PRO F ESSI O NA L PRO FI LE
For over 20 years, I have been helping
many of the world’s largest organizations to
release the value of their data, enabling
business leaders to make strategic
executive decisions. I have a natural ability
to use divers and complex data sets to
solve real-world business issues. I have
built award-winning teams of experts that
tackle complex data problems using the
latest and greatest in data services.
I manage teams of talented data and
strategy experts as they engage with our
stakeholders in every stage of their data
journey. From data strategists who
conceptualize the flow and use of data, to
data engineers who build diverse platform
solutions to data scientists who perform
robust analytics and extract insights.
My in-depth expertise with platform
agnostic data strategy and business
intelligence design & development coupled
with my business and program
management acumen have consistently
allowed me to deliver industry-leading
solutions. Beyond these core expertise, I
enjoy looking for creative solutions to push
the boundaries of what’s possible.
C O N TA C T D ETAI LS
Phone
+41 79 878 01 13
Email
h@rro.email
LinkedIn
LinkedIn/hmwiersma
Website
www.harro.ch / www.xappo.mt
Address
Blériot-Allee 4,
CH-8152 Glattpark (Opfikon)
WORK EXPERIENCE
Independent Data Governance & Strategy Expert Feb 2021 - current
Harro Wiersma Smart Consulting, Glattpark (Opfikon), Switzerland
XAPPO Enterprises Ltd., Naxxar, Malta
• Supporting my customers with data-governance, -architecture and -strategy
knowhow as we engage with business stakeholders in every stage of their data
journey. From business leaders who define the business roadmap to data
engineers who build diverse platform solutions to data scientists who perform
robust analytics and extract insights.
• I'm focusing on delivering direct business value out data, by creating strong data
strategies, supported by a structured data governance approaches based on 5
guiding principles - Data Ownership, Meta Data Management / Data Modelling,
Master Data Management, Data Quality and Data Availability.
Data Governance & Enterprise Data Architect Nov 2015 - Jan 2021
Regarding data GmbH, Baar, Switzerland
I have successfully built a niche data related consulting company with 10+ employees in
Switzerland and a near-sourcing team in Kyiv, Ukraine. My responsibilities consisted of:
• Company and project management - including sales and business case definitions
• Management consulting for data architecture and governance related topics.
• Build and maintain customer relationships
• Information & data architecture - created several solutions and approaches for
our customers.
• Announced "speaker of the year 2015" by the Swiss Oracle user group.
Founding CEO & President of the Board Jul 2019 - Dec 2020
iShepherd, Inc., Sunnyvale, USA
• Founded a startup in the field of Identity and Access Management governance &
analytics, based on graph and AI technologies.
ai. Senior Manager Data & Analytics Jan 2014 - Nov 2015
EY, Zürich, Switzerland
• Support of SMEs and large companies in the (re)definition of their data and digital
strategy -using data on a broader scale in order to increase the added business
value for companies and customers.
• Digital and data transformation with a comprehensive understanding of business
and technology across many industries. Reorganization & restructuring of IT areas
as interim, project and program manager.
ai. Head of Data Warehousing & Business Intelligence Jun 2011 - Nov 2013
Postfinance, Zofingen, Switzerland
Responsible for a team of 29 employees and consultants, supporting a development,
redevelopment and extension of the data warehouse and business intelligence solution.
HARRO M. WIERSMA
Senior Data Governance Expert Consultant
LA NG UA G E SKILLS
• English
• German
• Dutch
• Swedish
• French
WORK EXPERIENCE
Division Head Service Engineering Jul 2010 - Apr 2011
Opitz Consulting Schweiz GmbH.in-liq, Thalwil, Switzerland
Technical Lead IT Infrastructure Engineering Jan 2008 - Jun 2010
Sunrise Communications AG, Zürich, Switzerland
Founder Mar 2001 - Dec 2007
Signitory ICT Holding NV, Gibraltar, Gibraltar
• Freelance consultant with projects for IKEA, Banco de España, Billiton, Deutsche
Bahn, Gasunie and several other larger organizations.
EDUCATION
Certificate of Advanced Studies in Leadership Aug 2012 - Oct 2013
Universität Sankt Gallen, Sankt Gallen, Switzerland
Master of Science in Computer Information Systems Aug 1999 - Mai 2003
University of Phoenix, USA
SKILLS & EXPERTISE
• Data Strategy & Architecture
• Master Data Management
• Data Governance
• Data Quality Management
• Intelligent Process Automation
• Project Management
• Business Intelligence & Insights
• Data Warehousing
• Change Management
• Team Building & Leadership
• Presentation & Negotiation
• Data Virtualisation
• Enthusiastic
MEMBERSHIPS
Council Member Mar 2020 - Present
Forbes Technology Council
• Forbes Technology Council is an invitation-only organization for senior-level
technology executives.
PUBLICATIONS
Book to support Senior Leadership with lessons learned about data. Read more
Entrepreneurship, Or The Art Of Saying Goodbye Aug 26, 2020
Forbes Technology Council
Relationships, friendships and buddies from a club or association all have a certain life
span — some longer, some shorter; some a lifetime, some only one evening. Read more
How Artificial Intelligence Can Add Value Aug 05, 2020
To Your Personal Life And Business
Forbes Technology Council
In many of the conversations with our (potential) customers, we discuss the power of
artificial intelligence. In many publications the usage of AI is almost promoted as "the
land of milk and honey" Read more
From Output To Impact: The New Way of Working in 2020 May 06, 2020
Forbes Technology Council
For many years, we have handled our office employees like they were working in a
factory. From 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., they worked on sales, marketing, projects and products.
Expectations to do overtime were to simply deliver output or, in some rare cases,
outcome. Read more
PERSO N A L D ETAI LS
• Nationality
Dutch, Swiss Residency Permit C
• Date of birth
01.06.1976, Groningen
The Netherlands
• CDMP Practitioner certified
• SAP MDG certified
• ISO 8000 Master Data Quality
certified
Don’t Screw Up Your Business Insights –
15 Ways of How Not to use Your Data. Dec 03, 2022
Amazon Kindle / Barnes & Noble / Rakuten Kobo
• English
• German
• Dutch
• Swedish
• French
WORK EXPERIENCE
Division Head Service Engineering Jul 2010 - Apr 2011
Opitz Consulting Schweiz GmbH.in-liq, Thalwil, Switzerland
Technical Lead IT Infrastructure Engineering Jan 2008 - Jun 2010
Sunrise Communications AG, Zürich, Switzerland
Founder Mar 2001 - Dec 2007
Signitory ICT Holding NV, Gibraltar, Gibraltar
• Freelance consultant with projects for IKEA, Banco de España, Billiton, Deutsche
Bahn, Gasunie and several other larger organizations.
EDUCATION
Certificate of Advanced Studies in Leadership Aug 2012 - Oct 2013
Universität Sankt Gallen, Sankt Gallen, Switzerland
Master of Science in Computer Information Systems Aug 1999 - Mai 2003
University of Phoenix, USA
SKILLS & EXPERTISE
• Data Strategy & Architecture
• Master Data Management
• Data Governance
• Data Quality Management
• Intelligent Process Automation
• Project Management
• Business Intelligence & Insights
• Data Warehousing
• Change Management
• Team Building & Leadership
• Presentation & Negotiation
• Data Virtualisation
• Enthusiastic
MEMBERSHIPS
Council Member Mar 2020 - Present
Forbes Technology Council
• Forbes Technology Council is an invitation-only organization for senior-level
technology executives.
PUBLICATIONS
Book to support Senior Leadership with lessons learned about data. Read more
Entrepreneurship, Or The Art Of Saying Goodbye Aug 26, 2020
Forbes Technology Council
Relationships, friendships and buddies from a club or association all have a certain life
span — some longer, some shorter; some a lifetime, some only one evening. Read more
How Artificial Intelligence Can Add Value Aug 05, 2020
To Your Personal Life And Business
Forbes Technology Council
In many of the conversations with our (potential) customers, we discuss the power of
artificial intelligence. In many publications the usage of AI is almost promoted as "the
land of milk and honey" Read more
From Output To Impact: The New Way of Working in 2020 May 06, 2020
Forbes Technology Council
For many years, we have handled our office employees like they were working in a
factory. From 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., they worked on sales, marketing, projects and products.
Expectations to do overtime were to simply deliver output or, in some rare cases,
outcome. Read more
PERSO N A L D ETAI LS
• Nationality
Dutch, Swiss Residency Permit C
• Date of birth
01.06.1976, Groningen
The Netherlands
• CDMP Practitioner certified
• SAP MDG certified
• ISO 8000 Master Data Quality
certified
Don’t Screw Up Your Business Insights –
15 Ways of How Not to use Your Data. Dec 03, 2022
Amazon Kindle / Barnes & Noble / Rakuten Kobo