Miranda Bek

Mijn studie achtergrond

“After finishing secondary school, I started a bachelor’s program in Communication at a university of applied sciences. I was initially drawn to the world of marketing and communication, but I soon realized that it did not align with what I was truly looking for. I wanted to work more closely with people. The common thread throughout my career has always been understanding why people do what they do. I therefore decided to change direction and went on to study Law, followed by Pedagogy, with a specialization in Forensic Pedagogy. This focused on children and young people with behavioral challenges or those who come into contact with the justice system. I completed my studies at Leiden University and subsequently pursued a master’s degree in Amsterdam.”

 

From pegagogy to IT

“I then worked for several years as an educational psychologist and behavioral specialist in mental healthcare, including with people with mild intellectual disabilities. My work focused primarily on diagnostics: what is really going on here? Is it a developmental issue, an environmental factor, or something else entirely? I found—and still find—complex cases the most interesting.

After a number of years, however, I realized that I had reached a ceiling. I wanted to continue developing, but the most logical next step would have been on the treatment side, which did not suit me. Through people in my network, I was introduced to the world of IT. It was a completely different field, but the more I explored it, the more fascinating it became. I started with a self-study program in programming and thought: why not just give it a try?”

 

My first steps in IT

“I started my career in IT as a test engineer (now often referred to as a quality engineer) at Sogeti, where I quickly progressed into roles such as test coordinator and business analyst. I discovered that my strength lay in translating what truly matters to the business into concrete solutions. At the same time, I felt I was still missing hands-on development experience. I gained that experience at Blueriq, where I worked as a low-code engineer. There, I was heavily involved in engineering work and gradually moved further toward business analysis and business architecture. My role became increasingly clear: acting as the link between business and IT.

In this role, I focus on the essence of the problem: what are we really trying to solve, and what truly helps people? Through Blueriq, I completed many short-term consultancy assignments for a wide range of clients. I believe it is important to have a basic understanding of all disciplines involved—architecture, testing, and UX. UX, in particular, was long an underexposed area, which is why I deliberately immersed myself in it and took on assignments as a UX designer.”

 

Starting at BPM Company

“After a short break, I joined BPM Company. I strongly believe in low-code: delivering value quickly with people who truly understand the business. You don’t need deep programming expertise; those who understand what is needed should be in the driver’s seat when it comes to what we build.

The reason I chose BPM Company is its approach and culture. Quality comes first here. It’s about satisfied clients, not about maximizing profit margins. You stand behind what you deliver. I felt that immediately during the conversations.

In addition, the size of the organization suits me well. I’m not drawn to very large companies; it’s important to me to know my colleagues. There is room here to grow, to learn, and to consciously reflect on your next step, not just on whether you are “billable.” That is essential to me.”

 

Outside of work

“In my free time, I deliberately seek out the counterbalance to my digital work. I spend a lot of time outdoors, enjoy walking or running, and like to make things with my hands. Woodworking, building benches and tables, just being practically engaged. That’s what helps me stay balanced.”