30 years at VIB: A front-row seat to an extraordinary journey When Melinda walked into VIB on 2 November 1995, there was little to suggest that she was about to become part of one of Europe's leading life sciences success stories. The organization was brand new, biotechnology was still unfamiliar to many, and VIB itself was little more than an ambitious vision with a handful of people determined to build something exceptional. Thirty years later, Melinda can look back on a career that has spanned VIB's entire history, from its earliest pioneering days to the internationally recognized innovation organization it is today. Joining the unknown When Melinda applied for an executive assistant position at VIB, there were no guarantees. The institute had funding for five years, but few could predict what the future beyond that would hold. Yet the opportunity to help build something new appealed to her. "I was excited by the idea of being part of something completely new," she recalls. "The job was varied, the atmosphere felt right, and there was a strong sense that everyone was working together toward a common goal." Her first day took place in VIB’s first office at the Rijvisschestraat in Zwijnaarde. The headquarters looked very different from today's modern offices. "There was hardly an office," she laughs. "We had a picnic table, a coffee machine and a lot of enthusiasm." Together with Rudy Dekeyser, Jo Bury, and Claudine Bogaert, Melinda formed part of VIB headquarters' very first team. Building VIB, one folder at a time The early years required plenty of improvisation. There was no email, no Microsoft Teams, no smartphones, and certainly no digital signatures. Board meetings involved photocopying countless documents, organizing them into folders and mailing them out by post. Before major meetings, the team often worked late into the night to ensure everything was ready on time. One memory still makes her smile. When preparing materials for Board of Directors...