Sometimes you don’t know exactly where you want to go, but you do know you want to move forward. For Leander, it all started with the IT Traineeship at Alistar three years ago. Today, he is the Procurement, Contract, and Supplier Manager at VolkerWessels, and every day he continues to develop his role within a complex organization. “This is definitely a big step up, both in terms of the complexity of the job and the politics within a large organization.”
From support to more complex challenges
Leander started out at the service desk and quickly moved up to a role as team lead. There, he learned to manage processes, guide change, and take on responsibility. But he felt there was more to it. New challenges, greater impact, a broader context. He found that next step at VolkerWessels, where he now works on the SIAM team at Infra Digital. That role immediately brought a different dynamic. More complex processes, more stakeholders, and a greater impact on the organization.
Dare to discover where your strength lies
Throughout his journey, Leander discovered that his strength lies not solely in technical skills, but in connecting people and processes.
I call myself a social IT professional.
While he initially thought application management would be his path, he gradually realized that he draws energy from communication, collaboration, and creating a clear overview. These insights didn’t come all at once, but through various experiences, conversations, and trying out new roles.
Taking the Leap into the Unknown
The transition to his current role was no small step. It required confidence, initiative, and a willingness to step outside his comfort zone. That’s exactly where Leander finds his real growth. By taking on new responsibilities and venturing into unfamiliar contexts, he not only developed new skills but also gained a broader perspective on how organizations work.
The trick is to make IT and the business work together.
In his role, he translates business needs into IT solutions and vice versa. He aligns interests, makes processes transparent, and helps organizations collaborate more effectively.
Continuing to Grow in a Changing Environment
Leander continues to make a conscious effort to invest in his professional development. He is currently enrolled in the Next program, where he is gaining a deeper understanding of communication, stakeholder management, and positioning within complex organizations. There, he is learning how to make an impact, persuade others, and perform more effectively in his role. He immediately applies this knowledge to his daily work. For him, growth lies not only in knowledge, but above all in experience. Every new role, every project, and every challenge contributes to his development as a professional.
Dare to try, keep moving forward
What sets Leander apart is that he isn’t afraid to take steps without knowing everything in advance. By exploring, trying new things, and sometimes making mistakes, he continues to grow every day. He proves that progress isn’t always a straight line, but that it’s precisely those leaps—big or small—that make all the difference. For anyone unsure about their next step, he has a clear message: stay curious, dare to take action, and give yourself the space to explore. Because only when you try will you discover what you’re truly capable of.