From chimney sweep dreams to business development: meet Patrick!

As a little boy, he imagined himself on his grandfather’s ladder, sweeping chimneys and being welcome everywhere. His career path eventually took a completely different turn, but connecting with people remains at the heart of what he does. Meet Patrick Mengers, our new Business Development Manager at Orange Juice.

Can you tell us a bit more about yourself, both professionally and personally?

I’m Patrick, 37 years old, born in Winterswijk, currently living in Vreeland and soon moving to Zutphen. I’m married to Rineke, and we have two cats. I also have a big love for South Africa, where I once had the opportunity to live. Friends and colleagues describe me as enthusiastic and energetic, with a strong drive to learn new things. Professionally, my focus is on connecting with people. I’m curious about what drives them and I like making conversations not only pleasant but also meaningful. My strong sense of integrity and sincerity helps me truly achieve things together with others. I find that same balance at home with Rineke, we’re each other’s yin and yang, bringing out the best in one another. That drive to bring out the best in people is something I recognize in my work as well.

Patrick

What made you decide to join Orange Juice?

During the application process, I immediately felt that you weren’t just looking at a job profile, but at the person behind it. That was high on my wish list. My conversations with Nina, Dion, and Remco gave me the feeling of genuine interest and equality. I also really like that Orange Juice aims to lead in technical developments, experiments with new concepts, and gives you a lot of freedom in your role. I value the open feedback culture, it creates space to break down walls and lift each other to a higher level. That culture makes work so much more than just completing tasks: it’s about daring to show who you are.

What will your role be at Orange Juice, and how do you see your contribution to the growth of our agency?

In my role, I’ll mainly represent the ‘front-end’ of Orange Juice: increasing our visibility, creating new opportunities, and adding value for clients. That also means getting to know the team and their expertise really well, so we can work together in a natural flow. I’m looking forward to proactively working with both new and existing clients and truly helping them move forward.

In your opinion, what are the most important qualities of a good Business Development Manager, and where do you see yourself in that?

Curiosity comes first. You need to genuinely want to understand what the other person needs. It’s also important to think strategically, keep an overview, and still be able to dive into the details. I see myself especially in having calmness, patience, and genuine interest. These traits allow me to offer trust and persuasion as a conversation partner.

What gives you energy in your work?

For me, the energy comes from two extremes: satisfaction and dissatisfaction. Satisfied clients give me a kick, but dissatisfaction challenges me to improve. The real high point is when an idea or concept I come up with, sometimes based on data, sometimes purely on gut feeling, turns out to work in practice. That not only gives me energy, it’s almost an ecstatic feeling.

What development would you like to go through in the coming years, within Orange Juice and as a professional?

I want to become an expert in this industry and get even better at increasing client value. Together with the team, I want to seek synergy: they share their expertise with me, and I show how we can translate that commercially. I also want to further develop my leadership skills, through more hands-on experience and training.

Which colleague will you beat and at what game in our ‘game hall’?

Lars has already challenged me to table tennis, so that seems like a great start. I even have a paddle ready! And if that doesn’t work out, I’ll go for table football. Either way: challenge accepted!

How will you contribute to #empathy?

For me, empathy means asking questions, continuing to listen, and showing interest. If someone is struggling with something, needs help, or wants to share something great, I want people to know they can always come to me. That’s in my nature. I find it incredibly interesting to hear what’s on people’s minds, whether it’s a move or a new project.

As a child, you thought you would become…

…a chimney sweep. My grandfather had his own business, and I sometimes went with him. I thought it was fantastic to be welcome everywhere and leave things spick and span. Later, I also briefly considered law, because I have a strong sense of justice. Eventually, I ended up in commerce, where I can combine all my interests and strengths. Honestly: it feels like the right choice.

Do you want to be part of our team and contribute to our growth, just like Patrick?

Check out our vacancies you might be the perfect match!

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