Ivo Kampshof

From holiday worker to 18 years at Nedap 

I’ve been with Nedapper for 18 years now, but I’ve actually been around here much longer than that. I started as a holiday worker in production, programming and laser-engraving access cards. At the time, I had no idea what I wanted to do with my future. I studied software development, but quickly realized it wasn’t really for me. After that, I spent a year studying automotive engineering, but mathematics turned out to be a challenge. I knew I wanted to work with technology—I’ve always had an affinity for it—but I also wanted to work with people. And then Nedap called. 

I had applied for a position at the Support Desk at Nedap in Security back in 2005. That role immediately appealed to me because it combined technology with customer interaction. I didn’tget the job then—I was only 19—but they remembered me. So, in 2007, I joined the Support Desk after all. 

Working on challenging projects 

At the Support Desk, I grew into a technical project management role. I supported the rollout of major projects for customers such as Schiphol and Danfoss. We also implemented AEOS globally across Unilever’s offices. These were all highly secure environments. The combination of technology, customer interaction, and solving problems together suited me perfectly.  

We worked hard on serious projects, but we also had a lot of fun together. Game nights, ski trips—we spent plenty of time together outside work as well. The team made the experience even more rewarding. 

What gives me energy

I’m not a pure developer, and I’m not a pure sales professional either. I’m somewhere in between. I understand the technology well enough to know what’s possible and what isn’t, and I have the drive to get a seat at the table. I love discussing with partners and customers where things should go next. 

I get energized by opportunities that aren’t fully defined yet. By spotting something with real potential and figuring out how to turn it into something bigger. What I appreciate most is that I’mgiven the freedom to do exactly that. That’s how it works at Nedap: if you believe something has potential, you’re encouraged to explore it. No one hands you a ready-made plan—you have to create the opportunity yourself. But if you take the initiative, you’ll get all the support you need to make it happen. 

Spotting a signal and acting on it

Our global partnership in the iOS Ecosystem is a great example. In January 2024, we attended NRF in New York, the world’s largest retail trade show. There, I learned that one of the worldsleading technology companies didn’t yet have a strong answer for the RFID challenges faced by fashion retailers on iOS. To me, that represented a major strategic opportunity. 

After the event, I started making calls and exploring what might be possible. At first, nothing was concrete at all. There were a lot of conversations, plenty of questions, and even internal discussions about whether it would actually deliver value. Which was perfectly reasonable. But I was absolutely convinced this could be strategically important, so I kept at it. 

Eventually, it led to an intensive collaboration. We exhibited alongside the world’s second-largest technology company and other ecosystem partners at iOS Avenue at NRF 2025. Next to that, we worked with partners to develop new solutions, including an RFID reader for iPhones. That secured Nedap a place within the international iOS ecosystem. 

Wagging your tail

The best part of projects like this is the teamwork. Take setting up a trade show booth. Everyone is working incredibly hard, dealing with jet lag, but you can feel the shared energy. That collective drive. I saw nothing but smiling faces, even though the pressure was enormous. 

“If something makes your tail wag, you should go after it.” 

I learned a lot from a personal leadership training at Nedap. The key message was simple: find something that makes your tail wag—something you enjoy so much that you naturally want to make it better. That resonates with me completely. The entire partnership journey what I was talking about earlier is exactly that kind of project for me. 

Someone recently told me, “It’s a good thing you went after it. You had limited time, you had to do it alongside your regular work… and you decided to go after the biggest company in the world.” I never really saw that as a reason not to try.  

Pride, drive, and looking ahead 

In the beginning, I relied mostly on enthusiasm. If I believed in something, I went for it. Today, I know you achieve more when you approach it more systematically. You have to think about what you want to achieve, who needs to be involved, and how you’ll measure success. Energy gets things started, but without a plan and clear direction, it remains just a good idea. 

I’m most proud of the fact that something meaningful can grow without anyone assigning it to you. You notice a small signal, you pursue it, it gradually evolves into something significant, and colleagues and partners become genuinely excited about it. And maybe what makes me proudest is hearing people at one of the world’s leading technology companies—people who have spent decades at the highest level of technology—say they think it’s a really cool concept. That means something. 

“If you truly believe in something, you have to keep going.” 

And the years ahead? I really want to continue building partnerships. That’s what I believe in: a select number of strong partnerships, focused on scalable opportunities and smart collaborations where everyone succeeds together.