The beating heart of ROA for 38 years: Margo looks back
To mark the 40th anniversary of ROA, we spoke with colleagues from across the institute. In these interviews, they reflect on the development, impact and future of ROA. They share their experiences, insights and memories of four decades of research into education and the labour market. Together, the interviews paint a personal and multifaceted portrait of an institute that has spent 40 years committed to knowledge, innovation and societal impact.
From youngest colleague to valued cornerstone
When Margo joined ROA on 1 April 1988, she was 25 years old and the youngest employee at the institute. “Now I’m the oldest,” she says with a smile. At that time, ROA had existed for almost two years. Director Hans Heijke led what was then still a small team consisting of a secretary, a student assistant and three researchers. That same year, the first PhD candidate, Lex Borghans, also started.
The secretariat was located on the third floor of the garden wing, opposite the KE secretariat. At the time, all economics departments were housed in that part of the building. In those early years, Margo’s main responsibility was editing and formatting ROA’s research output in the form of reports. Initially, this was done using word-processing computers available at all secretariats, which were soon replaced by PCs equipped with Microsoft Word. Meetings were recorded using shorthand and handwritten notes, while communication took place via telephone and fax, or simply by visiting colleagues in person. The digitalisation that followed, particularly the arrival of email, brought about a huge transformation. Not only did the work become more efficient, the institute itself also grew rapidly. “As the number of projects increased, the number of colleagues grew as well, leading to an expansion of the secretarial team.
And although ROA has changed enormously since then, one small detail has remained exactly the same: the photo on Margo’s staff pass is still the one from her very first day. A small but symbolic reminder of her long-standing connection to the institute.
A career evolving together with the institute
Margo’s career developed at the same pace as ROA itself. One of the moments she is most proud of came in 1993, when the director asked her to take over the secretariat of the European Association of Labour Economists (EALE). “I was given the trust and responsibility to take the association and its annual conferences to a higher level.” She went on to lead the EALE secretariat for 28 years and contributed to the organisation of annual conferences across Europe, including the five-yearly world congresses organised in collaboration with the American labour economists’ association.
In 2021, she passed the baton on and since then, she has fulfilled a broad range of roles within ROA: from quality manager to head of the secretariat and support officer to the management team. She looks back with pride on achieving and maintaining the ISO 9001 certification. “That is only possible through collaboration with colleagues and by maintaining clear structures in processes and procedures.” For her, the most recent audit was a particular highlight: the auditor stated that ROA operates at a very high level in terms of quality management.
At the same time, she emphasises that her pride is not only about her own achievements. “Over the years, there have been many moments I’ve been proud of. Not just because of what I achieved myself, but also because of what my colleagues achieved.” She speaks warmly about the collaboration within the secretariat team: each person bringing their own expertise, yet always working towards supporting the institute as a whole.
A unique culture of commitment, openness and generations learning from one another
What makes ROA unique in Margo’s view is its business model: the institute finances itself through contracted and subsidised research. “Everyone is aware that the project portfolio needs to remain strong. That creates a strong sense of commitment and leads to a positive, close-knit working environment.”
She also highlights the culture of collegiality and collaboration, which she has experienced across all levels and disciplines within the institute. The diversity of generations plays an important role in this. “Younger generations learn from older generations. That is something we actively encourage. I still share tips with my colleagues on a daily basis.”
According to Margo, the different ROA directors have also had a major influence on the culture. “They have always played an important role in creating a positive and close-knit working environment through their connecting style of leadership, their accessibility, and the genuine commitment with which they have inspired, and continue to inspire, colleagues.” She says she has taken valuable lessons from every director she worked with and still applies them today.
Although Margo will soon take early retirement, she believes ROA remains a place where people genuinely want to stay. “In practice, you can see that colleagues with a temporary contract, PhD candidates, postdocs and junior researchers would often prefer to continue their careers at ROA.” Perhaps that is the greatest compliment for an organisation of which she was one of the cornerstones for 38 years.
40 years of ROA
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