"The journey is the reward." - Chinese Proverb
Andre Buren (1971) is an executive advisor with over 25 years of experience in consulting, managing, and leading online technology.
He was interested in technology from a young age and spent much of his youth tinkering with electronics and home computers. Probably too much time as teenager were spent in the dark trenches of coding and debugging, where he developed a deep affinity with technology and its magic and potential for humanity.
Andre pursued his passion for technology in college, earning master's degrees in information science and economics. During his academic years, he became fascinated and ignited by the enormous potential in store for the just-born internet for business and humanity.
After graduation, he started his career as a technology consultant and auditor. After holding management positions in several corporate organizations, including tenure in San Francisco, he started his online technology journey in 2010.
Since then, Andre has held several positions as CTO for private equity and public-listed scale-ups. During this time, he navigated a series of fast-growing and leading B2C and B2B companies to their next unicorn level in the online food delivery, telecom, and leisure market.
Making mistakes is an unavoidable and essential aspect of every leadership journey, and Andre's journey was surely not a straight line either. It was more of a winding path filled with challenges, failures, and victories that shaped him into the person he is today. His journey has been fueled by an unwavering commitment to improving the organization and the self.
'As a fellow CTO for many years, I have made my more than fair share of mistakes and failures, for sure. It is through these experiences that I have gained essential insights and knowledge. I firmly believe that having a track record of (contained) failures is instrumental in becoming the person we aspire to be.' This book is my testament to all the invaluable lessons I have learned from direct experiences. I hope it serves as an inspirational guide, offering practicalities and insights to navigate the intricate trajectory of technology leadership with more confidence and enjoyment.'
He has been an independent and executive technology advisor for the last three years. He is involved in many startups and technology ventures, co-developing ideas and concepts and bringing them to market in a fast lane. He is a frequent speaker at industry conferences and events, sharing his insights on the latest trends and developments in the online technology industry. Andre lives with his wife and two daughters in Amsterdam, the Netherlands.
"The greatest glory in living lies not in never falling, but in rising every time we fall." - Nelson Mandela