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Celebrating awesome entrepreneurs and intrapreneurs just like you. Learn from others’ stories, successes, advice, and actions.
Meet Joris Raaijmaakers. Joris is the Co-Founder of BIMStudio and part-time professor at George Brown College. He is an out-of-the-box thinker with a passion for business
process analysis and optimization and an early adopter of Building Information Management. As a professor, he is involved in developing the curriculum and educating the new generation of construction and BIM Managers.
BIMStudio focuses on Residential Construction and spans from design and engineering in Low Rise to modeling, project coordination and implementation in High Rise. BIMStudio uses Building Information Management to increase the productivity of the full construction industry.
Joris is a true innovator, and we are motivated by his passion and outlook on work! Find out why:
1. What are your sources of motivation and inspiration? How do you stay motivated/keep your cup full?
I have always been passionate about construction. On the one hand, we create homes for people to live in. On the other hand, the traditional nature of construction comes with the opportunity to improve it to be a more collaborative and better performing industry. The variation of people I work with inspires me daily. From the specialists that build homes, to clients with the vision to develop huge communities for years to come, to our team members that do the most amazing work with the 3D models, we create to disrupt the industry.
2. What is the most important lesson you’ve learned on your entrepreneurial journey so far?
Starting and running BIMStudio has been one of the most rewarding journeys I have had in life. However, an important learning is that challenges always look much bigger when you initially run into them, compared to once you’ve conquered them and look back. This helps me to put new challenges into perspective.
3. How do you stay focused on your organization’s mission while also juggling competing priorities in what we imagine is a very busy schedule?
Every once in a while, I reflect on what I am doing and evaluate if it is still aligned with my personal goals and values. But also, am I still enjoying my work every day? If the answer is no, I adjust my direction or the way I approach my work.
4. How do you encourage innovative ideas and disruptive thinking? How do you develop a culture that embraces innovative ideas and disruptive thinking?
We have a very open and collaborative work environment where new ideas are embraced, investigated, and implemented almost daily. We challenge our team to think differently, challenge the status quo and always ask “why” to get to the bottom of things and help our clients solve their real problems.
5. What type of superpower would you want to have? Why?
To have people trust our direction without asking questions 😊. We operate in an area of change management and innovating the construction process, and the hardest part is to get people to buy into it or follow the suggestions we make. I imagine it would be a lot easier if they would try first and then judge, rather than not starting because it is a bit different than what they are used to. However, as I am writing this, I am wondering whether the result of booking a success will be as rewarding as it is now. But I’d like to find out.
6. What advice would you give to future entre/intrapreneurs looking to make their mark on the world?
For me it was never about being an entrepreneur or an intrapreneur, but I guess I have always been one. I’ve always followed my own path and did not change my goals and ideas, even when people told me it was not possible. For me, impacting change within the construction industry to be more collaborative and to be a better performing industry has always kept me going and brought me where I am today.
From his lessons learned to his wise advice, Joris is the quintessential entrepreneur. Find Joris on LinkedIn.