Twenty years, one porcelain anniversary: Geert Steppé’s two decades at WDP
In Belgium, a 20th work anniversary is traditionally called a “porcelain jubilee”. Geert Steppé is marking his this year, twenty years after first walking through WDP’s door in 2006. Today, he’s still as proud to work here as he was on day one. He looks back on his career so far.
When I joined WDP 20 years ago
I remember it like it was yesterday: my first days at WDP. What struck me immediately was the family-like atmosphere. No distant layers or complicated detours, just colleagues who know you, talk to you and help you move forward. And above all, a hands-on mentality. If something needed to happen, it happened, together, with our feet on the ground. That combination made it easy to find my place. You feel that your work matters, and that you count as a person. That’s a strong start, but it’s also a foundation that carries you through the years.
What WDP means for me today
Today, WDP is above all an employer I’m proud of. Proud to say I work here, but also proud to see how WDP keeps evolving, more professional, more international, while staying true to that typical WDP spirit. That pride isn’t just in the numbers or the growth, it’s in the way we work together, how we move forward, and how we keep building on quality and trust.
Aujourd’hui, WDP est avant tout un employeur dont je suis fier.
How I see WDP in the future
Looking ahead, I hope most of all that I can keep growing along with WDP’s growth story. That I can keep learning, take on new challenges, and help shape what WDP becomes tomorrow. Because that might be the best thing about working for an organisation that’s in motion: you don’t just grow with the company, you grow as a person and as a professional. And if there’s one thing I’m sure of, it’s this: if we keep nurturing that family atmosphere and hands-on mentality, there’s a lot of good still ahead of us.
The project I’ll never forget
Two really stand out.
The first: WDP’s inclusion in the BEL 20. That’s not just a financial milestone or a headline that flashes by. It’s recognition of years of work, vision and sustained growth. You feel the pride move through the organisation, and you realise: I’m part of something with visible impact.
And then there was being named ‘Company of the Year’ in 2017. Another one of those moments where everything comes together: ambition, entrepreneurship, teamwork. It’s the kind of recognition you don’t just get, it’s something you earn by consistently building, improving and seizing opportunities.
What did I learn from that? That success is rarely one big leap. It’s the result of many small choices, made every single day, by a lot of people together.