Meet the team: Dexter van Vianen

Dexter, you recently started as a Business Developer at Cyso. What's your impression of the organisation so far?

My first impression is very positive. There's a nice mix of young and experienced colleagues, which brings together lots of different perspectives and knowledge. The atmosphere is friendly and the group feels close-knit, which makes working together really pleasant. On top of that, you really notice that you're in a tech environment, with a lot of in-depth knowledge and passion for technology.

What made you take the step to Cyso? What attracted you to this role?

I worked for seven years as a production planner for two refineries. In that role I combined operations with a commercial side, having a lot of contact with customers. It was precisely that customer contact that gave me the most energy. That's why I made a conscious decision to move into a commercial role in the tech world. With a bachelor's degree in Technical Physics, I've always been fascinated by technology. During my internships I already came into contact with colleagues who worked at the intersection of technology and commerce, and that combination has appealed to me ever since.

On top of that, my American cousin lived with me for a while after a breakup. Through him I got to know a lot of expats working in the tech world, such as data scientists, account executives and security officers. Through their stories and experiences I became increasingly interested in the IT sector and started looking more specifically for a role in tech, which eventually led to my move to Cyso.

What's your ambition, what do you want to achieve?

My ambition is to develop into someone who really sits at the intersection of technology and commerce. I want to properly understand the technical side, so I can help customers make the right choices around cloud, infrastructure and security. In my role, I want to spot opportunities in the market, build new relationships and guide customers through their technology choices. Further down the line, it would be great to guide strategic customers and contribute to the company's growth in that way.

Cyso has some exciting European ambitions. That also means travelling. How do you feel about that?

I love travelling and my family is fairly international. My mother was born in Australia and I also have family living in America. Because of that, I've always had a lot of interest in other countries and cultures. I enjoy travelling, meeting new people, networking and coming into contact with different cultures.

Last year I went to the west coast of America and walked across the border between the United States and Mexico. My American cousin lives in San Diego, in La Jolla, and thought it would be a good idea to cross the border on foot together and spend a few days in Tijuana.

My last big trip was to India, where I travelled through the north of the country by train. That was a memorable experience, with its fair share of adventures.

The people around me also know that I'm ambitious, and they weren't really surprised that I eventually found a job where travel plays a role. My father worked in sales his whole life and often travelled to Asia and America for it. In that sense, you could say I grew up with it.

What experience and knowledge do you bring from your previous roles?

In my previous role I worked at the intersection of operations and commerce. I was responsible for production planning, but also had a lot of contact with customers about deliveries, expectations and any supply chain issues.

Because of that, I gained a lot of experience managing different stakeholders, solving problems under time pressure and clearly communicating technical or operational situations to customers.

Thanks to my technical background, I'm also able to get to grips with complex systems relatively quickly. I now bring that combination of technology, customer contact and commercial thinking into my role in the IT sector.

We're an IT company. Which IT developments or trends do you find most interesting to follow?

Like a lot of other people, I follow the developments around AI closely, and what that means for our society. Not just the opportunities it offers, but also the potential risks and how we deal with them as a society.

I also find the discussion around European digital autonomy interesting. Many organisations are heavily dependent on hyperscalers such as AWS, Azure and Google. Because of regulation such as the CLOUD Act from 2018, it's becoming increasingly relevant to think about European alternatives and how we, as a sector, can retain more control over our data.

I'm also following developments around AI agents with interest. I have friends who experiment with agents from, for example, Claude and open-source projects such as OpenClaw. I think it will be interesting to see how these kinds of technologies could play a role in my day-to-day work in the future.

What do you most like doing in your spare time?

In my spare time I like to be sociable. I enjoy having a beer in the pub with friends, or going to a concert or festival. I also love cooking, and on Sundays I like to challenge myself to try new recipes. The latest thing I've experimented with is making my own kimchi.

I also enjoy sport. I go to the gym three times a week to clear my head. I also try to regularly try new things. For instance, I recently tried salsa dancing. It might surprise you, but I'm not a natural talent just yet.

I also enjoy reading and watching films. I mainly read books about history, geopolitics and science. I also visit museums regularly. I have a Museumjaarkaart (annual museum card), which I make full use of.

What should people absolutely know about you?

What people should absolutely know about me is that I'm a very curious person. If something sparks my interest, I really want to understand it. You can see that in my interest in technology, but also in subjects like history, geopolitics and science.

I'm also someone who likes to keep developing myself. I enjoy learning new things and challenging myself, both professionally and outside of work. Whether that's understanding new technology, trying a new recipe, or something completely new like salsa dancing.

And finally, I'm someone who likes working with people. I get a lot of energy from conversations, new contacts and building relationships.

Do you have a film or series recommendation for your colleagues or customers?

I think most Game of Thrones fans still haven't quite recovered from the trauma of the final season. But I really enjoyed A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms. I'm also really looking forward to the third instalment of Dune. I'd recommend parts one and two to anyone.

I'm also a fan of classics such as The Lord of the Rings and Star Wars, as well as series like The Sopranos, Game of Thrones, The Wire and New Girl.

And finally, a few dilemmas:

• Alkmaar or Haarlem?
  Haarlem. I've lived there for eight years now and have really found my place. And the nice thing is that Amsterdam is nearby too, where I'm often found.

• Netflix or the cinema?
  The cinema, with a nice meal beforehand at a restaurant and a nightcap in the pub afterwards.

• Holiday in the Caribbean or Lapland?
  Holiday in Lapland!

• iOS or Android?
  Android!

• NAS or data in the cloud?
  Both!

• Email or phone calls?
  Either is fine!

• WhatsApp or Signal?
  Signal, ideally! Unfortunately I haven't quite managed to get everyone around me on board with that yet.

• Speciality beer or a whisky sour?
  I'm a big fan of speciality beer, with favourites including Uiltje, IJwit and Two Chefs. In summer, you'll also find me on the terrace at the Blauwe Theehuis in Vondelpark.