Can you tell me something about yourself?

“I am 47 years old, father of three daughters, and live in a small village near Hoorn. I have always been a techie: started with intermediate technical school in electrical engineering, then higher technical school in computer technology. My first job was at a company in the financial sector. I developed banking and insurance applications, but I wasn’t in the right place. No matter how hard I worked, I couldn’t make a difference. It felt like I was stuck in a pattern. Eventually, I switched to a small software company as a consultant. There, I felt like a fish in water: making customers happy, running software projects, and really having an impact. That suited me much better.”

And how did you end up at Gemba?

“Well, that’s a story in itself! That small software company I worked for went bankrupt while I was just there. I worked for three months without a salary, until I could no longer pay for my groceries at the supermarket. At that moment, I was doing a project at a client. They had just implemented IBM Maximo and were very enthusiastic about it. I googled ‘Maximo Noord-Holland’, came across Gemba and immediately applied. Within a week I was at the table, and a few days later I started as a consultant. That was 17 years ago.”

How was your start at Gemba?

IBM Maximo is software that you can do a lot with, it takes a while before you master it. In the beginning, I felt a bit lost, especially when I saw colleagues who were already doing great jobs. My first project was for a water board. Exciting, because I had to do something I had never done before. When that went well, I gained more and more confidence and quickly grew into larger projects. In the years that followed, I did a lot of IBM Maximo implementations.

Which project has stayed with you the most?

One of my most special projects was an implementation for a maintenance company in Saudi Arabia. Working in such a different culture is a unique experience. Everything is different, from the way of working together to the daily environment

What do you do at Gemba now?

For about five years now, I have been operationally responsible for the implementations we do, together with my colleague Gerben ter Horst. This means that we manage project leaders, service managers and consultants. We make sure everyone is well prepared, organize training courses and step in where necessary. One of my tasks is also to get customers excited about new developments. You then show them in demos and that enthusiasm is often contagious.

What drives you in your work?

I do it for satisfied customers and happy colleagues. Our customers have high demands and that puts pressure on our team. My challenge is to maintain the balance: ensure that we deliver high quality without overburdening colleagues. Human capital is Gemba’s greatest asset. If our people feel comfortable, that also radiates to our customers.

What is the best thing you have experienced at Gemba?

In addition to the projects we do, the team activities are memorable. For example, the sailing trip we once did over the Oosterschelde and North Sea was very cool. That is something I would not do privately, because I do not know it from my own environment. It was a very intense experience and special to be a part of.

How do you see the future of Gemba?

We are growing in the number of employees and gaining specializations. For example, with IBM Maximo Application Suite you can now manage the complete lifecycle of assets, up to and including determining the best maintenance strategies for assets. And soon the platform will be expanded with software for facility management. Our strategic advisory role is becoming more important, while our implementations are becoming larger and more complex. In addition, we see that companies want to be relieved of more worries, and we are good at that. In recent years, we have concluded more contracts in the management area. This also requires new knowledge and a different skillset: not only setting up an implementation, but also keeping systems running, doing proactive management and ensuring that customers remain satisfied.

What would you say to someone who is considering working at Gemba?

At Gemba you get the chance to really make an impact. It is an environment where initiative is valued and where you continue to learn. If you like diversity in work and enjoy working in a close-knit team, then this is the place for you.