Could you tell us a little bit about yourself?
I’m the manager of the Intel team and have been at IG&H for about three years. Before, I worked at USP, a marketing consultancy company, where I handled market research projects. I also spent almost seven years in Hong Kong, where I completed my PhD in consumer psychology.
I love spending time with friends, learning about history and hiking. When I’m indoors, I enjoy PC gaming, especially role-playing games like The Witcher, Skyrim and Assassin’s Creed. These games allow you to dive into another world and live through the story of a protagonist, which is a lot of fun.
How did you end up living in Hong Kong? What was it like?
I ended up living in Hong Kong for seven years thanks to an exchange program during my International Business Administration studies. While there, I met a professor who encouraged me to apply for a PhD program in consumer psychology and I thought, “Why not?”
Hong Kong is a fascinating place—it’s a huge city packed into a small area, with millions of people living closely together. Surprisingly, about 70% of Hong Kong is national park territory. Initially, I lived in the city center on the university campus. After meeting my partner, we moved to the outskirts of a small village, essentially living in the jungle (incl. house spiders). Being far from home and family, I forged close friendships with the community there.
What drew you to IG&H?
I was very happy at my previous role at the marketing consultancy firm. I worked with clients to answer questions about their markets, and I was legitimately interested in the work that we did. But I missed the consulting part. IG&H offered me that fresh aspect: instead of only delivering a report, there is a strong drive to make those insights work and come alive.
What does your day-to-day role involve?
Unlike most consultants who work on projects, I focus on a product with a set group of colleagues: the Intel team. The “Intel” stands for intelligence. In a nutshell, we create market intelligence products. My role is to make sure that we deliver those data products to our clients, but also help clients interpret and use them. I manage the products and make sure they stay relevant. Finally, I also manage the team, making sure people are happy and able to do their work.
When you say clients use the products, could you give an example?
They can use intelligence for strategic, tactical and operational purposes. One example is our Distribution Monitor. In essence, it gives insurers and pension providers in the Netherlands insight into their position with brokers in the intermediary advisory channel. It helps those who participate in the Monitor to have a better understanding of their position or changes in the position. It can be used to explore segmentation, tailoring their approach to distribution and communication, for example.
Are there any trends in the insurance industry you’re observing?
Consolidation has been happening in waves for about 10-15 years. Here, the focus is scalability and a bigger, unified digital landscape that ultimately allows for innovation. Consolidation requires a certain degree of professionalism and structure. However, there’s also an interesting counter-movement. Some smaller companies capitalize on positioning themselves against the giants with a “local hero” approach.
What does a typical day at IG&H look like?
I might start the day with a meeting with a client’s CEO, then move on to a team check-in about a data topic, followed by an inspiration session with colleagues. In the afternoon, I could discuss technical details with the technology department and end the day writing a proposal for a new client. This variety is what I love most about my job—no two days are ever the same.
What was your proudest moment at IG&H?
My proudest moment at IG&H is the recent major overhaul of our products, so that we are ready for future growth. Over the past 15 years, Intel has evolved from Excel sheets to a cutting-edge code base using all the knowledge in the Data & AI team. It’s incredibly satisfying to be at the cutting edge and to focus on product innovation!
Speaking of innovation: What are your thoughts on GenAI?
We haven’t fully explored all its possibilities yet. The complexity is similar to the challenges we face with data in general—there’s so much of it. Making sense of it all can be difficult. What motivates me is seeing more and more successful applications emerging. For instance, we used to scrape advisor websites and use business logic to create profiles. This method was more prone to errors. With GenAI, this process is much faster and more accurate. Overall, GenAI helps bridge the gap between raw data and actionable insights. This is a significant leap from traditional data analytics; it’s exciting to be part of this evolution.
Can you give an example of how you use AI in your daily life?
During my morning commute, I use AI in the car to help me plan my day. I provide my tasks and meetings as input and mention it doesn’t need to reply right now because we’ll discuss it in the car. Once in the car, I say let’s talk through it. Finally, I ask for a summary of the conversation and my action points. It's been surprisingly useful in so many ways.
What do you enjoy most about working at IG&H?
I like the strong focus on personal development and the trust you receive. In my role, I feel a unique sense of entrepreneurial freedom and am trusted by management to take initiative. If you have an idea, then make your case. More often than not, the response is, “Okay, let’s go for it!” This culture of wanting to grow, develop and innovate is what makes IG&H special to me.
What is your advice for someone considering a career in FS or market intelligence?
Be curious! You need to want to understand the clients and how you can help them. A certain willingness to head over there and self-confidence are a must. You should enjoy working with different people who have expertise that you don’t have. Be humble in learning and smart in collaboration.