Nousha van Dijk
In a way, I started my career very young, on the chessboard. That's where I learned to spot patterns, think several moves ahead and find logic in messy situations. At age 7 it even took me to the Dutch Championships. That strategic, analytical way of thinking has never switched off since. When I swap the quiet of the board for the football pitch or the indoor court, the same instinct kicks in: calling the shots as a playmaker and keeping an eye on the big picture. Twenty-five years later I still love every minute of it.
With two parents working as IT project managers, this sector was an obvious choice, but I wanted to come at it my own way. To work out for myself how to cut through complexity, how technology actually works and where I fit in a team. I listen well, keep a sense of humor, carry a healthy streak of stubbornness, and I'll always go through fire for my team.
I recognized my own no-nonsense streak at NCIM straight away. Everyone here is approachable and rolls up their sleeves. No hierarchy for its own sake, just real trust from day one. I'd rather push my limits than avoid them, and NCIM gives me plenty of room to do exactly that.
I recently started as a Product Owner at the Ministry of Defence. In this role I bring together my technical eye and my strategic instinct to build systems that help keep The Netherlands safe. This is exactly the step I joined NCIM for, because everything comes together here: the technology, the strategy of the chessboard and the grit of the sports field.
I'd love to see more women join our team who take the game as down-to-earth as I do. We're not building run-of-the-mill apps here; we're building systems that have to make the difference for our security. That adrenaline rush is exactly what makes this job so satisfying.