Passion for technology
When I got my degree from Delft University of Technology, my parents told everyone who wanted to hear it (and also those who did not want to hear it) that my interest in technology started at a young age. Namely next to my father under the car.
When he was doing odd jobs, I was lying next to it. Little legs next to his skinny stilts. Unfortunately for me, but good for the garage owner who now maintains my car, I have learned very little from that.
"When he was doing chores, I lay next to him. My little legs next to his skinny stilts."
Creativity
The choice of study was therefore already quite clear: technology. It became Industrial Design, a fantastic combination of technology and creativity.
After my graduation I first went on a trip through Central America for a few months. Upon my return, I was immediately able to work full time at the IT company where I previously had a student part-time job. After working in ICT for a few years as a User Interface designer, I wanted to go back to product development of physical, tangible products.
The employers and their products have been very diverse over the past 20 years, from beer packaging, medical instruments, climate control computers to water dosing machines, conveyor belts and high-tech systems for well-known tech companies such as ASML.
"Delivering added value in innovation, project management or brainstorming session"
A fresh look at innovation
In 2018 I became a freelancer. My first assignment was at Unilever. There I was able to lead a diversity of projects: food innovations, sustainable packaging and production line adjustments.
Very different projects than I had done before!
Exactly what I wanted as a freelancer: a lot of variety and a lot of freedom.
Freedom to tackle what seems fun to me.
It doesn’t really matter what it is; as long as I can provide added value in innovation, project management, in a brainstorming session or simply give a different view of things.
That can really make me happy.
And kite surfing too!
