"I didn't completely let go of my medical background - I wanted to do something with and for people, but in the technical corner. That comes together at HeadFirst Group: Tech & People connected."

Christine Koekkoek | Product Manager

Christine Koekkoek started her career in the medical world, but quickly discovered that her heart lies with creativity, technology and solving complex issues. Through several startups she rolled into product management, where for her everything comes together: building, collaboration and continuous improvement. At HeadFirst Group, Christine started as a Business Analyst and in no time grew to Product Manager. Now she leads the team that is responsible for Enrolment & Retention within Striive - the platform for professionals, suppliers and clients. "We develop functionalities that really help people - from registration to long-term use - and do so in close cooperation with our users. Feedback is our fuel."

From feedback to innovation

One of her first projects? Improving the search experience for freelancers. "Users reported that the assignment page was not intuitive enough. We listened, designed, tested and rolled out. The result: a faster and more enjoyable assignment search," Christine says. That customer-centric approach is deep in HeadFirst Group's DNA. "We continuously analyze feedback and translate it into concrete product improvements. This is how we build a platform that is ever more attuned to the real world." She doesn't do this alone. "I work with a fixed product team: a designer, software engineers and a tester. At the beginning of the week, we set a goal, and every morning we review what is needed to meet that goal. We work pragmatically and agile, continuously delivering value in small steps, and always improving based on what we learn."

International growth with impact

Christine works with her team on projects that make an impact across borders. For Impellam Group - the international company with which HeadFirst Group forms HeadFirst Global - they are developing, among other things, a self-service module for supplier onboarding. "With this we save time, increase quality and ensure that suppliers can start faster," Christine explains. But it's not just about efficiency. "We are also looking at new ways to attract talent, both locally and internationally. This is essential for our ambition to become the largest flex talent pool in Europe and an attractive partner for international clients. That's where things get really interesting." And there's more in the pipeline. "We are preparing Striive for international rollout. Think about integrating systems, data structures and processes that work not only in the Benelux, but also in the UK, US and Australia. Each choice we substantiate with data, prototypes and validations - this is how we build sustainable, scalable solutions."

Growing as a professional and a person

International cooperation brings not only technical challenges, but also personal growth. "I work with people from all kinds of countries, each with their own way of working and culture. That requires flexibility and good communication. It is challenging, but also incredibly educational - especially in the area of change management and strategic international cooperation."

You + HeadFirst Group = building the future

For Christine, it was important to work at an organization that fit her values. "I didn't completely let go of my medical background - I wanted to do something with and for people, but in the technical corner. At HeadFirst Group that comes together: Tech & People connected." Her message to future colleagues? "At HeadFirst Group you get the freedom and responsibility to really build something. If you are curious, show initiative and enjoy working at the intersection of technology and people, you will feel right at home here. You don't have to be able to do everything already - if you want to grow, you'll get all the room you need."

Will you become Christine's new colleague?

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