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Vera Lakmaker
Community Builder - Remote Work Advocate - Extra Introvert On Mission To Make (Remote) Work More Human And Connect Humans Through Play
Vera Lakmaker is a prominent advocate for remote work, currently serving as the Remote Work Champion at Unlock, a role she has embraced with enthusiasm and dedication. Based in Antwerp, Belgium, she has a diverse background that uniquely positions her in the remote work landscape.
Professional Background
Lakmaker's career began in 2009 when she studied history, which eventually led her to the gaming industry. Throughout her studies, she engaged in various roles such as game journalist, community manager, project and HR manager, and marketer, all of which were conducted remotely. This early exposure to remote work set the foundation for her later career. She officially transitioned to remote work during the pandemic and has since focused on enhancing human connections in virtual environments.13
Role at Unlock
At Unlock, Lakmaker leads both internal and external advocacy for remote work. Her responsibilities include conducting research related to product development and marketing strategies tailored for remote teams. She emphasizes the importance of intentional communication and structured processes to ensure effective collaboration among distributed teams.34
Philosophy on Remote Work
Lakmaker believes that remote work is not merely a perk but an operational model that requires specific skills and strategies for management. She advocates for asynchronous communication methods to reduce stress and improve productivity among remote workers. Her approach involves asking critical questions about processes to foster understanding and engagement within teams.34
Personal Interests
Outside of her professional commitments, Lakmaker enjoys engaging in activities that stimulate her creativity, such as playing board games, watching anime, and exploring new hobbies like table tennis and kayaking. She values flexibility in her work environment, allowing her to balance personal interests with professional responsibilities effectively.12
Vera Lakmaker's journey reflects a deep commitment to improving remote work practices and fostering meaningful connections among team members in a digital landscape.
Highlights
Ever since I heard the news about being let go, my thoughts were focused on the following question: "what do I want to do next?" 🤔
So I've been under construction. 🏗 Well, actually I still am, cause who is ever finished with building themselves? 😉
I asked myself, What are my strengths? What do I want? But most importantly, who am I? My diverse CV is filled with so many hats I've worn, including game journalist, social media person, producer, support engineer, Linux engineer, Head of Remote, and Remote Work Champion.
And then it hit me. I can wear many different identities. I can have a wide identity stack (thanks 🌎Tyler Sellhorn📢 for that brilliant term btw 😉 ). I should embrace my wide CV, which makes me a generalist or an "Information Geek."
My love for technology and passion for bringing people together bind everything together, and the only role that truly encompasses both is the role I wanted ten years ago - a community manager.
Thanks to everyone who shared their wisdom with me. I'm still #opentowork and looking for an opportunity to build a community for your product or company. Let's talk! 😉 🙌
It's our tough market out there. Earlier this week I received the unfortunate news that I’m being let go as Remote Work Champion at Unlock. It’s just the reality of the times that we’re living in. It does however open up the door to a new adventure.
I’m really going to miss working with so many wonderful people like Eli, Darshak, Esther, Sasha, Shuchi, Daniel and Antoine. And especially my dear friend Maria. I want to thank you all for the wonderful opportunity and the amazing memorable moments that we made together!
Over the past few days, I also got the question: “What do you want to do next”? “What’s the next job role gonna look like?” It’s hard to say as I have a very diverse range of experiences. From working with indie game developers to being a Linux engineer and lately a Head of Remote. What I know is that I’m flexible, agile and that I like a challenge.
My personal motto has always been: “connecting humans through play”. The way people interact through play and seeing the smiles on their faces is the best feeling in the world. Who am I? I’m your next sparring buddy, your advisor if you need something researched. I’m a person who loves seeing the big picture, and who sees connections between elements in people and the business that no one has seen yet. But above all, you’ll get someone who genuinely cares for everyone she works with. Who supports, guides, and learns.
I don’t know what the future holds. All I can say is that I’m #opentowork and I love to talk and think about the next adventure.
