How is ... doing these days?
Dirkjan Takke
Dirkjan Takke moved from Atos Consulting to Turner in 2008. After working on quite a few “cool projects,” he left us to launch his own financing platform, NLInvesteert. How are he and the platform doing (hint: well)? And what did he take away from his time at Turner?
How would you describe your time at Turner?
“I found my time at Turner to be especially varied! I worked on many challenging client projects. One of my last projects was at Deutsche Bank, alongside Susanne Chamalaun and Bas van ’t Eind, among others. It was a major project in a complex environment, with a formidable competitor right on our heels. We pulled off an incredible achievement there. I look back on that with great pleasure.”
“I also have fond memories of the feasibility study for a new University College, which I conducted together with Tjalle Hoekstra. We investigated whether there was room for a new University College in the Dutch education market. It was a very analytical project—and also really cool.”
How do you feel about your coworkers?
“I have a lot of respect for a number of my colleagues. They’re great people who are good at their jobs. I’ve built some really good relationships during my time at Turner.”
What did you learn at Turner?
“A lot! At my previous employer, Atos Consulting, I had already developed strong consulting skills. At Turner, I learned to bring my whole self to the table: who I am as a person, and I found it increasingly easy to share my own observations. For example, an insurance company once asked for help with a strategic review. I had my doubts about its usefulness. So I asked them, ‘Do you really need this?’ They’d never heard a consultant ask that question right before being awarded an assignment. That creates space for a completely different kind of connection with each other. You go from being someone trying to prove their worth to becoming an equal conversation partner. I was truly able to develop those kinds of skills at Turner.”
When did you decide you wanted to do something different?
“In 2014, I noticed that the business financing market was completely gridlocked and that fewer and fewer entrepreneurs were able to turn to a bank for financing. It’s strange, really, because there’s a lot of money in the Netherlands: a lot of pension funds, a lot of savings. I thought there would be room for a new kind of organization—one where entrepreneurs could turn to with a financing need and that would then find the best possible solution for them. With that idea in mind, I founded NLInvesteert.”
"At Turner, I learned to bring my whole self to my assignments: who I am as a person and what I observe."
Dirkjan Takke, Turner alumnus
This photo was taken by Iris Borst, another Turner alumnus!
What exactly is NLInvesteert?
“We provide financing to companies, through banks whenever possible, but also through other types of lenders and private investors. We have 35 employees nationwide across 12 different independent regional companies. I am the CEO, and I focus primarily on the commercial development of our company and on strategic initiatives—such as developing new products and expanding our business lines. I want to continue working on the future of our organization and keep innovating.”
Can you give an example?
“For example, looking ahead to after the summer (we interviewed Dirkjan in March 2021, ed.), we see that a great many companies will likely face liquidity problems once government support ends. Of course, the pandemic has affected a great many companies, so we’re already working on what our offerings will be at that time. We’re adapting our services and developing a new product. That’s how I always try to think ahead.”
What was your experience with COVID-19?
“The pandemic was a bit nerve-wracking for us. What would this mean for the clients we had financed? And for our new business: will there still be entrepreneurs seeking financing, or will everyone just sit on the sidelines? Fortunately, we realized that we still have a role to play even in times of economic hardship. That role has changed, though: entrepreneurs are now also asking us for financing to weather the impact of the pandemic, not just to fuel growth. To address this, we’ve set up a fund to help entrepreneurs who were previously profitable but are now incurring losses due to the pandemic. There’s actually no bank willing to finance that, due to the uncertainty following the pandemic. We believe that such a business will recover after the pandemic, and together we create a financing plan to help the business get through this difficult period. That’s how we can really make a difference.”
What do you like best about this job?
“When you start something without knowing at all whether it will work, and then at some point you see that it’s going well, it gives you a huge rush. At first, we only had a concept on paper. It was very rewarding when, after years, we turned a profit for the first time. That was a milestone! And we’re making a substantial contribution to the Dutch economy. That gives me energy every day. On top of that, we enjoy working together as a team and have a lot of fun with each other.”
"We're really enjoying ourselves as a team at NLInvesteert, and we have a lot of fun together."
Dirkjan Takke, a Turner alumnus
Do you still have any dreams for the future?
“I really enjoy the network I’ve become part of—made up of entrepreneurs and investors. And I still see plenty of opportunities to grow and expand our company. On top of that, I enjoy having final responsibility: making my own decisions and taking action on them. That’s quite different from a role as an advisor. To have ultimate responsibility for something, to take the initiative, and to have a certain degree of freedom in doing so—that suits me very well, and it gives me a lot of energy.”
How do you view Turner now?
“Well, I do follow Turner with pride. I think it’s very positive how Turner positions itself: with the book *Strategy Execution*, with the speedskating team, and of course with the award for best consulting firm in the MT1000. When I look at it from a distance, I get the impression that Turner is doing well.”
That's great to hear, Dirkjan!
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