Thomas Debavalaere joined our collective of ESM & ServiceNow expert freelancers in 2023. Since then, he has been actively participating in the life of our community.
Who are you, where are you from and how did you start your journey as a freelancer?
I am French and I am based in the north of France. I have worked in different ESN between Nantes, Paris and Lille for about ten years before deciding to become freelance. I am currently starting my fourth year as a freelancer. This desire for independence was notably made possible thanks to Romain and Xavier, my former bosses, who believed in my project and gave me all the keys to best launch my activity.
How did you hear about N2, and since you joined, what are the main benefits you’ve seen?
I had the opportunity to work with Christophe Girdal for several years, first as a technical project leader, and then in the ServiceNow team. Christophe was already part of the collective, he told me about it and that’s how I was able to join the collective. The greatest strength of N2 Help & Solutions, is having allowed me to meet amazing people around common projects and realizing that we often shared the same values and the same desire to share.
Can you share a concrete experience of a project or collaboration you’ve experienced within the N2 community?
I was able to collaborate with N2 to establish a link with Deloitte and thus allow freelancers to work on major associated projects. We also had the opportunity to participate in the World Forum 2023 in Las Vegas with Antoine, my partner, and to meet other members of the network, such as Michel Conter from Einar & Partners. More recently, I am trying to give my vision of freelancing and my business for future projects.
What makes the N2 community different from other freelance networks?
N2’s defining feature is the shared values among its members. This not only promotes a harmonious work environment, but also enhances our collective output by fostering understanding and respect for diverse viewpoints.
What advice would you give to someone interested in joining the N2 community?
It is essential to come with the desire to contribute because the community cannot exist without our daily participation. Even if we don’t have the opportunity to collaborate immediately, it is still important to create links for our future projects.
