CASE
Cerba Research
From evaluation to evolution:How Cerba Research enhanced performance reviews with myCareerCompanion
Performance reviews are often seen as formal check-ins, sometimes even stressful, often with an unconscious bias, where the outcome largely depends on how well both employee and manager prepare.
At Cerba Research, a global leader in clinical research, they set out with a different ambition: to shift reviews from one-off evaluations to ongoing growth conversations. Their goal was to make them constructive, inspiring, and anchored in both science and culture, supporting development all year round, not just once a year.
That’s where myCareerCompanion came in.
The challenge: more than science, people are the key
In clinical research, technical expertise is critical. But at Cerba Research, leaders knew that success also depends on how well employees feel being understood, supported, and aligned with the company’s culture.
Global Director of Talent & Development, Jo Sechi, explains:
Growth conversations, whether lattice or linear, should be part of our everyday dialogue, not limited to performance reviews. We wanted performance discussions to go beyond evaluation and become opportunities for growth, guided by a compass that helps employees understand their strengths, drivers, and ambitions.
The solution: a personal career compass for every employee
The digital platform myCareerCompanion guides each employee towards a career compass: a scientifically validated profile developed in collaboration with KU Leuven and Prof. Eva Kyndt, mapping their talents, motivations, and cultural preferences.
This wasn’t just a report. It was a starting point for conversations. Employees used it to prepare for reviews, managers to understand individuals better, and HR to gain strategic insights into the workforce.
The results speak for themselves:
- 80% of employees used myCareerCompanion to prepare for their performance review.
- 60% said it improved conversations about career growth.
- 96% confirmed that the identified competences aligned with their own perception.
- 87% would recommend myCareerCompanion to colleagues.
- 90% recommend managers actively to use the tool to guide career discussions.
One employee captured the essence perfectly:
It made me think about who I am, what my strengths are, and how I can grow. It gave me something concrete to start my review with.
What we delivered (in practice)
myCareerCompanion supported Cerba Research with a concrete set of tools, insights, and reporting:
- As a starting group, 150 employees started with the myCareerCompanion assessment.
- Each received a personalised unique myCompass profile (personal career compass).
- Job descriptions were reframed in line with our skills framework and language.
- HR received BI dashboards and reports with aggregated insights on competences, interests, cultural drivers, and subgroups of employees.
- Managers and leadership are in an ongoing training journey, revisiting these tools as the process evolves.
This combination ensured impact at three levels: employees, leaders, and the organization as a whole.
The impact: conversations that build trust and direction
The Compass didn’t just help employees prepare. It sparked more meaningful growth conversations, complementing performance reviews and supporting employees and managers alike with real insights into career, growth, and development discussions.
The tool proved incredibly valuable, especially for people who don’t naturally talk about their strengths. Because the focus is on talents and positive aspects, it creates a constructive and developmental conversation.
— Jo Sechi, Global Director Talent & Development
Managers benefited with access to clear insights into their employees’ drivers and competences, they were better equipped to support their teams’ ambitions and connect personal growth with organizational needs.
Data-driven HR: beyond the individual
For Cerba Research, the value extended beyond personal insights. Aggregated data from myCareerCompanion highlighted:
- Cultural preferences and change opportunities
- Key competences available within the workforce
- Motivation drivers shaping engagement and retention
This data became a foundation for strategic HR planning, building an understanding of where the organization stands today in terms of competences, drivers, and culture; creating a foundation for future talent and development planning.
A partnership with impact
For Cerba Research, choosing myCareerCompanion wasn’t only about a tool.
It was about a true partnership.
We consciously look for partners who challenge us. Sofie Priem, CEO of myCareerCompanion, brought a fresh perspective on how we engage with our people. Thanks to her, we translated the compass into daily practice—including leadership trainings.
— Jo Sechi
Looking ahead
Cerba Research plans to:
- Use the myCompass as the standard preparation tool for performance reviews
- Develop tangible development plans that employees can fully own, with managers enabling and supporting them. The focus is on putting the employee in the driver’s seat and setting them up for success
- Deepen their data-driven HR approach by connecting insights across all internal roles, enabling true internal mobility pathways for employees
- Build on BI reporting to track progress, support leadership development and align talent with strategic business needs