Introducing

12 August 2024
Introducing four new members of the Awareways team!
It’s been a minute since we’ve shared a team update, so let’s come back strong and introduce four new colleagues: Cláudia Pereira Oliveira, Juriaan Raaphorst, Kim Verloop and Yaren Cirit!
With a variety of personalities, skills and interests, they bring color to the world of information security. Would you look to meet them?
Cláudia Pereira Oliveira, frontend developer
Cláudia Pereira Oliveira, frontend developer
Cláudia holds a Bachelor’s degree in Advertising (‘Publicidade e Propaganda’) from Brazil, where she specialized in design – “a field that has always captivated me.”
Her journey into Frontend Development began after she completed a Full Stack Bootcamp in the Netherlands, where she discovered her passion for creating engaging and dynamic user interfaces. “This combination of design and development perfectly aligns with my interests, and I can’t imagine doing anything else.”
“Next up, I started looking for a job that was not only inspiring but also had a great company culture. When I found the job opening at Awareways, their mission and values really stood out to me. I was impressed by how much they focus on creating a positive and meaningful work environment. It felt like the perfect fit, so I decided to apply.”
At Awareways, Cláudia’s primary responsibilities are in developing the user interface (UI) for various projects. “Our frontend team goal is to ensure that users have a seamless and engaging experience, particularly in the context of creating security awareness. Our work helps educate users on security practices in an accessible and effective manner.”
Among the foursome introduced here, Cláudia is almost a senior, as she started out near the beginning of 2024 – which allows for a short review of those first months. “My first six months have been incredibly rewarding. I’ve had numerous learning opportunities and have been able to contribute meaningfully to our projects. The team here values everyone’s opinions and fosters a collaborative and supportive atmosphere, making it an excellent environment to grow and thrive. I’m very happy to be part of such a dynamic and innovative team.”

“Our goal is to ensure that users have a seamless and engaging experience. For someone unfamiliar with my field, this means I design and implement the visual and interactive elements of our digital platforms, making them intuitive and user-friendly.”
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“I’m thrilled to be joining the PM team as a Program Manager! It’s an exciting role that’s quite new to me, given my background in communications and marketing.”
Juriaan Raaphorst, Program Manager
Juriaan Raaphorst, Program Manager
Juriaan brings a background in communication: a bachelor’s degree in Multimedia Communication and a master’s in Communication & Influence. “I am particularly interested in human behaviour; how can you change it and what role can communication play? On the human side of cyber security – the part you cannot (completely) cover with software and hardware – all the good things come together for me; I learn more about behavioural change and social psychology and can apply my knowledge in the field of communication. Furthermore, I love trying many different things, which I get ample opportunity to do here.”
“In our approach, we offer different solutions, which together form a program – including for instance online training courses or real-life simulations. It’s up to me to ensure that any program is implemented in the best possible way for that particular client.” Responsibilities include planning the programme, advising on the different interventions and managing the relationship. “Besides my work-related interests, I enjoy music (listening and creating) and sports (football and golf) immensely and I like to cook.”
His first months have suited him well. “I enjoy the work and being part of the team here. What makes Awareways a great employer for me is the open culture in which you can learn from each other and the trust you get to take up new things. I have found my place in the organisation in a relatively short time and already feel I have grown.”
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Kim Verloop, Program Manager
Kim Verloop, Program Manager
Kim has also joined the team of program managers in the spring of 2024, but even then she was no longer a new face at Awareways: she already had several months of experience in a supporting role in tandem with her master’s degree in Project Management. “That followed my bachelor in ‘creative business’, an international study for which I got to do a minor in Madrid, among other things – in line with my love of travelling. I am a very social person and get energy from interactions with others. I also really enjoy dancing.”
“I found Awareways through an online job posting, and chose it because of its nice fit with my master’s degree. I have since moved on to a permanent role in the PM team. What appeals to me in my new responsibilities is arranging and organising everything involved; I really like planning, especially in combination with good client relations. I like keeping an overview and making sure everything is organised on time.”
Day to day, that means making sure all the different interventions in security awareness and information security are properly rolled out. “In a training program, that means connecting the material to organisation-specific situations, such as existing procedures and internal information security rules. And in a communication campaign, it’s about finding the right style and tone of voice, for example. As program manager, I guard the planning, hours, budget and quality of the entire project.”
“My first months as a program manager have been really good. I get great supportive guidance with room for questions, but also enough freedom and responsibility to arrange things myself. For me, that balance is very important! The atmosphere is very nice and I get on well with all my colleagues. I learn new things every day and like the fact that attention is paid to both personal and professional learning goals.”

“I really like the dynamic environment here, because no single project is the same. And neither are the clients; everyone is different, which makes creating creative solutions a must.”
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“As a Product Designer in the Awareways Studio Team, my focus is on understanding business goals and learning objectives and translating them into effective digital learning solutions.”
Yaren Cirit, Digital Product Designer
Yaren Cirit, Digital Product Designer
Yaren hails from Turkey, where she completed her Bachelor’s in Visual Communication Design at Yasar University in Izmir. Her journey to the Netherlands began when she studied Visual Design at Hogeschool Utrecht. She has been living in Amsterdam for about two years now.
“I’m excited to join the Studio Team and contribute to shaping our products. I have a strong interest in security information and enjoy learning about this topic in depth. This passion led me to apply to Awareways.” Yaren has five years of experience in digital design, with a background in Visual Design and a knack for creating innovative solutions.
“During my time at Awareways, I hope to play a crucial role in enhancing our digital products through my design expertise and commitment to excellence. I thrive in dynamic environments where I have the autonomy to take ownership of projects and drive them forward. I am constantly seeking opportunities to innovate and improve processes, always aiming to deliver exceptional designs that align with user needs and business objectives.”
Aside from her professional pursuits, Yaren has a background in professional basketball, which she played for almost a decade. “Even now, I still enjoy playing occasionally.
In my free time, I love traveling, cooking with friends, and gaming. I used to play games professionally and was involved in eSports.”
Would you like to join our team?
Check out our current vacancies.
Would you like to know more about our expertise clusters?
Find out at awareways.com/expertise/
