When you meet Arthur De Rieck, his calm confidence and analytical sharpness stand out immediately. Born and raised in Leuven, with international experiences in Argentina and Spain, he carries a quiet sense of global curiosity. It’s no surprise that his career path was shaped as much by deliberate re-evaluation as it was by ambition.
After initially pursuing a degree in Applied Economics at KU Leuven, Arthur took a detour through logistics but quickly realised it wasn’t for him. An internship during COVID left him uninspired and questioning what he really wanted. The answer came from an unexpected place: his role managing finances as treasurer for his frisbee team. “I started getting involved with a custom-built database for our payments,” he recalls. “I got fascinated by how it worked under the hood. That’s when I knew I wanted to do something with data and technology.”
Projective Talent was the only place where I felt they really wanted to invest in my potential.
That decision led him to a second degree in Business Engineering with a focus on data, and eventually to Projective Talent. He discovered us during a student job fair and was immediately inspired by the model. “It was the only place where I felt they really wanted to invest in my potential. Others were more transactional, while here I felt seen.”
Arthur officially joined Projective Talent while still working on his thesis. The early commitment gave him peace of mind, but what truly stood out was the support that followed. From the Start Smart weekend to personalised coaching sessions and technical training, the programme helped him bridge the gap between theory and practice.
“My coach helped me figure out how to position myself within a team. I wasn’t just getting feedback, I was being asked the right questions. That made a difference.” Even though his trajectory didn’t fully follow the standard training track due to role specificity, Arthur leveraged his network and the tools he was given to grow on his own terms.
Arthur’s role at BNP Paribas Fortis began in the VIP Squad (Visualisation and Prototyping), where he supported data visualisation tools like Tableau and SAS. His job ranged from functional support and user training to full end-to-end dashboard development. It was a great fit at first, but over time he realised he wanted to go deeper into data engineering.
“As the team’s direction changed, I realised I didn’t want to specialise in visualisation. I wanted to go deeper into data engineering.” What followed was a self-driven transition into a new team where he’s now playing a hybrid role as both functional data engineer and business analyst. “I’m on the right path now. And at BNP, I’ve felt heard every step of the way.”
I’m on the right path now. And at BNP, I’ve felt heard every step of the way.
Lies Peeters, IT Tribe Lead at BNP and Arthur's manager noticed Arthur’s potential early, even though he entered BNP as a young graduate. “He is a strong asset who proved himself very quickly. Arthur analyses fast, sees solutions easily and communicates extremely well with the business,” she explains. “Everything he delivers is simply good. On a very short time, he built trust on both the business and IT side.”
With many young people you see hesitation or a slow start, but with Arthur everything went almost automatically.
What impressed Lies most was how naturally Arthur found his footing: “With many young people you see hesitation or a slow start, but with Arthur everything went almost automatically. He is autonomous, intelligent and genuinely on the right place here, a perfect fit.”
Even though Arthur sits today on the business side of BNP, Lies sees doors opening in both directions: “He is one of those rare profiles who could grow into a more technical role or stay close to the business. His breadth is his strength, and that creates opportunities.”
She also highlights his mindset: “He takes opportunities when they come. We created chances for him, and he grabbed them. That combination is powerful.” His personality plays a role too: “Arthur comes across as humble, but he has a subtle, intelligent humour that gives energy to the team. He contributes to a positive team atmosphere without forcing it.”
Arthur takes opportunities when they come. We created chances for him, and he grabbed them. That combination is powerful.
Beyond work, she sees passion, a trait she considers crucial: “He has passions and goes all the way for them. That energy shows in his work as well. He gives his full commitment because he enjoys what he does.”
Arthur speaks highly of BNP as a place to grow. “There’s a surprising amount of flexibility, support, and human understanding. People help each other. Managers listen. You’re not just a number.”
Could I have done it all without the coaching and support? Maybe. But it gave me an edge and a safety net.
Reflecting on his experience, he believes in the value of having a structured but adaptable environment. “Could I have done it all without the coaching and support? Maybe. But it gave me an edge and a safety net.”
For students graduating today, his advice is simple: be open. Don’t lock yourself into one perfect idea of a job. Reality is rarely what you expect, and that’s okay. Say yes to what comes your way and learn from it.
Lies is clear about why partnerships like this work: “Arthur progressed faster than most young consultants because he was supported but also challenged. That balance between coaching and real responsibility is essential, and it is something Projective Talent does very well.”
The balance between coaching and real responsibility is essential, and it is something Projective Talent does very well.
Arthur’s trajectory is exactly what our model is built for: matching ambitious talent with environments where they can thrive long-term, and delivering clients not just capacity, but future-proof contributors.
As part of Projective Group, Projective Talent connects ambitious professionals with leading financial services companies, opening doors to career-defining opportunities. Whether through traineeships that transition into long-term roles with our clients, or missions that offer flexible assignments, we ensure the right fit for both candidates and businesses.
With access to A+ clients, expert coaching, and a strong professional network, we help talent and companies grow together - fuelling careers, innovation, and long-term success.
