Every month, we put one of our colleagues in the spotlight to discover who the people behind our Human Cloud are. This time, we meet Edwin Cnossen, Business Development Manager at Embrace. An energetic connector who is always looking for progress and adventure.
From the city council to the festival meadow
If you know Edwin a little bit, you know that his agenda is always full. In addition to his work at Embrace, he is active as a city council member and tries to spend as much time as possible with his family. The evenings are often filled with council work, the weekends with festivals: “Lago Lago and Wilde Weide are back on the schedule soon.” When we ask him about his favorite vacation destination, France stands out. Enjoy the ride with the camper! Although he is going to leave Europe for a safari along the South African Garden Route this winter.
Grow by doing
Edwin started in the commercial world at the age of eighteen. His curiosity and thirst for knowledge made the difference. “Because I hadn't studied, I thought I had to read everything in management books until I found out that was just my strength.” He joined Embrace in 2011, when the company was still in its early stages. “I started out as a commercial assistant, but was given plenty of space to help build the company. Actually, I was already doing business development back then.” He is now a Business Development Manager and switches daily between product, marketing and sales. “From devising propositions to collaborating with partners, I love that strategic and executive role.”
From pitch to product
In recent years, Edwin has helped many different customers choose Embrace, especially within the intranet domain. “I have a relationship with many of our customers. I brought in more than half myself.” Today, he is also focusing on the Embrace Customers proposition. He draws inspiration from innovations such as AI. “I built my own AI coach for sales support. With that, I am now making plans of action in a fraction of the time.” The joy lies in making an impact: “We work for customers that hundreds of thousands of people use every day. That's pretty special.”
Sober pride
According to Edwin, what makes Embrace unique is the combination of serious work and a light-hearted atmosphere. “We don't take ourselves too seriously, but we do do do work seriously.” His favorite memory? The legendary team trip to Portorož, Slovenia. “Drinks, good food, good conversations, that stays with you.” For him, Embrace's secret lies in openness, collaboration and change. “We're not afraid to grow, whether it's through mergers or new products. But always with one common agenda. That's when you get the furthest.” And what does his ideal working day look like? “Coffee, a few hours of focus, nice meetings in the office and a cake because someone's birthday is a must.”
👉 Do you also want to make an impact in a team that continues to grow, innovate and enjoy? Then take a quick look our vacancies!
