photographer: carly wollaert © | make-up artist: sharmila vooren
lisa grijzenhout(she/her)
devops engineer at brunel
about
the past year has been exhilarating, nerve-wrecking, inspiring, challenging, and eye-opening. i had long dreamt of becoming a software developer, but ended up building a career in marketing. when i discovered that equals academy gives professional women the opportunity to follow an accelerated career program in full-stack development, it was perfect timing.
the experience with my employer brunel and my colleagues at the ministry of defence (where i work on a secondment basis) have reinforced that this has been the right choice. i cannot wait to see where it will take me next.
what or who inspired you to pursue your chosen career?
i like to get inspired by those who got to the top of their game without wavering in their beliefs, commitment and hard work. though they might be in completely different industries, it’s women like michaela coel, marieke eyskoot, joy buolamwini and – yes – taylor swift who remind me that humans are capable of incredible achievements. likewise, i look at my friends’ careers, families and achievements, and find strength in my own choices. their dedication, resilience, and passion drive me to strive for excellence in my own endeavours.
brunel
at brunel, we believe in the power of diversity and strive to create a company culture that offers safety and opportunities to everyone, regardless of their backgrounds or differences. we value diversity because it brings new perspectives, creativity, and innovation to our workplace. we are proud of our diverse talent pool and strive for an equal distribution of talented women and men in all levels of our organization, as well as providing opportunities to those who are further from the labor market due to disabilities.
we believe that diversity and inclusion are essential not only to us but also to our clients. together with our clients, we aim to create a workplace where everyone feels at home, regardless of their position, culture, or abilities. therefore, we encourage everyone to bring their authentic selves to work, and we respect and value all individuals for who they are. at brunel, we celebrate differences because we believe that diversity is the key to success.