From Solvay to Success - Noémie de Crombrugghe

From where?

I was born in the United States and completed my primary education in Belgium. Later, I had the opportunity to continue my secondary education in Vienna, Austria. This experience during my teenage years was transformative, as it introduced me to a new culture and language and instilled in me a deep admiration for the country and its rich heritage. Upon returning to Belgium for my higher education, I unexpectedly found myself at Solvay. Initially drawn to the hospitality sector and hotel management, which was popular in Austria, I opted for a more general course of study at Solvay due to my young age and uncertain preferences.

From which program and class do you come?

I completed my Bachelor's degree in Economics and pursued a Master's degree in Management Science. My student education, has actively been completed by my participation in the Solvay Student Association, which provided valuable practical learning opportunities. Being involved in the association allowed me to combine academic knowledge with practical skills such as manage teams and budget, oversee projects, meet deadlines, and collaborate with others. In the 2014-2015 academic year, I had the privilege of serving as the president of the student association. After my involvement, many young women also fully take on this role, which was very rare before, and thus still great histories forward.

What is your job title today and your projects/mission ?

I work as a freelance consultant in innovation in construction and real estate for startups and companies. I have three projects that I would like to mention here: Vicinity, Reno+, and the Executive Master in Future-Proof Real Estate.

Vicinity is a fund gathering public, private and institutional investors to acquire residential real estate projects. They thus develop and manage buildings that are kept in their porfolio and they take care of tenants. The particularity is that they focus on providing affordable housing to the middle class by considering new ways of building and living ; with circularity to reuse materials, high energetic performance to reduce monthly charges, with shared spaces and services for the communities to reduce spendings and with great location to facilitate mobility. My mission is here to work on how innovation can further help to reach this vision.

Reno+, is a project fully supported by the Walloon Region, and aims to accelerate energy renovations for private homes in Wallonia. It involves creating a new way of renovating to accompany individuals in the process through trusty and financial support and to align construction companies with administrative support, new techniques and practices. My role is to turn the project into testing phases through marketing techniques and even, completely by chance, together with 2 other Solvay Alumni.

The Executive Master in Future-Proof Real Estate is a program for real estate professionals. It integrates the expertise of three faculties—Solvay, Polytech, and Architecture—to teach construction and real estate fundamentals with a sustainability and innovation focus.
Our mission together with Professor Bernard Mathieu is to emphasize the connection between innovation and ESG aspects (environmental, social, and governance) and create a positive impact by tackling challenges in the real estate and construction sectors, known for their high pollution levels.

What was your most significant professional obstacle, and how did you overcome it?

I encountered two obstacles in my career journey. The first was changing job and sector at the same time. It seemed challenging initially, but with trainings and guidance from my network, I successfully made the switch to the innovation and real estate sector.

The second obstacle arose when I accepted a management position in a company but realized it wasn't aligned with my vision. It initially felt like a failure, but it was a valuable lesson in understanding my true desires. Speaking with my network helped me redirect my energy towards projects that have a meaningful impact and serve others effectively.

Have you had an experience abroad with SBS-EM? How has it influenced your life?

I went on a student exchange to India through Solvay's partnerships. After four years of studying, I wanted to venture far away. I spent four months in Indore, a small city in the state of Madhya Pradesh. It was an incredible experience with only around 10 to 15 foreign students, living on campus, which allowed us to fully immerse ourselves in the local culture. The education system was of high quality, with interactive learning and practical case studies. However, the country has its complexities, especially in terms of inequalities that are evident on a daily basis. Yet, amidst it all, there is a remarkable sense of solidarity among the people, transcending social classes. I was amazed by the ambition and resilience of India despite challenging circumstances. This experience deeply moved me and ignited a desire to create positive change wherever I can.

In what ways do you believe you contribute to society?

Through the missions I am currently engaged in, the overarching goal is to have a positive impact on society and the environment. As an individual, I am also convinced we can have impact. For example, as someone who is very active and sporty, I believe it is crucial to promote the values of physical activity for health, and enjoying nature while respecting it. These are things that are relatively easy to implement and that everyone can contribute to for the benefit of others.

What do you feel passionate about?

I am passionate about cities, how they function, and have to adapt to the new ways of living, entertaining, and working. I am also passionate about running and trail running. For me, it's a way to relieve stress, meet great people who share the same interest, and explore both nature and urban spaces. Also, I love immersing myself in cooking, as it allows me to unleash my creativity (the one we think is gone away until we stimulate it) !

Who has had the biggest influence on you?

What inspires and influences me is every person I encounter, and I am always very interested in getting to know who they are and understanding what they do. Each person has values to share and transmit, which are definitely realistic key learnings.

So, to where now?