“Learning isn’t a duty – it’s a superpower.”

Imagine getting four hours a week, just for yourself. Not for meetings, not for to-do lists, but for your personal growth. Four hours to learn exactly what moves you forward.

At Optimax Energy, this is reality for our Optimates – and our people make the most of it. Take Lukas, for example, one of our IT Security Engineers. From cybersecurity certifications to open-source DevOps tools to streamlined CI/CD pipelines – his approach to learning is not only personally driven, it’s also a true asset to the entire company.

But what does continuous learning really look like in practice?

How do you actually make it work?

And why is sharing knowledge just as important as gaining it?

Learning as a mindset

“I already noticed back in school that I learn better when I do it consistently rather than under pressure. Eventually, I realized: there’s literally no topic you can’t learn,” Lukas tells us.

After completing his computer science degree, he entered the field of IT security – and quickly realized that continuous learning wasn’t just helpful, it was essential. “My career goals require me to keep evolving. And the world we live in offers an endless supply of exciting topics to explore.”

The key insight for him? Learning never stops.

So you might as well do it effectively – and have fun along the way.

How to learn effectively

Lukas follows a clear strategy when it comes to picking up new skills and knowledge:

✅ Video tutorials to get started – visual learning makes new topics more accessible

📚 Books for deeper understanding – that’s where the real depth comes from

💬 Discussing topics with others – explaining something helps internalize it

🗂️ Personal documentation – he builds his own knowledge base to avoid relearning things he might forget

And then there’s one golden rule: four hours a week are blocked for learning – no compromises.

Sharing is caring – and makes us stronger

Learning is one thing. Sharing knowledge is another. But why is that exchange so crucial?

“We regularly host book reviews where anyone can join the discussion. You often get completely new perspectives on a topic that way.”

But what defines good knowledge sharing? “The attitude of the people involved. If everyone is open to new ideas and focused on solutions, great things can happen quickly.”

Lukas, IT Security Engineer at Optimax Energy

Next steps: From DevOps enthusiast to team leader?

What’s next for Lukas?

“A few weeks ago, I realized how much I enjoy working on DevOps topics – so I want to dive deeper into that over the coming months. Long-term, I definitely see myself in a leadership role. I want to lead a team and tackle big projects together.”

But he’s in no rush. “For now, I’m focused on building up my knowledge. That way, when the time comes, I’ll be ready to pass it on in a meaningful way.”