Building the future of finance at TechWolf: Sam’s journey from consulting to scale-up success

Sam’s career path didn’t start in finance—far from it. Initially, he wasn’t even interested in the field. “I actually thought finance was boring,” he admits. “But during my first SaaS experience, I realized that if you want to drive significant impact, being in finance offers unique opportunities — If you really want to drive company growth and see everything, finance is a very exciting place to be.“

Today, as part of TechWolf’s finance team, Sam is proving that finance isn’t just about numbers—it’s about driving real business growth.

Finding the right path

Sam’s journey began with an engineering degree in Ghent, his hometown. “After five years of studying, I knew I didn’t want to pursue a traditional engineering career, but finishing my degree was non-negotiable——for my mom.” he jokes.

Eager to explore new opportunities, Sam stepped into technology consulting, spending four years working on large-scale transformations and implementations. Looking for a fresh challenge, he pursued an MBA at Vlerick Business School, where he realized his passion for tackling complex business challenges. “That’s when I moved into strategy consulting, focusing on operational changes and helping organizations evolve,” he says.

But after years in corporate consulting, Sam was ready for something new—something that allowed him to build from the ground up. That’s when he joined his first scale-up as Head of Business Intelligence, gaining valuable insights into SaaS metrics, reporting, and operational structures. “That experience taught me how every department in a scale-up operates and what truly drives growth,” he reflects.

Joining TechWolf: A chance to build from scratch

When the opportunity at TechWolf came along, it immediately resonated with Sam. “TechWolf’s mission of using skills data to help enterprises grow their people really struck a chord with me,” he shares. “I wanted to join an earlier-stage company where I could apply everything I’d learned and build something meaningful from the ground up.”

Now, Sam is fully immersed in the dynamic world of scale-up finance, embracing the challenge of structuring processes and preparing the team for future growth. “This time, it’s really on me. It’s an enormous opportunity to get the full breadth of operational responsibilities and position finance as a strategic driver of the business.”

Scaling the finance function

With TechWolf growing rapidly, Sam’s focus is clear—building a finance function that scales with the company. “The question isn’t if TechWolf will explode, it’s when,” he says. “Our job is to make sure we’re ready when it happens—setting up the right processes, tooling, insights, and assembling the right team to drive that growth.”

His priority is to ensure that everyone in the team understands their role and the value they bring. “We are figuring out our scope, responsibilities, and the way we work as a team. There’s a huge opportunity for personal and professional growth as we build this together.”

The TechWolf experience

What has stood out to Sam most in his time at TechWolf? The energy, the enthusiasm, or what we call in Ghent "Goesting". “The first week I was here, I had lunch with Andreas, our CEO, and I told him I was surprised—pleasantly surprised. I came in with high expectations, and they were exceeded.”

Sam describes the unique culture through the little things—shared lunches, office traditions like ‘Croque Mondays,’ and colleagues stepping up to support each other. “It’s an environment where everyone is all-in. Whether it’s running out to get groceries or cleaning up after an office event, people genuinely care. That’s what makes TechWolf special.”

Advice for aspiring finance professionals in SaaS

For those considering a move into SaaS finance, Sam has a clear message: “It’s the best place to learn.”

“In a corporate setting, you get a small piece of a process. Here, you’re building everything from scratch—you learn it all, from cash flow to reporting to structuring. And the best part? You don’t need to have all the answers upfront. We figure it out together.”

His advice? “Come with the right mindset. You’ll learn because you have to build it. It’s an incredible opportunity to see the full picture of finance and find out what part excites you most.”