Sara Larsson is a senior consultant and IT architect in the Netherlands. She is part of a multidisciplinary team dedicated to exploring, experimenting and innovating with new technologies in partnership with clients, strategic alliance partners, and academic institutions. Eager to share her passion for innovation, Sara is also the practice lead for a community of developers in the Netherlands and Belgium who network, share and learn about technology. When Sara isn’t developing “serious games” for clients, she enjoys playing games, traveling, and bouldering.
Nice meeting you, Sara! Tell us how you got started at CGI.
I was looking for a new career opportunity when a friend recommended CGI. At the time, I wasn’t sure if CGI would be a stepping stone that would lead me to another job or a company where I would build a long-term career. Seven years later, I am still here! The varied assignments, great colleagues, and company culture have kept me here.
What has your career journey at CGI been like?
I started as a software engineer and am now an IT architect. I’ve worked on multiple projects for different clients, but my main focus is a longstanding client in the transportation industry.
I’m currently part of the Infra and Management Lab (iAMLAB) in the Netherlands. We are a multidisciplinary team focused on innovation. Our work involves examining how we can implement innovative solutions for our clients through gamification, data visualization, advanced analytics, and data science. It’s an exciting environment where we work collaboratively, develop different skill sets, and advance innovation.
I’m also the co-practice lead for Dev@CGI, a community for developers in the Netherlands and Belgium, where we network, share knowledge, and learn from one another. I oversee the group and ensure it’s welcoming, fun, inclusive, and supportive for all who join. We organize internal and external knowledge-sharing sessions, provide career development support, and ensure our community members have the necessary resources to work as efficiently as possible.
Being innovative and working with new technologies sounds exciting. What are you working on right now?
I am working on quite a few innovative projects. One of them is a “serious game” to help a transportation client train new employees as traffic controllers. A serious game is an application that uses gamification for learning and knowledge-sharing. It’s an engaging way to train new employees and fun for us to develop. Also, previously, I worked on a 3D simulator for experiments and research related to the client’s sector. I appreciate working on visual and interactive projects as they make it possible to work and engage with the client as changes can easily be seen and explored together.
What are some of the skills you’ve acquired along the way?
All the projects I work on help me grow, and every time I work with new people, I learn something new. Everyone has different perspectives and knowledge; having many diverse colleagues to learn from is great.
A valuable skill I’ve learned is to be proud and confident in myself. I’m an introvert, which can be challenging in a role where I interact regularly with the client and am responsible for nurturing the relationship. However, I’ve had a lot of support from my leaders and colleagues to help me build my confidence. My iAMLAB colleagues are incredible and always encourage me; I have many opportunities to challenge myself and learn new things.
One thing I have realized and often remind myself of is that being an introvert is not the same as having low confidence. This helps me reframe my perspective, advocate for myself, and build meaningful connections with colleagues and clients.
On the topic of support, do you find CGI to be a supportive work environment?
Absolutely. I’m currently working to prepare for the next big step in my career—moving to a leadership role. I’m participating in a leadership development program tailored to help me gain valuable experience to succeed as a leader. Throughout my journey, my leaders and my team have been amazing. Growing takes energy, and being part of a team where there is trust and support is invaluable to the process.
In addition to being supported, I have the chance to work with a fun group of colleagues. I’m passionate about games (in all shapes and forms), which is something I share with many of my colleagues. Occasionally, we organize game nights at the office, and they are always very entertaining!
It sounds like work is fun, too. How do you strike a healthy work-life balance?
Ultimately, finding work-life balance comes down to learning how to prioritize and delegate. You don’t have to do everything yourself, and it's important to be open about your limitations.
When I’m not working on developing serious games and exploring innovation for clients, I enjoy traveling and experiencing new places, cultures, and food. I am originally from Sweden, so I often go back to visit my family. At home, I play games (I even met my partner playing a video game), and to stay active, I love bouldering.
It’s been great to hear your story. Thank you, Sara, for sharing your inspiring career journey at CGI!
