René van Seuren
Pega Senior System Architect at BPM Company
René: “After finishing secondary school, I studied applied physics at the Technical University in Rijswijk, with a focus on photonics. It was quite technical and theoretical, and I quickly realized that I wanted to broaden my perspective. This led me to transfer to The Hague University of Applied Sciences, where I studied Computer Science & Information Science. There, I specialized in database design and management. In theory, I could have started my career directly as a DBA, but to be honest, that never really appealed to me. Nevertheless, I gained a great deal from that program: what I learned at The Hague University of Applied Sciences is something I still apply to this day.”
Workflow as a common thread
“My career began at Moret Ernst & Young, where I quickly moved into a development role focused on workflow management. That suited me very well. Since then, I have consistently worked at the intersection of workflow management (WFM) and business process management (BPM). Designing flows and structuring processes has always remained at the core of my work.
Moret Ernst & Young later became Ernst & Young and subsequently merged with Capgemini. Through this merger, I joined Capgemini, where I spent sixteen years working in the WFM domain, including at its legal predecessors. My assignments ranged from projects for clients in the financial sector to work for KLM. Thanks to my affinity with object-oriented programming languages (such as Natstar and Java), I became increasingly involved with object-oriented platforms.”
The transition to BPM Company
“In my final years at Cap Gemini, I worked increasingly with Pega. At the same time, I began to feel that the organization had become too large and impersonal for me. After a short period at Synechron, I reached out to BPM Company. I had previously spoken with the CEO and was still warmly welcomed. I have now been working here for over eleven years.
Within BPM Company, I regularly take on the role of Lead System Architect (LSA). What appeals to me in this role is guiding and coaching others, contributing to solution design, and providing direction to projects. Recently, I completed an assignment at De Mandemakers Groep (DMG), and since November I have been working at ASN Bank. There, I am part of the platform team in the role of LSA. Together, we ensure that the platform remains stable and support implementation teams where needed.”
Working at BPM Company
“What makes BPM Company special to me is its flat organizational structure. You are not just a number here. The company has grown significantly, yet it has remained accessible and easy to navigate. The members of the management team are also very approachable, their doors are always open.
In addition, I am actively involved in the BPM Company Academy. I am one of the Pega trainers and, among other things, deliver the CSSA training. Sharing knowledge and helping others grow is something that suits me well and is very much aligned with our company culture.
BPM Company is also attractive to me because we never stand still. We have been around for over fifteen years and are still continuously evolving. With our own Academy, multiple labels, and a clear focus on Pega and AI, we keep developing and moving forward.”
Outside of work
“In my free time, I prefer to spend time with my family. My daughter rides horses, so we are often on the road with the trailer, heading to competitions. I have also been toying for years with the idea of buying a motorcycle. I already have the license, just not the bike yet. And I played volleyball for many years. I’ve since stopped, but I still feel the urge to pick it up again from time to time.”
