“As a tech entrepreneur, I am acutely aware of the shortage of good software engineers and digital visionaries. Through my foundation on improving social mobility, we've found untapped talent over the past ten years. Codam is bringing the two together. “The school is home to a diverse community of students learning the skills that will prepare them for the future of work and provide secure employment anywhere in the world!”
Amsterdam has been a center for technology-driven innovation and collaboration for centuries – from the Golden Age to recent times with the influx of disruptive start-ups. It's therefore only fitting for Codam to open its doors here, nurturing a new pool of motivated and diverse coding talent critical to the success of technology companies like TomTom. Codam's ethos around peer-to-peer learning sets students up with the right skill set for success in a professional environment.
Technology is rapidly growing as one of the most critical aspects in our daily lives and work. In technology, companies and jobs of tomorrow are being created. Therefore, products and services we use must be inclusive, which asks for a diverse group of people in technology. In my role as a board member at Codam, I want to focus on ensuring Codam's student body consists of people from all kinds of backgrounds.
I have served as chairman at various educational boards such as Grotius College Delft, the Ministry of Education, Public education in Rotterdam, and quality assurance of higher education in The Netherlands and Europe. It is such a great and inspiring opportunity to contribute to Codam's unique concept of offering very accessible higher education, providing equal opportunities and meeting society's demand for talented tech professionals!
I started my career in banking. However, this did not bring me the satisfaction I longed for. Therefore I made a rigorous decision 15 years ago to resign and set up JINC with the purpose to change society for the better, not by analyzing problems, but by actively doing something. JINC has been helping children with a socio-economic disadvantage get on their way to a good start in the labor market by working together with the business and education community.