“I'm really a veteran of Babbage's”

In Spot On… we're happy to introduce you to our colleagues. This time, we're featuring Marinda Wiersema, a freelancer who works for clients through Babbage.

“It is not without reason that I have been working with a great club like Babbage for so long. "

Marketing or communications? After completing her Communications studies, Marinda long hesitated between these two fields. She worked for years as a marketer and product manager in the private sector, but ultimately found her niche in communications. "The creative side of communications appeals to me more," she begins. "I love the strategic side, project management, and working within government organizations. I can really make a difference there."

Since 2010, Marinda has worked primarily for municipalities and government ministries. She focuses on strategic communication, organizational consulting, cultural change in digitalization, and guiding ICT projects—her great passion. "I'm not an IT specialist, but I connect well with people in that field. I enjoy brainstorming, making plans, and actually executing them. What resonates with the target audience? How does the message truly resonate? That puzzle-solving and that translation are what make this profession so interesting to me."

From Rabobank to the National Cleaning Agency

Marinda has been with Babbage since 2007. Her first assignment was at Rabobank, after which she went on to work for organizations including the DUO (Employee Education Executive Agency), the City of Amsterdam, and the National Cleaning Service (RSO). "I'm a true veteran of Babbage," she says with a laugh. "In between, I've done other things, like coaching, NLP training, and pregnancy support, but communication has always remained the common thread."

She continues: “One of the assignments I look back on with pride is the one at the RSO. The cleaners were spread out across the country and there was little cohesion. We then created a kind of internal Facebook page so employees could easily share information—from practical updates to fun news and photos of dinners. The app is available nationwide and is still in use. It's fantastic that something like this really makes a difference.”

Marinda is currently working through Babbage on a project for the ILT Aviation Authority, part of the Human Environment and Transport Inspectorate (ILT). "The first step was developing a brand strategy. This was followed by a stakeholder survey among citizens and organizations supervised by the Aviation Authority. I'm now developing a plan to use this communication even more effectively."

Back support

Marinda finds her contact with Babbage to be reliable and professional. “It's always well-organized. If I have a question, I get help quickly. That feels like a real support. I need less guidance than before, but I know Babbage is always there when needed. It's no coincidence that I've been working with this wonderful organization for so long. My current assignment runs until the summer, and after that, I want to finish my Camino to Santiago de Compostela. Then I ask myself: what do I want now? Anything is still possible, but first, I'll just enjoy walking. Then I'll naturally gain valuable insights.”

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