The Advisory Board plays a crucial role in helping us align academic content with industry needs. Members such as Anneke Rijsemus (Cyber Security Manager at VGZ, DBI alumna 2010), Sophie Haverkamp (Member of the Executive Board & Chief Products, Solutions & Control at International Card Services, DBI alumna 2010), Birashanth Thanabalasingam (Director at Davinci Conclusion) and Tim de Koning (Director at KPMG Digital) bring invaluable perspectives from the field. Their feedback ensures that the graduates of the Digital Business and Innovation Master’s program are not only well-versed in theory but also equipped with the skills to thrive in practice.
In the Life After Graduation workshop with the Advisory Board, the focus was on what makes for a ‘good transition’ from university to working life—viewed from both academic and industry perspectives. It was also an excellent opportunity for students, alumni, and board members to engage in open conversation and networking.
To ground the conversation, four recent DBI alumni were purposefully selected to join the workshop, representing a diverse range of industries where DBI graduates work: Sanne Dolman (Knowledge Manager at the Dutch Ministry of Defence, DBI class of 2021), Lydianne Maddox (Senior Consultant in Cyber Strategy & Transformation at Deloitte, DBI class of 2021), Lennart Pape (Global Account Manager at Atlassian, DBI class of 2020), and Lisa Pittertschatscher (Management Consultant at Accenture, DBI class of 2022).
Together with Advisory Board members and alumni, DBI Master students explored four key themes shaping the transition from university to the labor market, including career shocks, purpose-driven job crafting, digital sovereignty, and the role of (Gen)AI in the workplace.
We are immensely grateful to our Advisory Board members and alumni for their generous sharing of expertise. Special thanks to Program Director Bart van den Hooff, Program Coordinator Maura Soekijad, and our engaged DBI students for driving a vibrant, forward-looking discussion. The Advisory Board continues to be an essential force in keeping our program sharp, future-focused, and impactful.
