Hi, I’m Kiren. I’m originally from Malaysia with Indian heritage. I moved to the Netherlands in 2015 to complete my master’s in counselling psychology at Webster University, an American university based in Leiden. I always thought my time here would be temporary. In my head, the plan was simple: get the degree, head to Bali, Thailand or any other beautiful island, get a diving license, become an instructor, do odd jobs, and live a carefree nomadic life. But life, as it tends to do, surprised me in the most unexpected ways. Today I live in Gouda with my Dutch husband, who works in healthcare as a developer, and our five-year-old son, Skye. If someone had told me a decade ago that this would be my life: a home, a family, stability I wouldn’t have believed them. And yet, I’m grateful for where I have landed.

Finding My Place at Pionect

My journey to Pionect began in a very unremarkable moment. My previous contract ended, and suddenly I had space to breathe and rethink what I wanted next. I’d been commuting to Amsterdam for years and wanted something closer to home, ideally in Rotterdam, a city I’ve always had a soft spot for. So when I saw a part-time, junior marketing vacancy at Pionect, I applied without any expectation. It felt more like a checkbox: “At least I applied for something in Rotterdam.”

When they called me in for an interview, I remember sitting there waiting for the marketing questions to start, only for the interviewer to say, “Oh no, you’re not here for that role.” He had something entirely different in mind: operations and HR, and the more we talked, the more I realised he wasn’t evaluating my resumé, he was evaluating me. I went home, thought it over, and decided to say yes. It felt like the kind of environment where I could build something meaningful from scratch while also growing into a role that fit who I am.

What I love most about working at Pionect is the calmness and the genuine sense of teamwork. There’s an unspoken understanding here, like how the first person downstairs sets the lunch table and the last person cleans up, not because it’s assigned but because it’s natural. Or how someone sends a reminder to keep the workspace tidy, and everyone just acts on it kindly. It’s the kind of workplace where people consider the collective, and that is rare.

The Challenges That Drive Me

At the same time, we’re at a crucial moment as a company. We’re ready to grow, and this phase requires clarity, good habits, and shared definitions. If we don’t get certain things right now, those mismatched processes will become patterns we’ll struggle to fix later. I’m very goal-driven (sometimes too much) so learning when something deserves urgency and when it doesn’t is part of my journey here. And I appreciate when someone simply tells me, “This is not a priority,” because that helps me navigate better.

I learn through curiosity, sometimes intense curiosity. I know it can feel like interrogation, but asking questions is how I understand people and connect dots. I’m not always into heavy academic books; I prefer podcasts, short talks, summaries, documentaries, anything that helps me absorb information quickly. And then I go to the people around me to fill in the human side of the story. In HR, that human side is essential. You have to be trustworthy, reliable, and able to stand on the fence. People need to know they can speak freely, be heard, and receive honest feedback, even if the outcome isn’t always exactly what they want.

My long-term goal is to build a strong foundation and day-to-day operations that can run independently, in other words without depending on me or other humans. I say this not because I want to step away, but because I want to grow into deeper, and more meaningful work beyond tasks that can be automated or structured. When systems run smoothly, as they should without me, I can, then, focus on adding more value in other ways.

Life Outside Work

Outside of work, I’m in a season of rediscovery and rebuilding. It is being mindful and being present. It is about both learning new skills and sometimes brushing up old ones. In addition to that, I’m more conscious about my health and overall well-being, which means investing in eating right rather than convenience. Gym has also become my next favourite place to be. I enjoy both high power workouts and yoga practices. Everything I am focusing on now is part of my bigger goal: to reclaim my lost spark/fire, the sense of drive and desire I felt before being buried under routine and responsibilities.

Simultaneously, while I am in my "conscious life" journey, I take great joy in simple everyday pleasures. My perfect Sunday, for instance, begins with breakfast in bed (an idea my son came up with and insists on every weekend). It’s small, cozy, and somehow magical, a ritual that makes the house feel peaceful and connected. Apart from that, I love to sink into a book every night, usually a murder mystery, and let myself get lost in the plot, the strategy, the setting.

I am certainly an adventurous foodie. If I had to pick one meal to eat forever, it would probably be pasta: endlessly versatile, and comforting. Travel is my other passion, and while Italy remains our familiar comfort zone, we dream of exploring somewhere new every year. Africa, especially Kenya and Zanzibar, Tanzania are on our radar for the next adventure, though traveling with a child adds layers of planning and safety considerations. Regardless, travelling for me and us as a family is all about the excitement of dipping our feel in the local culture, it's about finding beauty and curiosity in the world while keeping the family close.

Hidden Skills and Life Lessons

If there’s one thing I could teach everyone in the world, it would be kindness. And it doesn’t have to be complicated or grand, it can be as simple as a smile. A genuine smile costs nothing, but its impact can be profound. You never know who is having a difficult day, feels unseen, or simply needs a small reminder of their existence. These small acts of kindness ripple outward, building connections, trust, and understanding in ways that are often invisible but deeply felt. For me, that’s a principle I try to live by every day, both at work and at home, reminding myself that sometimes the simplest gestures create the biggest change. I encourage everyone to read Charlie Mackesy's The Boy, the Mole, the Fox and the Horse, at least once.

I’ve discovered over the years that I have a few hidden talents and habits that surprise people when they find out. For instance, I used to love sketching and still do occasionally, though it’s more private now. Beyond that, my background in psychology has given me a few subtle tools for understanding people and situations, ways to influence people. It’s not about control; it’s about guiding collaboration and opening possibilities that might otherwise be overlooked.