Meet Our Team – Engineering Stories from the Inside. Featuring Jean-François Balfroid, Expert Mechanical & Thermal Analyst.
1. Getting to Know Jean-François
• What inspired you to become an engineer, and how did your journey lead you to consultancy?
Since I was a child, I’ve always loved understanding how things work. I would take apart anything I could get my hands on (though not everything made it back together!). My dad is a great handyman, and my mom is a mathematics teacher—I guess I took the best of both by choosing an engineering path.
As a young engineer, consultancy was a natural choice because it allowed me to gain experience across multiple companies while maintaining a consistent career path.
• Engibex fosters an entrepreneurial mindset—how does that resonate with your personal and professional approach?
I’m a problem solver. I can’t stand inefficiency—whether it’s a tool, a process, or a situation. My first instinct is always: How can I improve this? What tool could I create? How can I bring ideas or people together to find a solution? This mindset naturally aligns with entrepreneurship and continuous improvement.
• How does working as a consultant differ from a traditional engineering role?
For me, the biggest difference is independence. As a consultant, I can think outside the box in ways that internal employees often can’t. I have access to extra resources (training, materials, and methodologies) that help me explore alternative solutions. Plus, working across different companies exposes me to multiple corporate cultures, which is incredibly enriching.
2. Life as a Consultant
• Can you describe a moment when you felt particularly proud of your work as a consultant? At Engibex, we emphasize teamwork and long-term collaborations. Can you describe a project where collaboration made a key difference?
Long-term collaboration is essential for building trust and driving real progress.
When I started my mission with a client, most of the analysis was done manually, with very little automation. I spent several weeks developing VBA code to fully automate the process—creating a tool that seamlessly connected ANSYS to Excel and vice versa.
This not only saved a lot of time but also gave the team greater flexibility in performing their analyses. More importantly, it changed the team’s mindset—shifting towards continuous improvement and innovation. Today, most analyses are automated, and we are constantly working on new ideas to improve, optimize, and innovate.
3. Work-Life Balance & Culture
• How does Engibex support you in maintaining a healthy work-life balance while working on diverse projects?
When I asked Engibex for a 4/5 part-time schedule to improve my work-life balance, they immediately approved it without hesitation. This flexibility has been a game-changer—it benefits both the quality of my work with the client and my personal well-being.
• What does a typical workweek look like for you?
I think I’ve found the perfect balance—three days on-site, one day working from home, and three days for my personal projects and family.
4. Advice & Reflections
• What advice would you give to engineers considering consultancy?
My advice: seize the opportunity to constantly learn and improve processes.
Consultancy allows you to work with different companies, experience various corporate cultures, and bring in new ideas. It’s a great way to think outside the box and drive innovation.
Building long-term trust with clients is key—collaborating over time leads to greater impact. Also, don’t hesitate to take the initiative in automating tasks and optimizing processes—it can truly make a difference!
Most importantly, find a healthy balance between work and personal life. That’s what will keep you motivated and fulfilled in the long run.
• Engibex takes pride in its Belgian identity and strong market presence—what do you think makes us stand out from competitors?
Engibex is unique because it truly listens—both to its clients and its employees.
The company culture is friendly, optimistic, and solution-focused, without unnecessary barriers or rigid structures. This makes Engibex both agile and strong, encouraging employees to take initiative and invest themselves fully. Clients can see and appreciate this difference.
