Faces of TLF - Zeel Patel

Meet Zeel, a Software Expert and an Industry Process Consultant, working out of our office in the Netherlands.

Introduce yourself: Who are you and what do you do within TLF?
I am Zeel from Bharuch (a small town in Gujarat, India). I am working as a Senior Consultant in TLF in our office in the Netherlands.

I joined the company in India in 2019 and moved to the Netherlands in December 2022. Currently, I have two major responsibilities. My main role is to provide support as a Software Expert (SwE), and I also work as an Industry Process Consultant (IPC), which I have been doing for more than a year now.

What do you like about your particular role?
In my dual profile, along with solving interesting supply chain planning puzzles spread over various industries such as logistics, retail, aviation, etc, I also get the chance to talk to many customers across the globe and learn about different businesses. This diversity in my work makes it fun and interesting.

What’s your favorite part about working for TLF overall, please explain.
TLF offers flexibility through its policies – the possibility of internal transfer, work from anywhere, and hybrid work arrangements. Additionally, there is an opportunity to grow in different roles based on an individual’s area of interest.

Who are you outside of TLF? Family/ friends, etc. How would they describe you?
After 12^th grade, I moved out of my hometown, so my parents and I haven’t lived together since then. However, while I was working for TLF in the India office, we got the chance to stay together. Before moving to The Netherlands, I used to live in Ahmedabad with my parents and younger sister. We usually go on a vacation at least once a year, so it gives us some time out together.

If I talk about my friends, umm… the way they would describe me depends on who you are talking to. Different people see a different side of me. In general, I think they would describe me as an ambivert and a good listener.

What do you like to do for fun/hobbies?
I like attending different workshops, including pottery, cooking/baking, painting, etc., and shows – music, poetry, or comedy. During my free time, I like penning down my thoughts, putting my amateur painting skills on a canvas, café hopping with friends, or people-watching while sipping coffee. Apart from that, I love being in nature and discovering new places.

Any fun hidden talent or skillsets?
I like to write, mostly freeform. I enjoy cooking while listening to old Bollywood songs – it depends on my mood though, so it can go from old Bollywood to pop real quick. 😊

A message to all?
“The day you stop learning, you stop growing.”

I picked up this quote from an orientation speech at my first internship, and it has stayed with me ever since.

So, I would say, keep learning and exploring. It does not have to be related to your career. It can be any teeny tiny thing in your daily routine – maybe learning to process/deal with your emotions/feelings, discovering a new thing about yourself, learning to open that lock you didn’t know, or learning any musical instrument.