Within XMDS, a leading Dutch technology holding company, an exciting transformation is taking place. While its service arm, Ximedes, continues to deliver custom software solutions, XMDS is now launching XPP, bringing together its four payment technology products - KUARIO, Pecunda, Vayapay, and Ginger - under one unified brand. This new payment powerhouse represents the next evolution in XMDS's journey to modernise payment technology. Just before the official launch of XPP, we sit down with Jesse, Architecture Manager, as he shares his perspective on building secure, scalable payment solutions and driving technological innovation across the XPP portfolio.

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Meet Jesse, a leader who has truly grown up within the company. Starting as a fresh graduate and joining right out of college, he’s spent the past six years transforming from a junior software engineer to a key member of the XPP team. Jesse’s career path reflects a journey of continuous growth, evolving alongside the company and taking on increasing responsibilities.

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Can you tell us a bit about your professional background and what inspired you to take on your current role within our company?

"I started my career right after studying Informatics and got my first role as a software engineer at Ximedes, a sister company of XPP. When I met Joris, CEO of Ximedes, during the interview process, it was the most engaging discussion I’d had, and I could see a clear vision here even though I wasn’t initially drawn to the industry.

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That was my introduction to the field, and after about two years, I advanced to a software architect role, where I specialised in payments technology—from developing KYC portals to managing complex settlement and payment processing systems.

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I made the move to XPP because I’d always dreamed of building and owning a product and moving beyond service-based roles. Working solely on client projects wasn’t fully satisfying for me, as I wanted to see a product through from concept to completion. XPP offered me an opportunity to blend my passion for building and architecting critical payments software with the chance to truly impact the build of our solutions.”

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What does a typical day in your role look like? What are the key responsibilities you focus on?

"My role revolves around two main areas: security and architecture.

On the security side, I focus heavily on ISO 27001 compliance and PCI DSS, which are critical standards for the payment industry as well as general security practices. I’m responsible for developing and implementing our information security management system, ensuring that we not only meet compliance requirements but also actively monitor incidents and continuously improve our security posture.

In terms of architecture, I work on creating alignment across all our solutions, ensuring we leverage emerging technologies effectively. This involves defining the various product solutions we want to develop, as well as crafting a vision for the overall architecture of our offerings. The goal is to ensure our architecture meets market demands—making it scalable, reliable, and secure. This dual focus on security and architecture helps to create robust products that can stand the test of time in a rapidly evolving industry."

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What do you enjoy most about working at this company, and what part of your role excites you the most?

"What I enjoy most about working at this company is the open atmosphere. I love that I can walk up to anyone and have a conversation; there’s a sense of accessibility and collaboration here. It’s a flat hierarchy, which means we avoid the pitfalls of top-down micromanagement.

I also find it exciting to bring together our four product groups, each with its own culture and technology, into a cohesive company. It’s incredibly rewarding to see improvements and progress as we work together as a team toward our goals. Achieving success as a group is far more fulfilling than reaching a goal on my own."

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How would you describe your leadership style, and how do you motivate your team to perform at their best?

"Unlike other management team members, I don’t lead a fixed team; instead, my role is more about spreading a vision across our different solutions. I work closely with all the architects to establish agreements on all our products and align their visions.

I’m part of a group of architects, and together, we focus on ensuring the quality of our software. This includes managing API versions and mapping out all our software solutions to understand what cloud services we are utilising and identify any redundancies. By working to prevent silos, we can reduce duplicate efforts and encourage knowledge sharing among teams."

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How does your role within the MT contribute to the success of the overall business, and what is your vision for this role?

"I focus on building a secure and scalable platform that aligns with our business needs. This foundation is essential for ensuring that we can meet current demands while also adapting to future challenges.

Looking ahead, my vision for this role is to concentrate on the product lifecycle, emphasising innovation and renewal. I want to ensure that we’re not just maintaining what we have but actively shaping the future of our products. 

Ultimately, my goal is to create a platform that not only meets today’s requirements but also evolves to fulfil the needs of tomorrow, ensuring we remain competitive and relevant in the market."

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How does the company strive to make a difference in the current market?

"The company strives to make a significant difference in the current market by creating a platform that can be deployed across various industries. This adaptability allows us to cater to a much broader audience, which is a unique advantage in today's competitive landscape.

We aim to cover a larger portion of the technology stack, providing solutions that address multiple needs within organisations. This holistic approach enhances our value proposition and simplifies the integration process for our clients.

Additionally, we focus on alleviating the compliance burden that many businesses face. By offering tools and solutions that streamline compliance processes, we empower our clients to focus on their core activities rather than getting bogged down by regulatory requirements."

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What’s a personal passion or hobby that you believe enhances your work life?

"I’m a real technology geek, and one of my joys is automating mundane tasks at home. For instance, I love walking in and out of my house and having the lights turn on automatically—it's a small convenience that technology can create that may excite me more than the average person.

Cooking is another hobby that really helps me unwind. It brings me a sense of calm and allows me to focus on something creative while taking a break from all the other tasks of everyday life.

I also enjoy visiting museums, especially contemporary ones like the Stedelijk Museum. I appreciate the beauty of the artwork, but I don’t overanalyse its philosophies- It can just be beautiful without looking for a deeper meaning.”

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Which future trends or developments in the industry do you find most interesting, and why?

"I’m not too involved with trends in the industry, but there are some areas that interest me, like the development of the digital euro. As we move forward, I’m curious about how this will evolve over the next five years and the impact it will have on our industry.

We’ve seen significant evolution in payment methods, such as credit card payments, which have been around for years. The industry is ripe for transformation, especially given the amount of legacy systems that still exist."

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Finally, if you could offer one piece of advice to someone just starting their career, what would it be?

"It would be to also prioritise building relationships with your colleagues. This is especially important for those with a technical background, where the focus can often be on skills and knowledge rather than interpersonal connections.

Investing time in these relationships pays off in the long run. You’ll be spending a lot of time with your coworkers, so fostering empathy and understanding within your team is crucial. It’s really important to recognise that everyone has their own unique talents, communication styles, and contexts."

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