You can have the right design, the right tooling, the right spec sheet, and still end up with delays, defects or unexpected costs if there’s no trust between you and the factory.

I’ve worked with manufacturers all over the world, across different cultures, time zones and ways of working. And the one thing that always makes the difference?

Not price. Partnership.

• Being clear, but not rigid
• Knowing when to push, and when to listen
• Understanding that time zones, language and culture all play a role, and being patient with that
• Showing you're in it for the long haul, not just the purchase order

I’ve worked through material shortages, factory closures and shifting international tariffs. Presidents and policies change. But strong relationships? They’re the part that lasts.

In the end, manufacturing isn’t just about making things. It’s about building relationships that keep things moving, no matter what’s happening in the world.

There’s no perfect material. Just trade-offs. Glass is heavy and energy-intensive. Paper often needs coating or bleach. Even kraft paper is sometimes coloured to look more natural.

Plastic gets a bad name, but when designed well, it can be light, durable and recyclable. It’s coded by type:

• #1 PET — clear and strong (like water bottles)
• #2 HDPE — tough and versatile (like shampoo bottles)
• ... — up to #7

If your recycling bin is always full, you’re making an effort — but maybe it’s time to rethink how much is being used in the first place.

Recycling matters, but it’s not the goal. Reduction and reuse come first. That’s why I focus on materials that are built to last, not just look good on a label.

I once worked on a project where quality control came down to how something felt. Machines couldn’t detect the issue, and most operators would have missed it. But a team of workers with visual impairments, known for their heightened tactile sensitivity, picked it up with ease and accuracy.

That moment shifted my thinking. These aren’t people with less ability. They’re people with different abilities. And when matched to the right task, they do things few others can.

Real inclusion isn’t a checkbox. It’s about understanding people, designing for strengths and creating systems that allow excellence to show up in unexpected ways.

My entrepreneurial path started in South Korea, where I recognised a gap in the market for foreign luxury vehicles and launched a trading business before the 2008 boom. I later consulted in the education sector, improving operational systems for private institutions, and became actively involved in Seoul’s startup scene as it began to take shape around 2010. Over the years I’ve worked across a range of industries including consumer goods, retail, education, tech and healthcare, gaining a well-rounded and real-world perspective that I bring into every project.

I currently work with the team at Dsmile alongside my independent consulting work. Across every project, I bring the same end-to-end thinking to founders and teams who want to move faster and build better.

Besides English, I speak Dutch, German and some Korean, which comes in handy when working across cultures and international markets.

I’m practical in how I work and focused on outcomes. Whether you need clarity on a product roadmap or support getting a physical product made, I’m here to help you get it done.

When I’m not working, you’ll find me at the piano, experimenting in the kitchen, growing too many herbs on the windowsill or letting my golf clubs rust quietly in the garage.