Projects
and People

When the world went into lockdown in March last year, 26-year-old Syan Sitalsing and her family were worried they wouldn’t have the chance to see each other anymore. So Syan and her sisters packed up their bags and boyfriends, and moved in with their parents in Groningen. “Although it was obviously also a very strange and confusing time, I have some very happy memories from those months.”

When both your parents were once singers in a rock band, you would think that you would inherit at least a bit of musical talent. Unfortunately, though, neither Sammy-Jo Heijdra nor her older brother did. However, what Sammy-Jo does seem to have in her genes is creativity. “My creativity is one of my expressive outlets. In my work in particular, it’s one of the things that sets me apart and makes me good at what I do.”

Few experiences are more satisfying to Mechiel Wilbrink than driving home after a workshop with a client that yielded a collaborative breakthrough. Unfortunately, in this remote working-dominated age of COVID-19, driving to and from clients is no longer an option. “I miss the real-life connection with clients and co-workers greatly.  Connecting with people is part of what drives my love for my work – so much so that I sometimes find myself wanting to just reach through the computer screen during virtual meetings. 

Calling him a rebel might be pushing it, but Harald Timmer isn’t the sort who particularly enjoys being told what to do. He would much rather have his responsibilities and goals laid out for him, and then be given the freedom to find the best way to get to the end post. “I love that Accenture provides me with that freedom, within reason, of course. At this company virtually anything is possible, as long as you make it happen yourself.” 

Alexandra van der Tuin lived all over the world when she was a young girl. From her birthplace in England, she moved to Iran, Nigeria and Oman, before relocating to the Netherlands. “I had an amazing childhood and I loved how adventurous it was, but after years of traveling, I was quite ready for a bit more ‘stability’.”

When her Dutch uncle told her he had a spare room available in his new house, Israeli-born Danielle Elhayani (26) didn’t think twice: she packed her bags and was on a plane to the Netherlands two weeks later. Fast forward six years, and she is completely settled in and accustomed to the ‘Dutch way’. “I feel Israeli and Dutch at the same time.”

Science or technology: which one was it going to be? It took a while before Gijs van Malsen (30) knew the answer to that question. Today, he applies technology and the agile approach not only in his work as IT Transformation Consultant, but also in his personal life.

Babiche Veenendaal was traveling in Thailand with her family when she felt an intense pain in her chest. It was a heart attack. She had to prioritize her 'me-time'. However, she argues 'How does someone forget what they love doing?’

'As managing director, I set the bar high: some people even think I’m just a bit too ambitious. But I want to get the most out of anything I’m doing. Opportunities are there to be taken; happiness needs to be won'. This is the portrait of Nicole van Det, Managing Director Products.