no guarantees. The institute had funding for five years, but few could predict what the future beyond that would hold. Yet the opportunity to help build something new appealed to her.

"I was excited by the idea of being part of something completely new," she recalls. "The job was varied, the atmosphere felt right, and there was a strong sense that everyone was working together toward a common goal."

Her first day took place in VIB’s first office at the Rijvisschestraat in Zwijnaarde. The headquarters looked very different from today's modern offices.

"There was hardly an office," she laughs. "We had a picnic table, a coffee machine and a lot of enthusiasm."

Together with Rudy Dekeyser, Jo Bury, and Claudine Bogaert, Melinda formed part of VIB headquarters' very first team.

Building VIB, one folder at a time

The early years required plenty of improvisation.

There was no email, no Microsoft Teams, no smartphones, and certainly no digital signatures. Board meetings involved photocopying countless documents, organizing them into folders and mailing them out by post. Before major meetings, the team often worked late into the night to ensure everything was ready on time.

One memory still makes her smile. When preparing materials for Board of Directors meetings, everyone pitched in, including senior management.

"We all worked together, sometimes until late at night, even up to two o’clock in the morning when deadlines were close by," she says. "Even the managing directors helped assemble the folders."

That spirit of teamwork extended well beyond official responsibilities. If brochures needed to be mailed, everyone helped. When important milestones were reached, everyone took a moment to celebrate. VIB was small enough that everyone knew one another personally, often including partners and children's names.

"It felt like one big family," Melinda says.

A witness to remarkable growth

One of the biggest changes she has seen over three decades is, quite simply, the scale of the organization.

"When I joined, VIB headquarters consisted of four people," she says. "I was told that one day headquarters might employ around twenty-five people. Today, headquarters alone has grown far beyond that."

The visibility of the organization has changed just as dramatically.

"In the beginning, very few people knew about VIB. Today it is an internationally recognized institute and a respected name in life sciences and innovation."

Throughout that growth, Melinda has had a unique vantage point. Working with multiple managing directors over the years, she witnessed the creation of new research centers, the emergence of VIB's Innovation & Business activities, the launch of spin-offs, and the development of partnerships that helped transform scientific discoveries into real-world impact.

One milestone still stands out.

"I remember supporting one of VIB's first start-ups and seeing the very first business plan printed and bound. That was a special moment. It made the impact of our work very tangible."

The invisible work behind the scenes

Over the years, Melinda's role evolved alongside VIB itself.

What began in a paper-based world of typewriters, voice recordings, and physical filing cabinets gradually transformed into a digitally connected environment with online collaboration tools, electronic signatures, and virtual meetings.

Yet some things never changed.

Much of an executive assistant's work happens behind the scenes, often unnoticed by others.

"People usually only see the end result," she says. "But bringing order to complexity is something I'm proud of. Whether it's meetings, travel, events, or projects, it's rewarding when everything runs smoothly because of the planning and preparation behind it."

Her workload remains as dynamic as ever. Curious about how much had changed, she asked AI how many meetings she had arranged for the Managing Director in a single year.

The answer was more than 350.

The human side of leadership

Among the many memories she carries, some have little to do with science or business.

One story in particular illustrates the culture that helped shape VIB.

After receiving a phone call that her husband had been seriously injured in an accident and transported to a hospital in Brussels, the managing director at that time immediately accompanied her to the hospital and stayed there until family members arrived and the operations had been completed.

"That human support is something I have never forgotten," Melinda says.

It reflects a quality she believes has characterized VIB throughout its history: a strong commitment to people.

Asked to describe VIB as a person, her answer comes quickly:

"Curious, ambitious, and entrepreneurial. Someone who is always looking for new opportunities and isn't afraid to take risks. But also, someone who values people and teamwork."

Looking ahead

After three decades, Melinda speaks about VIB with a mixture of pride and gratitude.

She has witnessed the organization's transformation from a small team gathered around a picnic table into an internationally recognized institute that regularly appears in newspapers, magazines, and international innovation networks.

But when asked about the most important lesson she has learned, her answer focuses not on growth or recognition.

"The most valuable lesson VIB taught me is that success is never achieved alone," she says. "You need a team of people working together to achieve a deal, a start-up or a goal. When people support each other and share a common vision, remarkable things can be achieved."

Thirty years after joining an unknown organization with an uncertain future, Melinda remains excited about what comes next.

With artificial intelligence and new technologies rapidly reshaping the way we work, she is curious to see what the next chapter of the VIB story will bring. After all, she has been there since page one.