I had my introduction to Excel in the 90s when those big computers were installed at home. I did a short course and forgot about it further. Until I started my study Business Economics at the HES* in Amsterdam in 2000 and they were looking for a student assistant to help with the Helpdesk. As a result, I answered questions from all employees of the HES Amsterdam about the Office package for one day a week and the idea arose to give workshops about Office software to those who did not know how to use it. I gave workshops PowerPoint, Access, Word, Excel, etc.
Fast forward a few years later, I had the Excel experience and with that background I was hired to work at E-Quality*** (2005 -2007) and was allowed to do all Excel jobs. Here I was called the ExcelWizard by a number of colleagues. With that extra baggage of experience with Excel, I was allowed to work at Stogo Onderzoek + Advies** (2007 -2009) after completing my second study Urban Geography. I was allowed to solve all Excel problems and make graphs besides other tasks.
A few years later in August 2012, I dared to take the plunge and started my own part-time**** business. I got Excel out of the dust and started giving Excel lessons to beginners at a community center (Buurthuis) in Utrecht. These Excel lessons were tailor-made with my own designed assignments. A super fun job and a grateful audience! It was not just about Excel, but often teaching them computer skills. 'A first step in getting to know my way around the computer' was one of the courses I gave there besides Excel. Something that was always well received, when I showed them how to buy stuff online and email others.
I continued to give Excel lessons to small groups and 1 on 1 over the years, both in The Netherlands (since 2012) and on Curaçao (2017-2020). This was always on location, but then the world was introduced to COVID-19. I had to take a closer look at my products as I could no longer teach in person due to the COVID-19 restrictions. I decided to pour my knowledge into a few online versions. Some have already been introduced to a few tests online workshops that I developed 2020.
*Hogeschool Economische Studies Amsterdam ( HES Amsterdam) merged in 2004. I graduated in the summer of 2004, before the merger.
**I worked at STOGO Onderzoek + Advies from 2007 - 2009. STOGO Onderzoek + Advies was bought by I&O Research in 2010 (IPSOS I&O).
*** I worked at E-Quality from 2005 - 2007. E-Quality merged and became Atria in 2012.
**** I started Databeet part-time, in addition to my 18-hour job at Kennisbank Filantropie and WW on August 13, 2012. In April 2014, Databeet became my full-time company.