About Leo van der Aalst
I built my career around clarity: turning complex work into something people can understand, use and improve.
For years I worked in technology, training and executive leadership. I delivered more than a thousand sessions, spoke internationally and wrote professional books for readers who had little patience for vague claims.
That discipline now shapes my fiction. I write psychological noir thrillers about desire, pressure, discretion and the quiet moment when someone realizes they have already gone too far.
The Story Behind the Author
Leo van der Aalst
My career moved through technology, training and executive leadership. I delivered more than a thousand sessions, spoke internationally and worked in environments where decisions carried weight.
Before turning to fiction, I wrote and co-authored professional books about software quality, testing, DevOps and organizational performance.
Those books shaped my writing discipline: clarity, structure and respect for the reader. The same approach now guides my fiction.
I am building a psychological noir thriller series about Milan de Winter, a man who sells discretion and quietly handles problems for powerful people.
Timeline
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1977-1981
Bachelor Studies at Utrecht University: Chemistry, Biology, Physics and Mathematics.
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1981-1982
Master Study at Utrecht University: Physical Organic Chemistry.
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1982-1983
Master Study at the University of Amsterdam: Chemical Technology.
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1986
I entered IT and learned the craft the hard way: deadlines, responsibility and the calm focus you need when things go wrong.
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1994
I moved into leadership roles in quality and testing. I learned what pressure does to people and how quickly a small compromise turns into a habit.
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1998
I led large testing efforts where mistakes hit real systems. No theory, no slide decks, no excuses. Just consequences and the discipline to prevent them.
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2004
I shifted toward innovation and improvement. I learned to ask better questions, especially when everyone prefers an easy answer.
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2009
Writing became serious craft: structure, rhythm and clarity. I wrote for professionals who had no patience for vague claims and that discipline never left me.
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2011
As an associate professor in software quality and testing, I worked with students and industry partners. Teaching forced me to explain complexity without hiding behind jargon.
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2016
DevOps and high-performing teams taught me about speed and risk. Move fast, yes, but don’t lose control. And if you do lose it, admit it early.
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2020
I stepped into C-level roles, including CTO and CEO. Strategy became personal, because choices mattered and the margin for error got smaller.
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Today
I focus on psychological noir thrillers. I share progress publicly, but keep the central plot private. I am building a series where charm opens doors that should have stayed closed, and where the price of entry is often higher than expected.
© 2026 Leo van der Aalst