Roel van der Ven and Noortje Offreins doing funny faces
We like to make funny faces, when someone pointed a camera at us we didn’t stop. Source: https://www.instagram.com/p/9QToWTSlZVi7nmQ1yzuEyKazgb2Yjp_O6y9TU0/.
Hi, I’m Roel van der Ven. I’m a Senior Product Manager at Spotify with 20+ years of experience across media, music, and platform technology. I write about product management, technology, bread baking, and life in Berlin.
Recent
Roel van der Ven - Rooftop beers in Berlin with Fabian and Jens
Fabian and me in the sun on a Berlin rooftop. Photo by Jens. Source: https://www.instagram.com/p/3eipE_kfMC/
Roel van der Ven - A surprise diner for Connor at Lokal in Berlin
It was a great evening when we surprised Connor for his birthday at Lokal Photo by Jens. Source: https://www.instagram.com/p/1TAAgGEfLG/
The Media Manifesto (2007)
My early learnings as an online media consultant still seem valid. As the current market is changing at a maddening pace I thought it relevant to write a retrospect. In 2007 I had my first job at a publisher, Techmedia. It was a small company (±6 people) and we worked with a network of freelancers to publish a young brand called Bright. We worked on a magazine, weblog, video podcast and even a TV show. I was really excited about the market we were in, traditional publishers were just starting to understand what was coming and we had the opportunity to alternate between these two worlds: online and traditional media. We were creating branded entertainment, sponsored stories and set up barters with similar outlets in the market. After working there for a while I needed to expand my views and quit my job but started freelancing for several other publishers. It was at the end of 2007, in an attempt to structure my learnings that I wrote this manifest. Besides some proof reading by friends I never published this, until I found it again in my notes.
Roel van der Ven - Happy 2015!
It’s past midnight in Berlin, happy new year! I was ill, we were at home but we went out to see the fireworks. Here’s to a new year! Source: https://www.instagram.com/p/xSmyFVEoPt/
Roel van der Ven with Post-Its on his Face
I like Post-its As a product manager, you work with Post-its a lot. Jakob took a photo of me. Source: https://www.instagram.com/p/tk3dc8JBcs/
Roel van der Ven - The best thing in Amsterdam is riding your bike
Roel and Noortje being happy campers on their bikes. Amsterdam we missed you. We stayed with Rolf and Linda, they lend us their bikes and made us happy! Source: https://www.instagram.com/p/w6qaglkoAo/.
On diversity and the stories we''re being told
I’ve always been fascinated by stories and what they do with us. Our thoughts, our characters, our experiences. Stories shape who we are and who we’re becoming. I was really inspired by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie, who opened my eyes with her talked on the danger of a single story.
A single story emphasises on how we are different, rather than how we are similar.
I think that’s a brilliant phrase to live by. Never trust the single story. Try to learn more by viewing something from other perspectives. And know that as long as you know only one story, you should withhold your opinions and prejudice because they might portrait you as a single story. With everything we make in this world, be it a product or a service, we should consider: are we building something real or is this going to be perceived as another single story? Update: This travelers report on North Korea is an apt example of the danger of the single story. If you haven’t read about North Korean tourism this is a great article to get an idea of what the country tries to tell tourist and it’s inhabitants: https://medium.com/@ryannee/my-summer-vacation-in-north-korea-910571c48f76
Roel van der Ven holding a huge pizza
After moving in, we fed a hungry crew with these 1 meter pizzas from across the street. Source: https://www.instagram.com/p/uL_LU9ylVyfEMnSM5X1yNpISimR50O-ortKP80/.
Roel van der Ven, Shumeng Ye and Fabian Mürmann at the beach on a rainy day
We went for a walk when it was raining, but we had to reach the sea. Soaking wet but lots of fun. Source: https://www.instagram.com/p/s8CdFbSlQ3P5R6GRcTXrWoLIgiMwH-m0_owyY0/.