Willem Van Der Hoeven
About Willem Van Der Hoeven
Willem Van Der Hoeven is a Principal Product Manager at Marco Polo, where he has worked since 2017. He has extensive experience in product management and software testing, having previously held positions at Microsoft and DEAD CENTER CYCLES LTD.
Work at Marco Polo
Willem Van Der Hoeven has served as Principal Product Manager at Marco Polo since 2017. In this role, he has led the development of the Sharecast feature within the Marco Polo app. His responsibilities include hypothesis generation, user research, and overseeing the design and development processes. He has also developed a strategic plan aimed at enhancing the viral growth of the app through the Sharecast feature. His work involves conducting multiple rounds of internal alphas and external betas, ensuring a thorough testing process before the full deployment of the feature.
Previous Experience at Microsoft
Before joining Marco Polo, Willem Van Der Hoeven worked at Microsoft as a Senior Software Test Manager from 1996 to 2004. During his eight years in Redmond, WA, he contributed to various software testing initiatives. His experience at Microsoft laid a strong foundation for his subsequent roles in product management and development.
Experience at DEAD CENTER CYCLES LTD
Willem Van Der Hoeven worked as a Program Manager at DEAD CENTER CYCLES LTD from 2004 to 2017. Over the course of 13 years in Seattle, WA, he managed various programs and projects, further developing his skills in product management and team leadership. This experience contributed to his expertise in overseeing product development and strategic planning.
Education and Expertise
Willem Van Der Hoeven holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Industrial Technology with a focus on Vehicular Design from Western Washington University. He also studied at the University of Washington. His educational background provides him with a solid understanding of technology and design principles, which he applies in his current role as a Principal Product Manager.
Product Market Fit Approach
In his role at Marco Polo, Willem adopted the Sean Ellis Product Market Fit evaluation approach for the Sharecast feature. He conducted multiple rounds of Product Market Fit surveys to gather user feedback and implemented feature improvements based on the findings. Additionally, he executed a post-release pivot focusing on user growth for the Sharecast feature, utilizing a numerical growth model to assess strengths and weaknesses related to viral growth.