Helping leaders make better decisions about data and AI.

I work with CTOs and CDOs who need an experienced sparring partner to cut through the hype, evaluate options, and build a clear path from AI ambition to measurable impact. No slide decks, no lengthy engagements. Just honest, actionable guidance from someone who has built, bought, and sold data platforms at every scale.

How I work

Strategy Workshops

Full-day or half-day sessions with your leadership team. We map your current data landscape, identify the highest-impact AI opportunities, and walk out with a prioritised roadmap you can act on immediately.

CTO / CDO Sparring

Ongoing advisory for senior tech leaders navigating platform decisions, org design, or board-level AI narratives. Available as a monthly retainer or ad-hoc sessions when you need a sounding board.

AI Readiness Assessment

A structured evaluation of your organisation's data foundations, talent, tooling, and governance. You get a candid picture of what is ready for AI and what needs work first.

About Joost

I spent 25+ years at the intersection of enterprise technology and business strategy. As Head of Database & Analytics EMEA at AWS, I led a multi-billion-dollar portfolio spanning databases, analytics, and generative AI across nine regions. Before that, I built and scaled a 100-person data organisation at Heineken across 80+ markets, and spent 11 years at Accenture delivering data transformation programmes for Shell, ING, and Amgen.

Today I work independently, bringing that breadth of experience to leaders who want straight-talking advice without the overhead of a big consultancy. Based in Amsterdam.

Speaking & Keynotes

I speak at industry conferences and executive roundtables on data strategy and AI adoption. Recent stages include IDC Digital Enterprise Forum, AWS Executive Summits, and CDO Roundtables with 30+ Chief Data Officers.

  • Enterprise AI: from experimentation to impact
  • The evolving database landscape
  • Building data-driven organisations
  • Cloud platform strategy for the C-suite
  • GenAI readiness: what nobody tells you
  • Navigating the modern data stack

Available for conferences, executive events, and panel discussions.

Let's talk

Whether you need a one-hour sounding board or a full workshop, I'd enjoy hearing what you're working on.

joost@example.com