Jeroen Vonk
I build bridges between two worlds that rarely meet in one person: public-sector innovation and wine culture. Whether it’s a citizen and a government service, or a vineyard and the reader: I look for the story and the real value beneath the surface.
The innovation side
For over nine years I’ve worked in the SVB’s innovation lab on better public services, with design thinking, lean startup, design sprints and emerging technology. Testing small and fast, user-first, in an environment where mistakes are allowed. EUDI Wallet, digital trust, verifiable credentials: I’m in the substance, not just the method.
The wine side
As VinoVonk I’ve been writing personal stories about wine since 2023 that go beyond the bottle. A journalistic stance: I don’t parrot marketing claims, I name what I haven’t tasted yet, and I add the caveats press releases leave out. Nuanced, with geology and numbers, and often an open question at the end.
The common thread
Curious, methodical and critical. I share knowledge openly and connect people and disciplines. Let’s do it — why not?
How I work with AI
- A model does the groundwork.
- Research, first drafts and checking passes are things a model can take on. Taste, judgement and the final edit stay with the writer.
- Know one assistant well.
- I know Claude best and use the other assistants to compare against. Knowing five tools halfway gets you less than knowing one properly.
- No evangelism.
- I write about what works this week, at an ordinary desk. I leave the predictions about everything AI will change to others.
- Your voice is yours.
- A model may write a first draft, explain something or cut. The last word belongs to whoever signs the text.
What I write about
The subjects that keep coming back, and the series that work them out.