“Say what you need, and people here will step in.”
Dana Keukens – IT Consultant / Project Manager
Some careers follow a clear, predefined path.
Dana Keukens’ didn’t. And that’s exactly what makes it fit her. Five years ago, she joined Itility
in a recruitment role, fresh out of university, still figuring out what direction she wanted to take. Today, she works as an IT Consultant and Project Manager at KPN. On paper, a significant career switch. For Dana, a logical next step.
In her work, she looks for variety, responsibility, and the opportunity to keep learning. Not by holding on to job titles, but by being honest about where her energy lies and where she can create
the most impact.
Starting without a fixed plan
Dana studied Business Administration and graduated in the summer of 2020. After that, she worked temporarily as a sales assistant, mainly as a transition period. She didn’t yet have a clear idea of what she wanted to do next. Business Administration offers many options, but that also makes choosing more difficult.
She was approached on LinkedIn for a recruitment role. Having completed a recruitment internship before, it felt like a logical starting point. Still, it wasn’t just the role itself that convinced her. What stood out immediately was the personal and responsive contact throughout the application process.
What she remembers most is the feeling that it just clicked. The conversations were open, the follow-up was quick, and even small gestures showed genuine attention. Especially as a starter, that made the difference. She didn’t just choose a role, but the people and the environment behind it.
Finding your footing in uncertain times
Dana joined in February 2021, right in the middle of the COVID period. Her onboarding started at the office, but quickly shifted to working from home after a training session where someone tested positive. Not the easiest way to begin your first job.
Still, she looks back on that period positively. Colleagues checked in daily, stayed closely connected, and as soon as possible, made sure someone was present at the office to work alongside her. In a challenging start like that, those small efforts made a big difference. It helped her feel supported while finding her footing.
In her recruitment role, she initially focused on hiring junior consultants and project managers, combined with operational and administrative tasks. What stood out most, however, was the level of responsibility she received early on. Not through strict guidance, but through trust: this is what we want to achieve, you decide how to get there.
When things started to shift
After a few years, Dana began to feel that recruitment no longer challenged her in the same way. Not because she didn’t value the work, but because her interests were broader. She enjoys variety, spotting opportunities, and taking on new challenges. Over time, the work started to feel repetitive.
What made the difference is that she felt comfortable discussing it. Together with HR, she explored what she needed and what a next step could look like. That helped her gain clarity. Being capable of doing something doesn’t necessarily mean you want to keep doing it. Through reflection and coaching, it became clear that she gains energy from organizing, structuring, aligning people, and getting things done. Project management turned out to be a much better fit than she initially expected.
A career switch that made sense
Her transition into a consultancy role eventually came through an opportunity within a project at KPN. There, she started as a PMO / analyst, with room to grow into a project management role. From the outside, it might seem like a big shift. For Dana, it felt natural.
She attributes that to the way of working she developed over the years: working hard, staying curious, thinking pragmatically, being critical, and taking initiative. These are skills that go beyond a specific role.
“You don’t need to be the most technical person in the room to succeed in this role. Critical thinking and common sense take you a long way.”
Growing by taking ownership
A recurring theme in Dana’s story is that growth doesn’t only come from structured career paths or formal training, but from taking ownership when opportunities arise. During her time in recruitment, she already managed several projects: she implemented a new system for applicant tracking, an ATS, supported expat onboarding, and helped build campus recruitment initiatives.
These experiences shaped her not just professionally, but personally as well. She describes herself as someone who used to be more reserved. Being trusted with responsibility helped her build confidence over time. Especially as a young professional in a technical IT environment, that made a difference. The trust she received made it easier to step forward and claim her space.
Working together, not against each other
If Dana had to name one thing that stands out most, it would be her fellow-Itilians. She describes the culture as warm, supportive, and team-oriented. There is no “elbow culture,” no politics to take credit for work from others at their expense.
In her current project, she experiences that daily. When someone runs into an issue, others step in to help. Not just from an expertise perspective, but also as a sounding board. That creates a sense of shared responsibility, even in high-pressure environments.
“We do it together. I don’t have to reach the finish line on my own.”
Who feels at home here
For people considering a role here, Dana has a clear message. This environment suits those who are driven, but not competitively at all costs. People who want to learn, take responsibility, and are open enough to speak up about what they need.
Because in the end, that’s what made the difference for her. When you’re clear about what you’re looking for and where you want to grow, there are always people willing to support you. Not just in words, but in action. And sometimes, that leads to a career path you didn’t plan, but that turns out to fit much better than expected.
