Retired on paper, but a key player in practice
“I feel like a fish in water and have no plans to slow down”
That’s Jan Meilstrup’s spontaneous response when asked what drives him to work every day. At 67, he could easily retire from his job as a consultant at Tabellae and enjoy life as a retiree, but that’s not appealing to him at all.
As the company’s very first employee, he is a central part of the culture that defines Tabellae, and he is a living proof of how curiosity and passion can keep work enjoyment alive for decades.
At 53, older than the two founders, Lennart Garbarsch and Stefan Reina, Jan Meilstrup became employee number 1 at Tabellae. Since then, he has made a significant impact on the company and is today the technical veteran colleagues and clients turn to for technical challenges beyond the ordinary.
“Work is also my passion”
“I’m fortunate that my work is also my great passion. I love programming and spend most of my free time programming in our Lasernet software. So I’m working with what I love, alongside great colleagues and clients. Financially, I could retire and spend my time with other retirees, but I have no desire to do so,” says Jan Meilstrup.
“I don’t thrive on routines and prefer being challenged both professionally and linguistically, which happens every day in my role as a consultant in the AMS department (Application Management Services) at Tabellae. We have a high standard here, from my experienced and critical perspective. I think it’s because we have a strong culture that attracts and retains highly skilled people,” says Jan Meilstrup.
“It’s a culture built on trust, where individuals enjoy great flexibility and opportunities for professional development. Once I’ve met my billing and customer contact goals, I can focus on improving myself, helping colleagues, doing presales work, or diving into new topics. It’s very motivating.”
From the military to the IT frontline
Before Tabellae, he spent 13 years in the Navy and Defense, then stepped into the IT industry, where he has remained.
His career has included several leadership positions, such as product manager at Lexmark and project manager responsible for delivering major IT projects for large clients like Nokia and Lundbeck, before joining Tabellae in 2011.
“I’ve been there from the famous IT security at the turn of the millennium to the first matrix printers and later the networked laser scanners. The latter laid the foundation for document management, which I’ve worked with at Tabellae for 14 years. Therefore, I have a deep understanding of the technology. My technical insight and experience with older systems enable me to solve problems others can’t. I’m the go-to person, and I enjoy that,” says Jan Meilstrup, emphasizing his natural curiosity.
No thanks to reduced hours
The work environment, the professional community with skilled specialists, and client interaction bring great joy to Jan Meilstrup’s life. Therefore, when offered reduced hours at Tabellae upon turning 67, he politely declined.
“That’s not for me. I wouldn’t know what to do with my time. I’d probably program from morning till night, but it’s much more enjoyable to do it alongside talented colleagues. My wife is 53, so as far as I’m concerned, I’ll work at least another 11 years until she retires. I don’t even think about my age. If clients and the company are happy, I’m in no rush to stop,” declares Jan.
When not at work at Tabellae, he enjoys spoiling his wife. “Over the years, we’ve used our savings on our children, but now that I receive my pension, we spend it on each other. Every month, we have an experience—a dinner, a night away, a trip. It’s wonderful, but experiences alone aren’t enough for me. I need to be part of a work community and use my mind. Passion and curiosity know no retirement age. That’s why I’m incredibly happy to be part of Tabellae,” says Jan Meilstrup.
Learn more about what it’s like to work at Tabellae
