How is ... doing these days?
Regine Kruijsdijk - Oolman
Regine Kruijsdijk-Oolman is a truly remarkable alumna: she was Turner’s first employee. Fresh out of college, she embarked on this adventure 27 years ago alongside Turner’s founder, Maaikel Klein Klouwenberg. How does she look back on Turner’s pioneering phase? What did she learn? And what did she go on to do afterward?
How did you end up at Turner?
“I completed my thesis on Business Process Redesign at another consulting firm, VODW. My thesis advisor knew Maaikel and suggested I talk to him—he had just started his own business. I wasn’t really the adventurous type, but he was so driven and idealistic that I thought: why not? So I joined the company when there was nothing yet—no office, no clients—just Maaikel’s idea and drive. On my first day on the job, the two of us drove in his car to Schiedam to visit our first client, ITHO. Three weeks later, Peter de Bruin joined the company, and the three of us worked together for a year. After that, Bas van ‘t Eind and Jacques Pijl joined us.”
How do you look back on that time?
“At the time, I didn’t realize I was part of an organization’s pioneering phase. It was my first job, and I was just doing my best, but it was 100% trial and error. I learned an incredible amount and grew very quickly. Together, we worked really hard and had a lot of fun—with each other, but also with the client. Our first team-building trip took us to Kenya and Tanzania. It was amazing. The first Turner Family Day was also a blast: it showed how proud we were of Turner and how involved our parents were. We became a close-knit group of friends. It was simply a wonderful, educational, and fun time.”
When did you think, “Now I’m going to look further”?
“At a certain point, things became more professional at Turner—which is part of the natural evolution of such a young organization. More specialized practices were introduced at Turner, and I didn’t yet feel I had the entrepreneurial spirit that was needed there. So when I became a mother and entered a new phase of my life, I decided to strike out on my own.”
What did you do after Turner?
“I started my own business. As a farewell gift, Turner gave me the logo design for my own small business, created by our graphic designer Iris Borst. It was truly fantastic. Since then, I’ve increasingly focused on the people side of things: I’ve done a lot of team development and individual coaching. Of course, I brought with me all the experience and knowledge I’d gained at Turner. I was able to empathize with others very quickly—understanding their stage of development, their work context, and the challenges they face. In addition, I started teaching (working) master’s students at Utrecht University of Applied Sciences. I did that for fourteen years, until I turned fifty two years ago.”
"We became a close-knit group of friends. It was a wonderful, educational, and fun time."
Regine Kruijsdijk - Oolman, Turner alumna
What changed then?
“I always want to learn new things, and I couldn’t see myself continuing to work in the same way for another 17 years. Actually, I wanted to reconnect with an organization. Then I saw a job opening for a training manager at Utrecht University of Applied Sciences for the full-time HBO ICT program. My children are in college now, too, and I think it’s a fantastic stage of life. I had no idea beforehand what the job would entail, but there were plenty of points of reference—just like with Turner back then.”
What exactly do you do?
“I’m part of the management team at the Institute for ICT and directly supervise 29 faculty members in two specializations: the software development team and the business IT management team. The student is at the center of everything we do. There’s plenty of room for innovation, in collaboration with the professional field. And for that to happen, it’s essential that the faculty members feel comfortable and confident in their roles. In my role and with my skills, I can add a lot of value here. At Turner, we always used to say: we’re the ones pushing the puller. Now, as a manager, I’m the puller myself, but I’m still good at giving little nudges, haha.”
What's the coolest thing that's happened to you recently?
“That was the moment when, after the summer (of 2020, ed.), we were allowed to teach in person again, at least a little bit. That joy of seeing each other again. We miss that real connection, and when you see each other again, it’s absolutely amazing. I actually think that ‘little bit of happiness’ is a positive effect of the pandemic—we mustn’t lose that later on. Another thing I find positive is people’s flexibility. The restrictions kept changing over and over again. Time and again, so much was asked of the teachers. And time and again, they managed to give it their all for those students.”
Are there things from your time at Turner that you still apply today?
“Absolutely. We always used a very simple little model when we were hiring people. On one axis was ‘ability to step back,’—could someone think things through and occasionally take a step back before diving back in? And on the other axis was ‘liking’—would our clients come to like this person, and would we be proud to introduce him or her to the client? I still use that model. And I think Turner does, too. Because I still see a certain sparkle in the Turners—both the old and the new ones.”
"I hope I can continue to find a balance between contributing, being in awe, learning, finding inspiration, and spending time at home with friends and family."
Regine Kruijsdijk-Oolman, a Turner alumna
What are your dreams for the future?
“I think it’s great that I’m still engaged in learning every day in this role. I have no idea what’s next—anything is still possible. But I hope I can continue to find a balance between contributing, being amazed, learning, and being inspired—especially by young people—and spending time at home with friends and family. Maybe it’s not a far-fetched dream, but it’s a simple kind of happiness. And of course, I hope Turner’s alumni network stays vibrant. I’d really love to keep meeting Turners—both the old guard and the new guard.”
Want to know more about Turner?
Please contact the HR manager
Contact
We would like to get to know you.
Do not hesitate to contact us if you have any questions!
Huize de Boom
Arnhemseweg 107
3832 GK Leusden
Phone: +31 (0)33 – 285 93 00
Email: info@turner.nl
Make an appointment
Would you like more information or a tailor-made quote? Fill in the form for a no-obligation appointment.