“AI is not, for me, an IT or technology issue. It is a change management issue.” André van der Linden | Royal FloraHolland

“AI is not, for me, an IT or technology issue. It is a change management issue.” André van der Linden | Royal FloraHolland

June 8, 2026

Members in the news: HBO-i interview with André van der Linden. Almost a year ago, we launched the AI Lab within Royal FloraHolland. We deliberately started by experimenting just getting started. Allowing colleagues to experience for themselves what works and what doesn’t. This generated energy, but also the insight that technology only creates value when you bring people along in the process.

2026-06-08 Leden in het Nieuws Interview Andre van der Linden

At Royal FloraHolland, AI is not a replacement, but an addition. And that also changes what becomes important in your work. I increasingly believe it is less about what you know, and more about how you learn, collaborate, and stay curious.

For young IT professionals, this means that skills such as curiosity, a self-starting mindset, and understanding processes are becoming increasingly important—perhaps even more so than domain knowledge alone.

This is also exactly why I am committed to HBO-i. These kinds of practical insights help keep ICT education up to date and better aligned with what organisations truly need.

Curious about our approach and the lessons we’ve learned so far? Read the interview (in Dutch).

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