HI KOEN, CAN YOU TELL OUR READERS A BIT ABOUT YOURSELF?

Hi, I'm Koen! As a Data Engineer in the I Connect art, I connect data from different sources and make sure it’s available at the right time for consumers—both within Essent and beyond. This data supports Essential Insights and machine learning models that help predict what our customer base might look like in the future.

I joined Essent in November 2024 and work in an international team with people from many different nationalities, which brings a lot of cultural variety to our daily work. I live in Zaltbommel with my wife and our two kids.

WHAT SPARKED YOUR INTEREST IN THE IT FIELD?

My interest in IT started as a side hobby during my studies. I studied at Wageningen University and later completed a Master’s in Sustainable Energy Technology at TU Delft. I’ve always enjoyed fixing things at the source and understanding how systems really work.

During my studies, I worked part-time at an IT company where I helped start a BI team and became their first Power BI developer. I learned a lot on the job, and over time I naturally became a bridge between the worlds of energy and IT...a role that still fits me well today.

ARE THERE ANY SPECIFIC INFLUENCES WHO SHAPED YOUR CAREER?

Coming from outside a traditional IT background, I sometimes felt like an imposter. I’ve always admired people who are true craftspeople, in other words, the “diamond in the rough” colleagues who are brilliant and essential to daily operations, but sometimes a bit isolated. What inspires me is their mindset: constantly honing their skills and striving for mastery, while still wanting their work to have real impact. That balance has influenced how I approach my own career.

HOW DID YOU COME TO WORK AT ESSENT?

I was looking for better work-life balance, and the fact that I could commute by bike certainly helped! Essent truly felt like a place where energy and IT truly come together, with a strong focus on technology and plenty of opportunities to grow.

WHAT EXCITED YOU THE MOST ABOUT JOINING ESSENT?

To be honest, I was initially afraid it would be quite hierarchical and bureaucratic. But once I got to know the team, that assumption was completely disproved. The team is really in charge of both the work and the decisions. It’s a very collaborative way of working and strongly solution-oriented. I wasn’t very used to *Scaled Agile Framework* at first, but it brings calmness for developers and helps everyone focus on the right stories in each sprint. The cadence and clear priorities make a big difference.

COULD YOU DESCRIBE YOUR CURRENT ROLE AND YOUR PRIMARY RESPONSIBILITIES?

We are moving from a centrally developed big data platform to a distributed mesh-oriented way-of-working in which we use our new in-house developed solution DOPE. For the next half a year we will work on migrating these data pipelines and help other bounded contexts with their challenges.

My work is centred around the consumers of data and keeping things as simple as possible. We are actively working on reducing tech debt and making nice improvements in performance and data quality along the way. If something isn’t needed, we remove it.

CAN YOU HIGHLIGHT A SPECIFIC ACCOMPLISHMENT THAT YOU FEEL HAS BEEN PIVOTAL IN YOUR CAREER HERE?

Simplification has been a recurring theme for me. For example, we used to process Kadaster BAG data updates every day. When we asked whether customers actually needed that level of detail, the answer was no. We now update it monthly, which saves a lot of unnecessary storage and complexity. This is where technical skills and social skills come together. Gathering feedback, bridging the gap between more and less technical colleagues, and helping teams work together more smoothly all come within this umbrella.

HOW WOULD YOU DESCRIBE THE CULTURE WITHIN YOUR TEAM OR DEPARTMENT?

The culture is open, tech-savvy, and very ownership-driven. Teams own their services, and platform teams are shared and used together. People are highly knowledgeable in their domains, and often it only takes a quick Slack message to get the right answer.

WHAT QUALITIES DO YOU THINK ARE MOST IMPORTANT FOR SUCCESS IN YOUR ROLE?

Being analytical and able to recognise patterns quickly is important. Python is useful, but you can learn that on the job if you understand the basic building blocks.

Another oft-underestimated skill is communication. It is just as important to ask the right questions, see the bigger picture, and know how deep to go in different conversations.

WHAT ARE SOME KEY GOALS YOU HAVE FOR YOUR DEPARTMENT/ROLE FOR THE UPCOMING YEAR?

I’m currently participating in the Personal Leadership Program (PLP), a one-year and quite intensive program focused on self-reflection, understanding what influences you, connecting with others, and planning your career more intentionally. I’m very open to seeing what it brings. It is a challenging program, but I am eager to learn more and develop myself.

I’d also like to deepen my understanding of the energy market, particularly the technical side of trading and usage forecasting, building further on my background in sustainable energy.

WHAT ASPECT OF YOUR JOB DO YOU FIND THE MOST REWARDING?

Being satisfied with a dataset, handling disruptions, or fixing things when something breaks—it’s very rewarding when things come together and work as they should.

ARE THERE ANY HABITS OR ROUTINES YOU HAVE ESTABLISHED THAT CONTRIBUTE TO YOUR EFFECTIVENESS?

I write things down a lot...it helps me stay organised and focused. Being a young parent has also taught me to work efficiently. Being physically fit also helps me keep a fresh mindset. Cycling to the office helps clear my head, and I often listen to podcasts along the way. Win-win!

CAN YOU SHARE A FUN FACT ABOUT YOURSELF THAT NOT MANY PEOPLE KNOW?

I live in an old house from 1750, which means I’ve had to become quite handy! I enjoy working with my hands, whether it's fixing things, renovating the bathroom, and working in the garden. The house is structurally sound, but there’s always a pending project round the corner. The roof and improving energy efficiency is up next. And yes, my interest in energy definitely extends beyond work.

WHAT ADVICE WOULD YOU GIVE YOUR YOUNGER SELF JUST STARTING OUT?

Keep asking questions...even when you think you already know the answer. Often, the responses are different from what you expect. I used to be too quick to answer instead of really listening. Taking the time to listen helps you understand others better and support them more effectively.

It is always good to connect with people at a social level, and that's why I love joining game nights and company events. I also enjoy working in the office, especially on Fridays! This helps me talk to people outside my team and get to know other parts of the organisation.

And funnily enough, I read Spotlights before my interview at Essent to get some insights, so being featured now feels like a full-circle moment!

A heartfelt thanks to Koen for sharing his story and perspective with us!