Keep the world adventurous forever 

'When I look back, I realise that my broad mindedness, thinking across traditional borders, mostly comes from my time as a student. Today that is my main strength. Especially 'scalability' is a continuous factor in my career. Expanding a business internationally in a quick and structured manner, as I have done for Uber and as I am doing now at Rivian, is kind of a personal trademark,' Paul starts his story.

My studies have been very beneficial

'The BUas programme is the only one in the Netherlands which has such an international approach and that has been very beneficial for me. How do you facilitate a business's international ambitions? Facility Management is about more than supporting the primary process and working in a cost-efficient manner. I aim to control the primary process, add value other than just saving costs. To achieve this, you need to know where the company is headed well in advance, because if you wish to expand and need new locations you need to understand where, what size and at what price. Because this process needs to start ahead of time you have to understand, influence and be able to implement the company strategy.' 

Six years at Uber

'For six years I have worked at Uber in their facility and real estate departments. During those six years we scaled up from 5 to 45 countries, including many countries in the Middle East and Africa. Currently I work for Rivian Automotive. These electric cars need to be manufactured, sold and charged somewhere, our people have to be able to provide service and work in offices and labs. Together with my team I concern myself with the expansion of all of this in and outside of Europe. I do this together with other programme alumni. But I will get back to that later.'

It all starts with curiosity

'First let me go back to Uber. When I started there in 2015 nobody knew what it was. I only found out myself by coincidence. I first heard someone talk about it when I was on a boat in Amsterdam with friends and we ran into people who worked there. And then I started to look into it. That is where it starts, curiosity, inquisitiveness - wanting to know more about start-ups, the latest technologies and businesses. I always try to be at the cutting edge, and that is why I am now at Rivian. Going in depth, reading a lot, is essential. Looking where the world is going, see what matches your passion and skills and what you may contribute.'

Intrinsic motivation

'Rivian is a really good match for me. Its mission 'Keep the world adventurous forever' contains exactly the two things which I find important in my life. First there is 'adventure'. I enjoy travel, discovery, looking for and facing challenges. A sabbatical in a caravan with our six-month old child, to name just one. Then there is 'forever' - sustaining the world for our children's children is just as important to me. From this intrinsic motivation I work for this company, I see what I can add to scale, what I need to make that happen and who I can involve.' 

Real estate could be greener

'I asked the programme for a really good graduate and that is how I hired Cas Verdonk. He graduated in 2020 and he is very driven. He wants to learn, improve himself, he asks questions, is inquisitive, takes initiative, exactly the skills required. Intrinsic motivation is one thing, but it is also the context which motivates people and that is what happens at BUas. Then you really get into it and that is a golden combination. Cas embodies this. Our real estate can be even greener he told me and I have given him all the room and support he needs to achieve this at Rivian.'

The core needs to be sustainable

'Cas is a good example of the new generation. Young people require different things from businesses and they sense when something is not right. You will no longer get away with green washing, it is about the core of your business being sustainable - the motives have to be authentic and intrinsic. I heard that Frans Melissen is working on a new professorship in this field at BUas. That is a good development, students have to learn how to develop new sustainable business models, and this can only come from intrinsic motivation when you ask me.'

Together with fellow students

'I still keep in touch with BUas, once in a while I deliver guest lectures, try to help people to get a work placement, but I also stay in touch with former classmates. I have a group of friends from those days and I still spend a lot of time with them. Also, in business we know where to find each other and we consult each other. I have introduced alumni to Uber and at Rivian I do not just work together with Cas but also with Nick de Swart who is our Senior Construction Manager for Europe.

A fantastic challenge

'Together with Rens Bekkers, who also went to BUas, I own a Dark Kitchen business. Bright Kitchen. You can order our burgers in Breda by looking for Vegan Burger Brothers on Uber Eats or Deliveroo. Rens, as I have, has completed the Master of Science in International Business at the University of Leeds. He is very much focused on sustainability, scalability and efficiency. The business has a fully plant-based product range, the first in The Netherlands to offer this. Nothing old-fashioned about it, this concept can also be scaled. At the end of 2022 we will be available in most of the Netherlands. That is the goal. A fantastic challenge which I enjoy shaping together with a former classmate.'