Far far away, in the Limburg hills, I grew up fascinated by everything online related. It inspired me to start my own company (playmedia.nl) to create websites in the mid 2000s.
Progressing into my professional career I quickly came to realize the Product Owner role is what I do best. It combines my interest in technological solutions, with business goals and customer needs.
After several years as an interim Product Owner at bol.com and NS, I joined bol in 2025, where I now work as Group Product Manager. Next to that I'm an entrepreneur on standby.
I strongly believe a Product Owner should have a toolbox full of skills. Ranging from people skills to knowledge of technology. Below are skills I consider the most important for my role:
Started as Product Manager for the ShopCore Backend team in February 2025, responsible for the DevOps of the current and new backend architecture of the bol website and apps, and for rolling that new architecture out to all Shop teams without compromising the existing monoliths. In May 2025 I moved into the role of Group Product Manager for Technical Shop Foundation, the product ShopCore Backend is part of. It builds the architectural platform for the bol webshop and mobile apps: the foundation that lets other teams build their features quickly, efficiently and reliably.
Product Owner for the subscriptions webshop of NS.nl within the Consumer cluster. Leading 2 teams: a backend team building the Backend for Frontend that connects SAP to the frontend during a large SAP S/4HANA migration, and a multidisciplinary team (CRO, UX & frontend) renewing the frontend design and reaching commercial goals through continuous optimization (CRO). Working in SAFe, with results measured on KPIs (revenue, customer satisfaction, cost savings) and OKRs.
Leading 2 multidisciplinary teams working on the Shop Foundations of bol.com's customer-facing channels (website, Android and iOS app).
Leading multidisciplinary scrum team working on Platform Rijksoverheid Online (including rijksoverheid.nl, defensie.nl and 600+ other websites). Implementing Scaled Agile Framework to provide maximum business value with several development teams.
Leading 2 multidisciplinary scrum teams (IT & UX) working from Amsterdam, Pune (India) and Novi Sad (Serbia) developing an e-mail data protection platform (Outlook Add in, Web portal & API).
Working on Personal Finance Management app (Grip) to give users an overview and insight in their daily finances.
I met two old colleagues the other day. I told them I was changing jobs and starting as a freelance Product Owner. After congratulating me on the step to entrepreneurship, one of them told me something that struck me: “I think a Product Owner should always be internal”.
I've got so many ideas, but so little time to write them down. Will add another blog soon!
Want to know what I can do for your business?
Let's connect so we can find out together!
Located Utrecht, the Netherlands