Be Empowered (label of Dynamic People) is a group of Microsoft Power Platform enthusiasts with an ambition to support people and organizations in their innovation process. Nice, those enthusiasts, but who are they exactly? Today we introduce you to Marije Bakker: our UX/UI Consultant. We know by now that no design is too crazy for Marije. But, who is she? You can read that here.
A little bit of history
Marije has lived in Amsterdam since she started studying. “I have now lived here for 12 years and the city still excites me. For the Dutchies among us and to steal a quote from Herman Vinkers: ‘Eén stoplicht springt op rood, een ander weer op groen. In Amsterdam is altijd wat te doen.’”After initially starting with studying Medicine, after 2 years she switched to Psychobiology. “My interest in neuroscience was aroused while studying Medicine. Psychobiology was a newly established study, which means it changed a lot. Computational neuroscience became a growing topic. This, in combination with my great love for art, led me to do a minor in art history. After that I spend another year of passing certificates for digital design, because the technical aspect started to appeal to me.”
The journey
From freelancing for illustrations, designs, painting portraits, and much more besides a permanent job, she started a traineeship as a data analyst on an assignment for KLM. “The digital side appealed to me more and more.” Although it was a very nice assignment at KLM, it was not quite what she was looking for. “Through the traineeship itself, I came into contact with UX/UI Design. By contacting other UX designers I was able to do a number of things for Yacht and Randstad, among others. For me this was the A-Ha moment! This was exactly the direction I was looking for.” She came across Be Empowered through a recruitment agency. “It was a new company and new concept. And the recruiter couldn’t say much more. But the fact that they were looking for the combination already worked as a trigger for me. From the first interview, besides the fun job of course, the atmosphere and enthusiasm stuck with me.”
Empower yourself
“I’ve been working at Be Empowered for 7 months now. And time flies! I have learned a lot already here. Especially because I was not familiar with the Power Platform.” Marije’s drive is also increasing after she has learned something new. She notices that everyone who works at Be Empowered is really passionate and says: “That is very contagious! It really feels like you deliver a product with a team, whatever someone’s role in the process may be, you do it together. I really feel that since I work for Be Empowered I am growing in both personal and technical development. And that the focus is really on developing yourself as an employee.”
Who’s Marije really?
“I like to paint and draw in my spare time. If I haven’t done it for a long time, it really starts to itch and I have to start painting. I also like board games, especially the strategic and tactical games which usually take 2 hours to complete.” Not everyone is so keen on that, “but there seems to be a board game club at Be Empowered…” And Marije also likes to cook (and not unimportantly: eating it). “Free tip: ‘Amazing Asia’ by Emma de Thouars.” But what gives her the most energy is meeting new people. “This sounds very simple, but especially because of corona I realized this more than ever!”
Finally, what is your motto?
“Nothing ventured, nothing gained.”
(Digital) coffee with Marije?
That’s possible! Would you like to know which beautiful designs Marije can create for you (in a Canvas app of course)? Plan a coffee or a spar session with Marije via: +31 20 303 24 70 or mail to: info@be-empowered.nl.
