Dario Jesus van der Laan Chong
Pega Launchpad Developer at BPM Company
“I was born in Cuba and lived there until I was seventeen. I grew up in Havana, where I also completed my secondary education. My father is Dutch and works as a Spanish teacher, which meant that the Netherlands was already part of my perspective from an early age. Around the age of seventeen, I spent a year in the Netherlands, but I had to return to Cuba to finish secondary school. Once I completed my studies there, I moved back to the Netherlands permanently to build my future here.
My first major step was learning the Dutch language. In Amsterdam, I enrolled in the Taalschakeltraject at the Hogeschool van Amsterdam, an intensive preparatory program designed to qualify students for higher professional education. The program lasted two years and brought me to B2 level. It was demanding, but it provided a strong foundation for everything that followed.”
Games and IT
Technology and games have always played a major role in my life. I have owned every console you can think of, from PlayStation to Xbox and of course PC. Growing up in Cuba, internet access was limited, so as I started spending more time on the computer, I naturally developed a deeper interest in IT. My interest in game development emerged early on, inspired by the games I played myself. I did not just want to play them, I wanted to understand how they were built and eventually be able to create them myself.
From Game Development to Low-Code
“In the Netherlands, I therefore decided to pursue a degree in HBO ICT, with a focus on game development. It was a four-year program. After graduating, however, I found it challenging to secure a position in the game industry. That was the moment I made a conscious decision to pivot. I wanted to shift my focus toward application development and low-code solutions.”
My first introduction to BPM Company
“That is how I joined BPM Company, where I started through a traineeship. It immediately felt like the right fit. In my first year, I obtained both my Pega System Architect and Pega Senior System Architect certifications.
I have now been with BPM Company for over a year and am part of the Launchpad team. This is a relatively new, more SaaS-oriented venture within Pega, which is where my current focus lies. It is an environment that suits me well: dynamic, innovative, and technically challenging.”
The future
“When I look to the future, I see several possible directions. I have a strong interest in AI, an area in which BPM Company is also investing heavily. At the same time, I still find Launchpad both engaging and highly educational, so both paths genuinely appeal to me.”
Working at BPM Company
“What makes BPM Company such a great employer for me is the room to grow. You receive strong support to improve, and through the performance cycles it is very clear where you stand and where you can further develop. Colleagues actively support one another in that process. The atmosphere is positive, it is a young company, and the Friday afternoon drinks are always enjoyable. I truly feel at home here. For me, the Launchpad team is the most exciting team to be part of: young, dynamic, and ambitious.”
Outside of work
“In my personal life, I am currently busy renovating my apartment and taking driving lessons. In my free time, I enjoy going to the cinema and playing games and board games such as Monopoly with my girlfriend, my father, or friends. Once the apartment is finished, a board game weekend is already planned.
I am also learning Norwegian, as my girlfriend is from Norway. In this way, I continue to challenge and develop myself, both professionally and personally.”
