Staff Spotlight – Charl van Eeden

In this series, we invite you to get to know the outstanding individuals who drive the success of Sparta. In this week’s iteration of the series, we turn the spotlight on Charl van Eeden, our talented Product Marketing Manager.

With a passion for innovation and a background in both technical and marketing roles, Charl plays a pivotal role in putting our products on the market and ensuring they thrive. As a product marketing manager (PMM), he serves as the enabler of sales, the mastermind of messaging, and the overarching voice of the customer within our company.

HOW LONG HAVE YOU BEEN WITH THE COMPANY?

Two months and just over two weeks.

CAN YOU EXPLAIN YOUR ROLE

Sure. So, product marketing is not necessarily a new role, but I think PMMs are quite new to people, that’s product marketing managers. Essentially, it is the product department’s job to ensure that products get put on the shelf, and it is my job to ensure that it gets taken off the shelf. Generally, my main role is pushing the product to the market and keeping it there. Additionally, I serve as the enabler of sales, mastermind of messaging, and the overreaching voice of the customer within the company. That’s my role as a product marketing manager.

HOW DID YOU GET STARTED IN THE INDUSTRY?/CAN YOU GIVE ME A RUNDOWN OF YOUR CAREER PATH UP UNTIL THIS POINT?

Sure. I think I’ve always been quite fortunate, with people seeing something in me that I didn’t maybe see myself at that point. My first professional job was as an intern at a technical college in the IT department. I then progressed from there to become a sys admin.

After that, I ran my own company for two to three years, which was the greatest experience for me. I got to learn so many new skills, and that period of my career was really fun. Then, I moved into what some people would call the ‘vendor life.’ I worked in the gaming industry for some of the biggest names, taking on various roles such as sales manager, business manager, marketing manager, and eventually, a product manager, which led me to become a product marketing manager. I enjoy the creative aspect of marketing and the freedom it offers, but as someone with a technical background, I also appreciate the technical aspects. This role gives me the best of both worlds.

WHAT IS YOUR FAVOURITE PART OF WORKING AT OUR COMPANY?

So, I’d answer this in two parts. First, the people. I believe that if you are the smartest person in the room, you’re in the wrong room. We truly have some exceptional people working for the company who are super ambitious and onboard with our goals. The second part is the product itself. Working in a company that has a truly unique and disruptive product is really exciting. Customers respond positively, and it’s genuinely fulfilling to be part of it.

WHAT ARE YOU MOST PROUD OF IN YOUR CAREER SO FAR?

Good question. There’s been so much that I couldn’t pinpoint a single point. I am proud to have worked in different companies from all over the world in different positions with people from different cultures and backgrounds. It’s been quite a ride so far, and it’s been brilliant.

HOW WOULD YOU DESCRIBE OUR COMPANY CULTURE?

We have a really good company culture, from the point of view of people in the company actually living our values. A lot of companies claim to be client-focused, but at Sparta, we’re all on the same page, and the client is the most important thing for us.

WHAT’S ONE THING PEOPLE DON’T KNOW ABOUT YOU THAT THEY WOULD BE SURPRISED TO FIND OUT?

I want to say that I’m South African, but as soon as I open my mouth, that’s a dead giveaway. Another thing about me is that I have 25 real-world flying hours. I’ve always wanted to be a pilot since I was a little kid, so I pursued some flight training on the side. The flying experience was mostly coastal, which was pretty incredible.

WHAT PIECE OF ADVICE TO YOUR YOUNGER SELF?

It’s a process, not always about the destination. Take time to enjoy the journey along the way. Stay hungry but be humble. Strive to be extraordinary.

HOW HAS YOUR ROLE EVOLVED OVER TIME SINCE YOU’VE BEEN HERE?

I’ve been putting everything in place and starting to establish the processes internally. I still have a lot of work to do, but I’m excited about the future of my role and the insights it will bring.

WHAT’S THE MOST INTERESTING PROJECT YOU HAVE WORKED ON HERE?

I would say it was the go-to-market process for Naphtha, building that out. But there’s also a really exciting project coming up soon that I can’t talk about yet. People will have to watch this space.

WHAT IS ONE THING YOU WISH THAT PEOPLE KNEW ABOUT YOUR JOB?

My role is highly collaborative, both internally and when speaking to people outside the company. It’s not just about making great presentations; it involves understanding the customer, the market, and aligning various teams to achieve the best results.

WHAT ARE YOUR GOALS FOR THE NEXT FEW MONTHS/YEARS?

For now, my goal is to build the product marketing function out within Sparta and add as much value as quickly as possible. Beyond that, the sky’s the limit. We’ll see what’s next.

IF YOU HAD THREE WISHES, WHAT WOULD THEY BE?

I’d like to add a couple of zeros to my bank account. Health would be one big wish because there’s not much you can do without it. The third one is a bit challenging because I’m quite happy in my life currently. Maybe just to be as content as I am right now for the rest of my life. 

WHAT’S ONE THING THAT SURPRISED YOU ABOUT YOUR CURRENT ROLE?

One thing that surprised me about my current role is the level of cross-functional collaboration it involves. It requires a deep understanding of the business and the ability to bring different perspectives together to create products that meet customer needs. It can be challenging to reconcile the user needs, expert opinions, platform analytics, and customer success feedback, as they can sometimes be quite different. However, finding the right balance and delivering a better product for our users is rewarding.

WHAT’S THE LAST SONG YOU LISTENED TO?

Thunderstruck by AC/DC.

I listen to a lot of classic rock, but I also enjoy classical music quite often. I like everything except jazz. I play the guitar as well. It all started when I was around 13 or 14 years old, and I went to my best friend’s house. His dad took out an AC/DC LP and started playing it. Something just clicked in my head, and I thought, ‘I can do that!’ From then on, I began playing songs by Guns N’ Roses, Def Leppard, and more. 

WHAT, IF ANYTHING, ARE YOU CURRENTLY BINGE-WATCHING OR READING?

Last night, I finished watching The Walking Dead, which had been a big part of my life for about 12 years. It was a lot to take in because, at one point, I was like, ‘Wow, this is going to end horribly, everybody’s dead.’ But yeah, fortunately, I think it ended as happy as it could have.

Currently, I’m reading “The Infinite Game” by Simon Sinek, which discusses how life and business are made up of finite and infinite games, and how to apply an infinite mindset in business. It’s about how life is made up of both finite and infinite games, and business is an infinite game. In an infinite game, there are no winners in the traditional sense, and although there may be losers, it’s not the main focus. 

These games follow different rules. For instance, in a sporting event, there are specific rules that determine a clear winner. However, in life, there are certain aspects, like marriage, that fall under the category of an infinite game. In an infinite game, no one “wins” at marriage, and there are no medals or definitive endpoints (although some people may think about it differently). This concept also applies to the business world.

The idea is to understand and apply an infinite mindset when it comes to business. Unlike finite games with clear objectives and winners, an infinite game has no end point. The focus is on continuous improvement, growth, and adapting to changing circumstances. This perspective can be particularly helpful when dealing with certain situations at work, such as strategic planning. It questions whether we are considering a limited timeframe or applying finite rules to a game that doesn’t have a defined endpoint. It challenges us to think beyond short-term milestones and embrace a more sustainable, ongoing approach.

WHAT’S ONE THING ON YOUR BUCKET LIST?

I think this is the most difficult one. Definitely, I’d love to go watch the F1 live in Monaco.

Qualifying is super important in Formula 1 racing, especially in Monaco. The track layout there is so tight and tricky that drivers have almost no room to pause or overtake easily. So, where you start in the qualifying round makes a huge difference in how the race will go for you. Typically, the driver who manages to secure the top position in qualifying also gets a sweet starting spot in the actual race.

It’s a very prestigious title and a really tough race, and it’s been going on for almost a hundred years. So, yeah, it’s one for the bucket list. I’m determined to get there. I just need to figure out a way to go to Monaco and watch the F1 while also making sure my wife enjoys her time, perhaps by going shopping while I am at the race.

Charl is part of our marketing team here at Sparta and can be contacted at charl.vaneeden@spartacommodities.com

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Sparta is a live, pre trade analytics platform that enables oil traders, refiners, banks, hedge funds and wholesalers to have access to real-time and global actionable insights to capture market opportunities before others.

To find out how Sparta can allow you to make smarter trading decisions, faster, contact us for a demonstration at sales@spartacommodites.com