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Collega in the spotlight: Justyna Kolibaba
This time we're shining the spotlight on Justyna from our Operations team. Originally from Poland, she has been part of The Rent Company for more than six years and plays an important role in diagnostics and repairs. Whether she's tracking down the cause of a complex technical issue, bringing a device back to life, or sharing her knowledge with colleagues, Justyna enjoys solving problems and helping others.
Outside of work, she loves spending time with her family, cooking traditional Polish dishes, and dreams of creating her own cookbook filled with recipes and photography. Fun fact: before moving to the Netherlands, Justyna was studying to become a lawyer for the Catholic Church!
Let's get to know her a little better.
Who are you and what do you do at The Rent Company?
Hi, I'm Justyna. I'm originally from Poland, but almost 20 years ago I moved to the Netherlands. I'm 38 years old and live in Rosmalen with my Dutch boyfriend and our two children: a daughter who is 9 and a son who is one and a half years old. At home, we speak three languages: Polish, Dutch and English.
I've been working at The Rent Company for about six and a half years now. Most of my work is focused on diagnostics, but I also help with final quality checks and repairs when needed.
What does a typical workday look like for you? And what do you enjoy most about your role?
Every day starts with a team meeting. We look back at the previous day, discuss what went well, what could be improved, and talk about the priorities for the day ahead. If there are any issues or important updates, we share them during the day start so everyone is up to date.
Most of my work involves diagnostics and return diagnostics. Return diagnostics are devices that don't pass the final quality check and need another look. I have a bit of a love-hate relationship with them!
During diagnostics, we're the first people to investigate a customer ticket. We check the reported damage, test whether the issue described by the customer matches what we find, and then figure out how it can be solved. We don't just focus on the reported problem. We check the entire device to make sure there aren't any other hidden issues. Once I've finished my inspection, the device goes to the repair team, who can fix it once the required parts have arrived.
Over the years, I've seen some unusual cases. Water damage is always painful to see. One of the most memorable cases was a device that came in completely destroyed. The customer claimed a car had driven over it, but technically that didn't seem possible. It looked more like someone had taken the entire device apart piece by piece!
What I enjoy most is bringing devices back to life that seemed beyond repair. Finding the root cause of a difficult problem after a lot of investigation is incredibly satisfying. I also enjoy doing repairs myself. I call it the "LEGO part" of the job. Putting everything back together is calming and gives me a real sense of accomplishment.
What do you appreciate most about your colleagues?
The diversity. We all have different backgrounds, ages and experiences, but everyone is willing to help each other and share knowledge.
In the many years I've worked here, I've seen a lot of people come and go. What has always stood out to me is how open people are to helping one another. There is so much knowledge within the company.
I don't have a technical education myself, and I've learned almost everything I know from my colleagues. I've never felt uncomfortable asking questions, even when talking to people with years of technical experience. That supportive atmosphere is something I really appreciate.
What do you enjoy doing outside of work?
Most of my free time is spent with my family, and that's exactly how I like it. We enjoy doing things at home, but we also love going out and exploring new places together.
Recently, my daughter and I started having a regular "girls' day." During our latest outing, we visited the Wonder Barbie Experience. I absolutely loved it. For a moment, it felt like I was a little girl again.
I also love cooking. What I enjoy most is creating something myself rather than strictly following recipes. I like experimenting and coming up with my own dishes. Most of the time, I cook Polish food, although not always the same way it was prepared when I was growing up. One traditional Polish dish I enjoy making is krokiety.
Photography is another passion of mine, although I don't have much time for it these days. I don't photograph people. My dream is to create my own cookbooks filled with my own recipes and food photography.
What is something that many colleagues might not know about you?
Probably quite a lot!
My original plan in life wasn't to repair laptops. It was to repair souls. I actually studied to become a lawyer for the Catholic Church. After about a year and a half, I realised it wasn't the right path for me. I had a strong feeling that it wasn't what I wanted to do with my life, so I quit and, within a week, moved to the Netherlands.
And one more thing many colleagues already know about me: I don't like worstenbroodjes!
Do you have a tip or advice that everyone should know?
If you ever visit Poland, make sure you spend some time in Kraków. It's a beautiful city with a fascinating history. One of the highlights is the underground city beneath the main square. Throughout history, these underground spaces and tunnels played an important role and were used for many different purposes.
If you'd rather visit a less touristy destination, I'd recommend the Pieniny Mountains. Most people know the Tatra Mountains, but Pieniny is quieter and, in my opinion, just as beautiful.
As for life advice, there's one lesson my grandmother taught me when I was very young that has stayed with me ever since: Every cloud has a silver lining.
That mindset has helped me through difficult times. It reminds me that even when things seem bad, there is usually something positive to be found or learned.
Do you have a life hack you'd like to share?
Building on Marieke's cooking tip: when a cake comes out of the oven, carefully drop the cake tin onto the counter or floor straight away. It helps prevent the cake from collapsing while it cools.
Important: don't try this with a glass baking dish, and it's a good idea to put a towel on the floor first!
Another tip: you can freshen up your washing machine by running an empty cycle with dishwasher tablets. And if you have stubborn stains on your clothes, a little dishwashing liquid can work wonders.
Who would you like to nominate for the next edition of In the Spotlight?
My first thought is Michel Hoonhout.
He was actually the person who interviewed me when I applied for my job here, so he's been with The Rent Company for a long time too. I see him almost every day, but I realised I don't actually know that much about what he does or who he is outside of work.
That's exactly why I'd love to see him featured in the next edition of In the Spotlight.