Ilse Verbon (32) lives in Eindhoven and has been working as a Mendix Expert Developer at SUPERP for two years. She spends two days a week at the client’s premises and three days working from home. No more lab work, no more protein interactions that will only be relevant in ten years’ time. What drives her? Building applications that people can use right away.
Why IT after biomedical technology?
Ilse studied biomedical technology. The goal? To conduct research, work in the lab, and make important discoveries. The reality? Waiting for results that will only become valuable years later.
“It really didn’t make me happy. People were getting excited about interactions between proteins. I thought: this doesn’t work for me.”
After graduating, she tried Mendix. By chance, through a traineeship. It clicked right away.
What makes Mendix development enjoyable?
Two things appeal to Ilse in her work:
- Immediate results. You build applications that users can start using right away. No waiting for years. You get immediate feedback from people who use your work.
- The puzzle. Building logic, designing smart processes, and keeping everything as simple as possible. That is where her strength lies.
At the client’s site, she works on applications for store employees. Lots of different apps, lots of switching between them. That suits her. Working on three different applications in one day? Fine.
It’s not a mega technically complicated project, but rather a lot of different puzzles that you have to be able to pick up quickly.
From Capgemini to SUPERP: why?
After a year and a half of working in-house and a period at Capgemini in Australia, Ilse was looking for an employer with a different approach.
What convinced her about SUPERP?
The intention “You really wanted to create something good. Not just be billable, but actually build good applications.”
No hierarchy “No hoops you have to jump through to get ahead. Just pragmatic with the goal: making good apps.”
High level of knowledge and experience in the team At SUPERP, Ilse now works with four experts on her project in the Mendix team. People with real knowledge from whom she can learn. At Capgemini, there was more turnover, which meant there were fewer experienced people.
There are many experienced individuals here. There is always someone from whom you can learn something.
The power of SUPERP: accessible and flexible
What does Ilse appreciate about the team?
- Accessibility: post something in the Teams channel and you'll get a response. No politics, no competition between colleagues.
- Flexibility: no obligation to be in the office, just trust that you'll do your job.
- Getting better together: everyone helps each other. It's not about individual achievements at the expense of others.
Future: from developer to architect
Ilse enjoys developing, but also looks ahead. In the long term, she wants to be more involved in the strategy behind large projects.
Consider: what do we want to build? Which direction are we going in? The big picture.
At the client’s site, they are working on an SAP S/4HANA program with new apps. She finds these kinds of projects appealing.
Outside of work: water polo and running
Ilse has been playing water polo since her student days. It’s an easy way to get to know people in a new city. She has continued to do so.
She runs to clear her head. Her goal this year? The Leiden marathon in the spring.
“On Sunday, I ran ten kilometers. It went well. I’m starting with confidence.”
And after a long day at work? Netflix series that are essentially about nothing. “Those guilty pleasure series where nothing really happens, but they’re just good entertainment.”
Her motto: do what you enjoy now
Ilse doesn’t plan years ahead. She chooses what gives her energy now. “I could map out a whole career plan, but maybe in three years’ time I’ll think: this isn’t what I want after all. Then I’ll just do something else.”
That attitude fits SUPERP. Room to grow, freedom to make choices, no rigid path you have to follow.
Would you also like to work with Mendix alongside experts who help each other?
Check out our vacancies on our website or contact our recruitment team.
