My name is Maarten Caus, I’m a EUC Consultant at ITQ Leuven. In 2012 I started as a System Engineer in the Small-and-Medium sized Enterprise (SME), where I developed my knowledge about Microsoft Systems, VMware vSphere, and Citrix Xenapp.

In 2014 I had my first experience with VDI: VMware Horizon and App Volumes. Creating multiple virtual desktops from a single image and adding applications based on user entitlements got me interested. After the acquisition of Airwatch and the introduction of Workspace One I saw the potential of these technologies and I was hooked.

“My goal is to transform businesses with VMware End User Computer Technologies and empower end-user productivity!”

Back in high school, I did not have any interest in computer or technology except games.
I was studying to be a Waiter or a Cook. After I graduated I wanted something more and went to college to study Hotel Management. What I liked most about college (except the parties and chasing girls) was that I had different courses every 7 weeks. I had diverse classes like civil law, business management, and feasibility analysis.

After 3 years I graduated and started working in retail as a management trainee. After a few years working in different stores, I wasn’t fulfilled. I liked working with different people and helping costumers. I had a work accident and injured my back. The doctor told me that I could not keep doing what I did every day.

This was a moment in my life that I knew something had to chance. During my recovery period, I had some time to reflect. In my childhood, my father had a computer store. He sold computers, games and much more. Back in the day, I went sometimes to the store with him on Saturdays and tested out the computer games. I even sometimes sold a game because people saw me playing and I had a lot of fun.

My father always brought the latest hardware with him to upgrade our home computer. For me, it felt like Christmas. I helped where I could and was the first to test the new upgrade. During my recovery, a friend told me that I could go back to college to study IT and get a study allowance.

I thought about it and took the drastic decision to quit my job and go back to school. At that time I was 25 and living alone. It was a tough 2 years because the allowance was just enough to get by. Every course I took gave me the feeling: this was what I should have been doing all along. Except for programming that was the most difficult course for me. I could understand the code but not create an entire project. So I knew to become a software developer was not meant for me. I loved all system management courses and I knew that I wanted to become a system engineer. I also loved web design but I lacked the programming skills.  I graduated and became an all-around system engineer.

After a few years and changing jobs at the right time I ended up at ITQ. I work with very passionate people who love technology and want to help costumers. I get the chance to develop myself and I have a great mentor. You know him as the Bearded VDI junky. Without him I would not be writing this, speaking at events or going after my VCDX certification.

Besides work I have a beautiful girlfriend that I want to marry (don’t tell her that just yet). I have a great and funny stepdaughter. We want to expand the family in the near future with one more.  I love good food and wine, hanging out with friends and have a laugh. I like working out in the morning and in the winter I love to snowboard.

If you read all this I salute you and I hope we meet at an event or through any other channel!