Here’s what I bring to APG
Danny van Loon is a Release Train Engineer at APG, where he coaches and guides agile teams. In his spare time, he is a beekeeper or apiculturist. At work, he helps ensure that processes run smoothly, at home, he works to help bee colonies thrive. “I can’t force bees to produce more honey,” says Danny. “The same logic applies in the workplace. All I can do is create a healthy environment for my teams and inspire them to deliver the best possible IT solutions.”
Behavior and process
Danny focuses on the fundamentals in his work. “For me, it’s about creating and accelerating the flow of work, making sure processes run smoothly, and occasionally holding up a mirror to one another,” he says.
“That means focusing on how colleagues behave and how processes work. I’m not concerned with developing and managing systems and applications themselves, but with how people work. I really enjoy working with a team and seeing how they grow.”
A fascinating little world
Two years ago, Danny came across an advertisement for a beekeeping course. He now has four beehives in his back garden.
“Bees are lovely little creatures. They’re incredibly busy, but they’re also wild insects. You learn something new from them every time. They never stop surprising you.”
Facilitation requires patience
“Bees aren’t aggressive, but they can make their feelings known if you’re not patient. If you rush and accidentally damage something, they go into defence mode. That’s when you get stung.” “At work, I can’t simply speed things up either. All I can do is create a healthy environment for my teams and encourage them to try new tools and best practices. Change happens in small steps. You need patience.”
Innovation
As well as patience, innovation is a quality Danny relies on a great deal. The yellow-legged hornet is an increasing threat to his bees.
“You’re constantly coming up with new ideas to protect them: entrance reducers, metal plates, selective traps. I keep experimenting.
“I do the same at work: looking at best practices, trying new things, seeing what works and adjusting when necessary.”
Adding value
APG is currently going through major changes. The new pension legislation, the rise of AI and changing customer needs are reshaping structures and shifting priorities. “That’s why we’re having conversations about value right now,” he says. “What is our work really about? We need to focus on what adds the most value. We should have that conversation more often, and use it to make choices, measure progress and monitor results. That’s crucial.”