brainbaking/content/about.md

---
title: "Hi, I’m Wouter Groeneveld"
subtitle: ""
bigimg: About Me.jpg
disableComments: true
---

And I'm currently a multiclass ...

## ... Baker

I hold a professional bread baker's degree so naturally I love to think of myself as a real baker. I highly respect the craft and enjoy kneading dough with my hands. I specialize in _sourdough bread_, as you can read at my [bread baking blog](https://redzuurdesem.be). I've written a book on [the science of sourdough bread](https://redzuurdesem.be/het-boek) (in Dutch).


## ... Programmer

I'm an experienced software architect and took on various roles from agile coaching to technical lead. I'm a Doctor of Engineering Technology and Master of Computer Science. I’m a big Test Driven Development advocate. I teach software engineering techniques in both industry and academia. I also dabble in open source. Have a peek at [my coding work](/works/#code).


## ... Writer

I wrote [The Creative Programmer](/works/the-creative-programmer), summarizing my academic research in a practical way. I like fountain pens and journaling. I love jotting down stuff and possibly converting that into blog posts, academic articles, books, or any other medium where I can express my enthusiasm. Have a peek at [my prose in words](/works/#words).

## ... Teacher

Transforming knowledge into well-digestible material is my mission. As they say: _the best way to learn something is to teach it_---I couldn't agree more. Besides various previous teaching assignments at KU Leuven, I also coach software developers in different companies, and occasionally organize bread baking workshops.

Find out more about my proessional life through [my full Curriculum Vitae](https://wouter.gr/) at `wouter.gr` or learn about [my company Brain Baking BV](/bv).

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If you found my work amusing and/or helpful, you can buy me a coffee [via PayPal](https://www.paypal.com/donate/?hosted_button_id=R2WTKY7G9V2KQ) or [via Ko-Fi](https://ko-fi.com/woutergroeneveld)---if you don't mind I'll use it to drink a cup of tea instead. I also like to hear your feedback via <svg class='icon icon-text'><use xlink:href='#mail'></use></svg>e-mail: <span class="link meel">say hello</span>. 

<noscript>
    JavaScript is disabled. I use it to obfuscate my e-mail, keeping spambots at bay. <br/>
    Reach me using: <code>[firstname] at [this-domain] dot [you-know]</code>.
</noscript>

Thanks!

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## What's a _multiclass_?

[Multiclassing](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Character_class_(Dungeons_%26_Dragons)#Multiclassing) in Dungeons & Dragons (yes, I'm also a nerd) allows your character to advance in more than one class. Instead of playing as the conventional mage or fighter, you can be both. This concept neatly summarizes my vision of a profession.

There are multiple concepts all defining the same thing:

- Emilie Wapnick uses the term [multipotentialite](https://puttylike.com/terminology/). A multipotentialite is _someone with many interests and creative pursuits_.
- Philosopher Johann von Wowern wrote in 1603 about [_polymaths_](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Polymath): _knowledge of various matters, drawn from all kinds of studies [...] ranging freely through all the fields of the disciplines, as far as the human mind, with unwearied industry, is able to pursue them_.
- Another lovely term is _renaissance men_: _a person with many talents or areas of knowledge_. Da Vinci is the prime example of such a man. Of course I couldn't possibly live up to these expectations. The notion of a [homo universalis](https://it.wikipedia.org/wiki/Uomo_universale) might also be stretching it a bit too far. 


I used to be only good at programming because I thought, as a somputer scientist, you specialize instead of generalize. But the more I worked with computers, the more my hands itched to do something else. So nowadays I love to go wide and pass on that enthusiasm for knowledge on any level.