What did you do before you came to WesselinkVanZijst?

Before joining WesselinkVanZijst, I worked at DAS Rechtsbijstand as a legal advisor. I started this job as a student and stayed on after my studies. Now you might be wondering: How does someone switch from DAS Rechtsbijstand to WesselinkVanZijst? They don't have anything to do with each other, do they?

I'll tell you all about it calmly. I once started studying law with the idea of becoming a lawyer. However, during my studies, I realized that it's not so much the courtroom that appeals to me, but rather the underlying conflict. Unfortunately, the legal profession isn't well-suited for delving into underlying interests and finding mutually beneficial solutions.

Fortunately, I then came across two master's programs at the VU that were a good fit for me: Law and Government (Constitutional and Administrative Law) and Conflict Resolution, Judiciary, and Mediation. The former suited me well because I've always had a strong interest in societal issues and how politics works. The latter suited me well because the master's program looks beyond just the legal dispute.

So it was already clear to me that I couldn't remain a legal advisor forever. At WesselinkVanZijst, I focus on exactly what I find interesting and what I'm good at: Conflict resolution and societal issues.

What do you mainly focus on at WesselinkVanZijst?

My responsibilities at WesselinkVanZijst are very diverse. When I first started here, I had the opportunity to participate in developing an environmental strategy for the Ministry of Defence and I advised a water board on how to anchor environmentally focused work. These are therefore assignments where you don't yet deal with external stakeholders but are primarily concerned with how an organization should relate to the outside world.

After that, I focused on managing a process related to the construction of a bridge and water discharge. These are jobs where, as an independent process manager, you sit at the table with multiple stakeholders and enable them to reach an agreement.

Recently, I started as an environmental manager at a large energy company. In this assignment, I actually represent the organization and am indistinguishable from an employee to the outside world. This job is again different because in this case I have a stake myself and join negotiations as one of the parties, not as an independent process facilitator or organizational consultant.

In addition, I give training sessions and have started writing a book. In short, a wide range of activities. At least, that's how it seems. To me, there is little difference between the various jobs. They all revolve around the same core thing: dealing with different interests.

What drives you in your work?

What drives me is a deep-seated belief that conflicts primarily exist to bring about change. Depending on how people handle the conflict, it determines whether that change is positive or negative. I feel compelled to ensure that conflicts lead to better situations than before the conflict arose.

What do you like to do most when you're not at work?

When I'm not working, I prefer to be doing fun things and making new memories with my girlfriend and my family.

I also started as a neighborhood mediator in Amsterdam. Is that work? Of course, it has a lot to do with our field, but I mainly do it because I enjoy it and also outside of working hours, I believe that conflicts can lead to positive change.

As for hobbies: I really love sports and reading. There's actually not a day that goes by without me doing at least one of the two. Even if it's just twenty minutes of running or ten pages of reading.  

I also occasionally perform as a stand-up comedian. I started this hobby in 2024 and I love doing it. It's very rewarding to connect with a large group of people and try to make them laugh. At the same time, it's also very nerve-wracking because if the group doesn't like you, you're truly embarrassed, haha. But it's precisely that tension that makes it so enjoyable.