Who is
ROLF
A cup of coffee, a chunk of chocolate — and not relying on gut feelings: an Interview with Rolf, a partner at Escape Company.
What’s the first app you open when you get to work?
Outlook. Always. I need to see what’s crept into my calendar overnight and tackle any surprises in my inbox before they tackle me.
Describe your job in three words.
Scope. Cost. Schedule.
What’s the nerdiest thing on your desk?
My minimalist wireless keyboard. It has only the essential keys — people can’t help but poke at it and ask where the rest of it is hiding.
What bit of tech do you secretly hate but use daily?
The office card reader. Necessary evil. It never works first time.
If you have to work late, what’s your guilty pleasure?
A strong cup of coffee and an embarrassingly sweet slab of cheap milk chocolate. The sort that barely qualifies as chocolate.
“Gut feelings can be dangerous. You need to validate what you feel with facts and feedback from your surroundings.”
What poster was on your bedroom wall when you were a teenager?
Arnold Schwarzenegger. Commando era. Peak Arnie.
If they made a film about your working life, who’d play you?
Depends on the day. Some days need an action hero, others need a calm mediator. Maybe a whole cast.
What emoji do you use most?
The popping champagne bottle. When I’m feeling generous, I’ll throw in five stars too — people love it.
How do you unwind after an intense period at work?
I try to return to ‘normal’. No frantic schedules, no overbooked evenings. Just empty space in the calendar — and I see where the day takes me.
If I asked your team what you actually do, what would they say?
That I get people organised, keep them talking to each other, and make sure we’re still moving forward — ideally in the right direction.
What was your first ever job?
Washing windscreens and pumping tyres at a petrol station. I’ve upgraded my toolkit since then.
What’s the best piece of advice you’ve ever been given — or ignored?
Some people believe your destiny is set. I’ve always worked to prove you can choose your own path, no matter what people tell you.
Have you always done this?
I started as an engineer — software and a bit of electronics — but project management called to me early on. I’ve stuck with it ever since.
“Gut feelings can be dangerous. You need to validate what you feel with facts and feedback from your surroundings.”
On Two Wheels
Have you always loved bikes?
Not always road bikes. As a kid, it was all BMX. I built them myself out of spare parts. The proper obsession began about eight years ago when I bought my first road bike — it was like discovering a new world.
How serious are you about it now?
Serious enough to get a triathlon bike. It’s a completely different beast — and yes, it opened up yet another world for me.
How often do you ride?
I cycle to work every day — no interest in sitting in traffic. In summer, I’ll tack on a 30–50 km loop after work a couple of times a week. Good for the legs, good for the head.
