Tip 1: Work smart, not hard.

"Computers and software such as Excel are so powerful that it’s better to let them do the hard work. Especially if you add features like PowerQuery and PowerPivot. After all, it makes no sense at all to spend a whole day working on a report when you can get your computer to do it for you in a few minutes.”

“There are very few jobs in ING for which you don't work with data and Excel. In my job, I produce reports for colleagues who ask for them. Often with complex formulas and queries, but often not. There is a lot you can do yourself if you have the knowledge. I want to pass on that knowledge.”

Tip 2: Take five minutes.

“Taking a course takes time. This is why I’ve made some three-minute clips to help people get started quickly. They’re on my YouTube channel and now also on ING MyLearning. In less time than it takes to finish your coffee, you’ll have learned something new that will save you a lot of time later.

“In the past, I already gave quite a few summer Excel classes in ING. There I noticed that by giving people a little push, you can achieve a lot. If you throw a pebble off a mountain, it becomes an avalanche. With the smallest tip you can change their world completely.”

Tip 3: Start with the basics.

“One in five scientific spreadsheets contains errors, simply by entering data. Take the expression ‘SEP7’ for example. If you enter this, Excel automatically changes it to a date. If you don't think about that, your spreadsheet will be wrong. No matter how experienced a user you are.”

“There are now nearly 40 videos on the channel. The first one I made off the cuff. Now, I add clips based on questions from colleagues. If you’ve watched them all, you’ve come a long way. But the very first video, everyone must see it. That is the basis.”

Tip 4: Something you don’t know? Look it up.

“The Dutch cabaret artist Fons Jansen once said: “Ever since they invented printing, we’ve had to learn everything by heart.” That’s true, but it’s not how it works for me. I remember key words and then go and look them up. Much of what I know I’ve taught myself thanks to Google. And Excel too.”

“I started my career by putting computers together. What I learned there, I passed on. Gradually, software, reporting and automation were added. With the same pattern over and over again: gaining knowledge and then sharing it. By teaching, writing blogs and, above all, by doing a lot of research.”