Meet Master Michiel

We would like to introduce you to our Master Michiel! Who is Michiel, what gives him energy, and what drives him in his work? In this story, you will get to know him better.

Michiel works as a consultant in the energy transition and is currently active at Enexis. There, he is working on a major challenge: planning and coordinating around 200 projects simultaneously, each of which consists of multiple subprojects. These involve electricity connections within an overloaded electricity grid. “It may sound logical to quickly provide clarity about connections, but in practice it brings a lot of complexity,” Michiel explains.

It is precisely the balancing of different interests and stakeholders that makes his work dynamic. With a combination of common sense and insight into the playing field, he manages to make a difference. Reflective and solution-oriented: that is how Michiel describes himself. He likes to take a step back to gain an overview and from there arrive at the right solution.

His first introduction to Lean came at his first employer, where houses were produced in factories. There, the focus was strongly on standardization and process optimization. “We then reduced the production time from 13 to 6 weeks.” A result that sparked his interest in Lean.

What else appeals to him about Lean? “What I find most beautiful is the culture and the respect for everyone in the chain. Together you set the bar high and ensure that processes run smoothly.” For Michiel, the strength of Lean lies in continuously improving small things that together make a big difference.

Outside of work, Michiel is rarely still. He is sporty and loves challenges: from CrossFit to running, with the highlight in 2025 being a half marathon in Rotterdam. He has also competed at a high level in stand-up paddleboarding and enjoys spending time on the golf course.

But his biggest passion? Wine. He has already obtained several certificates and is well on his way to sommelier level. To truly unwind, he likes to travel to Rethymnon, where his father owns an apartment. “That’s where I can really recharge.”

Michiel also applies Lean in his daily life. Small things, such as immediately adding groceries to a list when something is almost empty, create peace and overview.

For the future, he has clear ambitions. Professionally, he wants to structurally embed continuous improvement within a large department, so that it is no longer a program but truly part of the culture. Michiel is someone who brings structure to complexity, creates calm in dynamic environments, and is always looking for improvement. A valuable force within Masters In Lean!