Written by: Nienke Sinnaeve, Community Manager, June 2026

In this interview, you’ll learn how Sanja Mirkovic took important steps in her career through Rvdb’s Senior Interim Professional program at organizations such as Sunweb, Deloitte, ISS, and ASML; why interim work appeals to her so much; and how she is now collaborating with Rvdb again as a freelance HR professional.

When Sanja was approached a few years ago about Rvdb’s Senior Interim Professional Program, she didn’t have to think twice. Interim work had been on her wish list for years. “Actually, I was already doing a bit of interim work before I even knew that’s what it was called,” she says with a laugh. “After graduating in 2013, I often worked on temporary HR assignments lasting seven to nine months, but always without going through an agency. I always found it interesting to get a look inside different organizations and leave a mark.”

Through her colleague Glenn Franken, she came into contact with Rvdb. At that point, she had already been toying with the idea of going out on her own for some time. Still, it felt like a big step. The Senior Interim Professional Program turned out to be exactly the stepping stone she was looking for: it offered the freedom and variety of interim work, but with a strong network behind her. Within this program, she chose the “Entrepreneurship at Rvdb” (OBR) option: an arrangement where you experience the freedom and financial incentives of entrepreneurship, while Rvdb handles client acquisition, contracts, and administration. “That way, I was able to combine the best of both worlds,” says Sanja.

What began as a stepping stone toward self-employment turned into a three-year period filled with diverse assignments, new areas of expertise, and unique organizations.

An HR Playground

During her time at Rvdb, Sanja worked for companies including ECI Software Solutions, Sunweb, ISS, Deloitte, and ASML. It was precisely that variety that made the experience so valuable to her. “You learn something everywhere. What I enjoy most are projects where you can really create something that doesn’t exist yet.”

At Sunweb, for example, she had the opportunity to oversee the personnel and cultural integration of a Swedish acquisition. That not only took her to Stockholm, but also introduced her to the world of mergers and acquisitions from an HR perspective for the first time. Still, she considers her assignment at ISS perhaps the most impactful. What began as a temporary three-month assignment grew into a year and a half in two different roles. She dealt with complex cases involving psychosocial safety, contributed to major commercial tenders, and ultimately took on responsibility for an organization-wide program focused on sustainable employability. For the first time, she was given the freedom not only to implement a solution but also to shape the direction of the initiative herself. “I was basically given carte blanche.” That trust made the assignment special. Together with employees, management, the works council, and stakeholders, I was able to discover what sustainable employability truly meant for ISS. We then developed a vision, an approach, and concrete projects based on that.”

The results were clear. Absenteeism rates dropped, employees were more positive, and more and more business units wanted to get on board. “That might have been my best project yet. Not because it was a big brand, but because I was given the freedom to build something from the ground up.”

One last dream assignment at ASML

Toward the end of her time at Rvdb, Sanja was able to check off one last item on her personal bucket list. She had once resolved to work for at least two major international organizations before becoming an independent entrepreneur. She’d already worked at Deloitte. Then came ASML. There, she worked at the international level on implementing a performance improvement process within Workday. “What I loved about it was the international context. You work with stakeholders across different countries, manage external parties, and are constantly challenged by extremely smart people. That keeps you on your toes.”

According to Sanja, that’s exactly what makes the Senior IP program so special. “Through Rvdb, you get opportunities that would be much harder to come by on your own. You gain access to organizations you might not otherwise be able to join so easily. That has contributed enormously to my professional development.”

The Power of the Network

Although the assignments were the main focus, Sanja also looks back with great appreciation on the community behind Rvdb. For example, during an assignment at ISS, she enlisted the help of colleagues from Team Consultancy to assist her with issues related to psychosocial safety. “Of course, as a senior professional, you can handle a lot on your own. But when you need specialized knowledge, there’s always a network of experts ready to help. That’s incredibly valuable.” She also notes that the connection with other interim professionals is just as important. “I’ve built a great relationship with my fellow interim professionals. I wouldn’t have wanted to miss out on that.”

From Fellow to Client

Sanja now works as a freelance HR professional. Yet her connection with Rvdb has remained strong. In fact, she is currently on a temporary assignment with Rvdb to lead the corporate recruitment team. She sees this as a special milestone. “To me, Rvdb is the leading specialist in the field of HR and Human Experience. Having an organization like this ask me to help out on a temporary basis really feels like an honor.” According to Sanja, it’s also great proof of the strength of the network that’s developing within Rvdb. “Once an Rvdb’er, always an Rvdb’er. That’s really how it feels.”

Are you considering interim work as well?

Sanja had been considering the idea of working as an interim professional for some time. Thanks to the Senior IP program, she was able to find out if it was a good fit for her, with the reassurance of a strong network behind her.

“Every assignment brings new challenges. That helps you grow quickly, build an impressive resume, and discover what truly energizes you. And perhaps even more importantly: at Rvdb, you can be completely yourself. That’s exactly what will help you soar.”

Are you curious about the Senior Interim Professional Program, or would you like to discuss interim work? Please contact Sanja. She’d be happy to tell you more about it.