"When someone asks me what I do at a birthday party, what I say depends a bit on who's asking," laughs Erik. "To people in the IT sector, I say: I'm a Scrum Master and I do people management. And to others, I just say: I spend all day chatting and fixing things."
His sons are even more direct: "They say: Dad talks all day long. And honestly? That's actually quite true."
Erik is Scrum Master for three different teams. He facilitates all scrum components, coaches teams and individuals, and continuously refines the working method. He also fulfills a leadership role, with a focus on coaching and people management. "I don't have to do the work myself," he explains. "But I make sure that it can be done. That people find each other and that obstacles disappear."
This facilitating role goes beyond his job title. Erik is involved in internal events such as the ANVA quarterly meeting, ANVA Next, and he also helps with the live broadcast of the ANVA 4/5 Online Update. But it doesn't stop there, because when necessary, he helps behind the scenes and is just as happy to step in as host, organizer, or even as Sinterklaas. "If there's something that needs to be arranged, I'm happy to do it. That variety is what makes it fun."
What ultimately kept him at ANVA was precisely that space. "I started here because I already enjoyed it so much as a freelancer. When I was busy recruiting my own replacements, I suddenly thought: why am I actually leaving? I wanted to stay here."
A good working day for Erik is one full of variety. "I get energy from variety and interaction. Back-to-back meetings are no problem, as long as they are about different things."
In fact, an empty schedule makes him restless. "I want to talk to people, help them, facilitate things. So sometimes I just create that full schedule myself."
That dynamic suits ANVA. "Here, you really get the space to combine different things. That makes my days enjoyable and ensures that I go home feeling energized."
What Erik considers typical of ANVA is not found in a single process or structure, but in the way people interact with each other. "No one is averse to hard work. But it happens in a very informal way. We make time for each other, even when things are busy."
That informal culture also makes difficult conversations easier. "You can have a complicated or critical conversation, but there is always room for humanity. For a laugh. I think that's very powerful."
ANVA 6 plays an important role in this. "We are all working together to build something big. Innovation is not an abstract concept; it is very much alive here. You can see it in the conversations, in the energy, and in the willingness to work together to fix what needs to be fixed."
When Erik looks back on his time at ANVA, there are a few moments he is visibly proud of. One of them is ANVA NEXT. "That idea originated in a conversation with CEO Max and a colleague. From nothing to what it is today. I have always been involved and have always had a role to play. When I see where we are now, I am really incredibly proud."
Erik's development never followed a fixed step-by-step plan. "It actually happens naturally. By continuing to engage in conversation, raising your hand, and not being afraid."
According to him, opportunities are more readily available than people think. "You have more opportunities than you realize. If you dare to say, 'I want to take this on,' then things will naturally start to happen."
That attitude has led to him being involved in many initiatives. "I've basically just stayed true to myself. And apparently that fits in well here."
Erik sees the ANVA way of working together as something multi-layered. "It's in everything. In conversations, in coordination, and in the Scrum Dailies. In fifteen minutes, you hear where things are going wrong, where someone is getting stuck, and where coaching is needed."
He often sees himself as a connector. "When I come up with an idea, it's never just mine. It arises from conversations. And when I organize something, I always coordinate it. There's always a sounding board. And sometimes I'm that sounding board for someone else."
One small moment says everything about ANVA for Erik. "When I drive up, the barrier opens automatically. I walk upstairs and there's already a black coffee waiting for me at the coffee bar, because they know that's how I like it."
He smiles. "That's not something to be taken for granted. It almost feels like coming home. Not quite, but very close."
It is characteristic of the culture he values so much. “Everyone here is equal. A joke with the CEO in the hallway, a bit of banter about soccer. It’s warm, informal, and relaxed, without losing sight of what’s important.”
For people who are unsure about applying for a job at ANVA, Erik is clear: "Work hard, play hard. That's really how it feels here."
You are given the space to do your job well, whether at home or in the office. There is always someone there to help you. "You're not just thrown in at the deep end here."
And the "play hard" part? That's always optional. "A virtual race, a coffee at the barista, events, workations. Join in if you want to. Don't want to? That's fine too. That freedom is perhaps our greatest strength."
At ANVA, you work on smart software for the insurance world, but always with people at the center. Curious about what it's like to work at an innovative fintech company where collaboration, fun, and impact go hand in hand?
