About us
Where it all started
Businessgames originated in 2002 from the passion of ‘making boring things fun’ and ‘making difficult matters more comprehensible’. Over twenty years ago Gijs developed his first game in his attic room. Now, he is surrounded by a team of inspiring professionals, each with a different background. Part of our team excels in guiding groups during live and online performances. Others develop playful custom games for the most diverse issues and customers, and some work on the right ‘look and feel’ of our game material. In other words, a balanced team of go-getters, who are happy to work for you with a lot of passion and expertise.
With all our knowledge and experience we can promptly react to your questions. We believe in doing it perfectly.. or not at all! This means we get more than half of our business by word of mouth. Has this made you curious to discover more? Do not wait any longer and contact us. Call us at +31 76 515 53 49 or send an email to info@businessgames.com.
The team
Gijs van der Linden
CEOAccording to friends, my enthusiasm, creativity and entrepreneurship have made Businessgames to what it is today. My company is leading in the development and execution of Business Games and that’s something I’m proud of! My passion is to brainstorm with my colleagues and customers, develop customized games, discovering new (international) markets and facilitating our Business Games.
Gijs
van der Linden
Samara Kalakoğlu-Couwenberg
General ManagerIn addition to my duties as Senior Project Manager, I keep in touch with our foreign partners. Did you know that we also have offices in Singapore and Ireland? Aside from the pleasure I derive from communicating with these different cultures, I also like to immerse myself in developing customized games. Deep diving in the work methods and structures of our clients. You will amply encounter my creative excesses at Businessgames.
Samara
Kalakoğlu-Couwenberg
Loes de Coo
Project / Office ManagerEvery day since 2018, I am standing with a big smile in the Businessgames workplace. I translate the customer demand to a live or online Business Game as a Project Manager. I can give free rein to my creativity and the game facilitation gives me a lot of energy. In addition, I look after the production of game material and I am the point of contact for our suppliers. Outside of work I like to seek out fun with friends and family and I call myself a real ‘Burgundian’.
Loes
de Coo
Celine Dekker
Graphic DesignerAt Businessgames I make sure that the creative mix of the lay-out, typography, color and images in every game is aesthetically pleasing, clear and on-brand. It always gives me a great feeling when a design is in its final stages and used for its intended purpose. Alongside my creative work, my vocal cords and green thumbs also regularly come into action at the office.
Celine
Dekker
Danielle van der Linden
Financial ManagerI have been involved in Businessgames from the beginning. A great deal of perseverance, experience and expertise have brought the company to where it is now. There is a pleasant and open-minded work environment with short communication lines. Everyone’s opinion counts. It is a great team in which everyone thinks along and continuously grows. I am responsible for the finances, which I do with great pleasure.
Danielle
van der Linden
Jesse Aben
Project Manager / TrainerOrganizing and presenting are in my genes. At Businessgames, I can develop myself and I can give the participants of our Games an educational and fun time. Working in a nice, dynamic and driven team brings out the best in everyone. Businessgames provides a true experience for its customers and it feels great to contribute to this!
Jesse
Aben
Yanniek Heijkoop
Sales Manager / TrainerMy role at Businessgames is a perfect fit for me. Creating memorable experiences for our customers is where I find my passion and get my energy from. I enjoy thinking along with the client about different types of value we can create through implementing a Business Game. Are you looking for a fun and educational day? Contact me for the best team building event, everything is possible! Outside of my work I love to visit events and I will never say no to a weekend getaway!
Yanniek
Heijkoop
Robbie Bos
TrainerI started working for Businessgames in 2017. It’s the best decision I could have made! It’s such a joy to inspire and motivate the participants ranging from students to management teams. The dynamics of our Business Games are unique and infectious. I am proud to be a part of that. I am a true family man and I enjoy to play golf next to my work.
Robbie
Bos
Joey Steenvoorden
Project Manager / TrainerCreativity flows through my veins. This is something that I can apply every day in my function as project and event manager at Businessgames. From my past as an professional athlete I’ve established a drive to get the best out of myself and the people around me. With a touch of (bad) humor and my supportive nature, I work with my colleagues to deliver qualitative games for our customers. Creating a game from A to Z and facilitating it is the reason I enjoy my work on the daily.
Joey
Steenvoorden
Tessa
Teunissen
Mariola Wolters
Managing Director – AsiaI have formerly worked for both solid blue-chip companies, government and agile entrepreneurs. This, combined with my extensive experience in leadership coaching (certified training at Concordia University Montréal), makes me a strong facilitator at Businessgames. I love to stimulate change in an energetic, challenging and supportive way.
Mariola
Wolters
Patricia Arkenbout
Managing Partner – AsiaI am specialised in leadership and transformation. I have worked for over 12 years in the international banking industry in a variety of transformation and leading roles. Now, I am a certified leadership coach and I love to combine my enthusiasm with my observation skills. With these traits, I strive to make every Business Game a fun learning event that stimulates long term improvement.
Patricia
Arkenbout
Joeri Gianotten
Trainer – AsiaI love that I can combine my enthusiasm for coaching and leadership development, with my global business development experience as a facilitator at Businessgames Asia. I have facilitated trainings and workshops since 2010 and I can proudly say that I have worked for clients such as Philips, DBS, ANZ, UBS, KPMG and Manulife.
Joeri
Gianotten
Frank Bomers
Trainer – AsiaI am an all-round business development specialist. I have facilitated Business Games in most countries in Asia with great pleasure, working with clients such as AXA, British American Tobacco, Philips, DBS, Microsoft, SingTel and Sony Entertainment.
Frank
Bomers
In my opinion, Serious Games are taken too seriously. You hear them say ‘the participants shouldn’t laugh; they need to learn something and not just have fun.’ That naturally depends on the context of the game. But no matter which game you play, participants should feel the joy of playing. It must be challenging and bring out the best in everyone.
Gijs van der Linden
CEO