Douwe Horst

As a Project Manager and Product Owner, Douwe is involved in business data projects and programs from inception to execution. He focuses on the use of management reports and dashboards. His strength and motivation lie in connecting business and data, primarily through people. In his view, 70% of any data initiative is people work, requiring a common language and understanding of the necessity and purpose of the strategy to be followed. With his background in social sciences and extensive knowledge of IT and data management, he fulfills roles that balance between strategic connector and project leader/product owner of substantive teams. Douwe is often brought in to bridge the gap between stakeholders at different levels with varying interests. He addresses resistance from the business by carefully listening to concerns and finding nuances that resonate for the desired outcome. He oversees projects where new information systems (including tools) are implemented, such as for a data platform, data warehousing, and their impact on reporting. In team management, he aligns with the motivations of employees, expecting a critical attitude and sense of responsibility to achieve organizational results with the entire team from an Agile mindset. Douwe is not a micromanager and focuses on results, believing that motivation always leads to results. Douwe uses theories and models, but prioritizes a pragmatic and workable approach. He thrives in a political-administrative context and has applied his skills to urgent societal issues in recent years, such as at the RIVM and VWS during the COVID crisis. Managing expectations between the business and delivering tangible results particularly appeals to him in his role as project manager. His strength lies in pragmatically achieving results, balancing the softer relationship with the business and the hard aspect of delivering dashboards in strict alignment.

Want to know more? Connect with Douwe on LinkedIn.