The Randstad, Netherlands
After amble preparation time with great support I was able to pivot my career into research and education. In this role I am responsible for the continuing development of the relationship with and between academia and the ecosystem, to which Esri (Nederland) may contribute. A few objectives: participate in joint research projects, support the design of innovative courses and education programmes - with a spatial perspective, support young professionals, e.g. by enabling joined internships and research opportunities. This role is not about closing any gap between science and education and the professional world, but rather about strengthening that bridge, which enables the diffusion of knowledge. In October 2017 I received my University Teaching Qualification, with the support of the Spatial Information Laboratory (SPINlab) at the Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam (https://spinlab.vu.nl) and I co-authored and lectured a course on “Big questions in data” at Amsterdam University College (2017-2020). At ASRE (Amsterdam School of Real Estate) I have co-designed and teach the module Real Estate Analytics and I have also supported thesis projects of a several students (2017 - ). In 2024 I designed and taught the Data Driven Management course for Saxion University / Master Facility and Real Estate Management.
After six years in the marketing function I started to prepare for a new direction. In the management team, my preference has always always been to ‘build clocks’, initiate new developments. Hence my interest in a new college education. Halfway during that education (Master of Marketing Strategy) I was appointed as director of strategy. At the Esri Nederland group level I was responsible for the strategy creation process (long-term-planning) and I supported the translation into yearly plans at operating company level. I guarded the balance strategy-execution and directed the communication process (i.e. with executive relations, public affairs responsibilities). Later on, within the team of directors I was directly responsible for marketing, academic/educational programs, start-up and developer programs. Other topics in my portfolio were (strategic) accounts in alignment with the business units and research topics like Open (geo)data, Open Innovation and GeoDesign. Contributing to the international space that makes up GIST ecosystems and beyond always is high on my list.
At ESRI Nederland I was the first marketing manager and the challenge was clear: be pro-active with the marketplace and establish the ESRI brand in the Netherlands. My personal goal was to apply what I had learned at an international level successfully at a local level. Marketing thinking was established in the company and I was responsible for strategic marketing, market development and (external) communication and the overall marketing budget. Tactical marketing was executed by the marketing department (events, publications, press relations), which I managed with the marketing coordinator. Press relations, alliances and key account relations (at board-level) were initiated by me. With the team we developed the ESRI brand in the Netherlands. We built open communication platforms around the products in order to increase brand value. A focus on ‘user experience by events’ strengthened the position of the software platform.
Afstudeercoördinator / Examinator Geo, Media & Design / Aarde & Klimaat. Docent: Ondernemend in de geo-sector (2017 -2024), Minor Sustainable Urban Regions / Nature Inclusive Design (2018 - ). Master Food Systems Innovation, Geomarketing (2021 - 2023), Ethiek (2023 - ), Geodesign (2026 -).
Bentley Systems built up its own representation in EMEA and I was the first employee to work with Geo products in the EMEA Product Marketing Group. My main task was to support regional offices (which were just starting up) with hiring, positioning, recruiting (geo)partners, key account management and sales support. We developed a vertical partner program for Geo-partners (resellers , developers and consultants). After my promotion to director, I was directly responsible for product launches, campaigns, and the sales and marketing plan for EMEA. With the team, we initiated joint campaigns with IT alliances and positioned the company with own events like the European GeoSummit.
Intergraph, then an full service supplier of cad/cam mapping systems, had decided to productize small software systems for PCs. At Intergraph Europe it was my main challenge to research and define a product portfolio and develop a partner channel. The Bentley product MicroStation was at the core of the product offering. Main activities were defining the sales and marketing plan, execution of product launches, support of the channel, organization of technical and sales & marketing workshops. Additionally I was responsible for European GIS press and I represented the company at several European events.
Right after college I joined Wild Heerbrugg (later Leica, Computervision) as support engineer. I was responsible for system implementation and support of the SYSTEM 9 GIS Product line. The customer base was scattered across Europe, my focus was on Scandinavia and Iberica. As application consultant I supported sales with demonstrations and benchmarks. I wrote (part of) tender documents, organized sales workshops and customer training.