Varrlyn Podcasts

 In a financial world marked by digital transformation and regulatory complexity, one of the quietest yet most pressing challenges is finding and securing the right talent—especially across borders. 

Varrlyn Staffing Solutions was born not from a strategic business plan, but from a simple client request: “Can you help bring this person here?” 

This podcast episode explores host Marianne Aalders how Varrlyn transformed that question into a people-first staffing service that bridges global talent with the Dutch financial market. Joined by Varrlyn co-founder Stephan van der Windt and consultant Navendu Vimal, the conversation dives into the personal, operational, and cultural dimensions of international staffing—revealing why processes alone aren’t enough, and how empathy, structure, and a dash of humor (including a story about French fries and ketchup) make all the difference. 

What does it take to build a boutique consultancy that thrives for 15 years in the competitive world of financial markets? 

In this special anniversary episode, host Marianne Aalders sits down with the founders of Varrlyn to uncover the story behind the company’s steady rise. What began in 2010 with a contract in hand, youthful ambition, and many shawarma-fueled late nights, has grown into a trusted firm of thirty professionals specializing in capital markets and financial transformation. 

Founders Martin Defauwes, Stephan van der Windt, and Philip van den Emster reflect on their journey—from launching during the aftermath of the financial crisis to becoming a go-to partner for Murex implementations and beyond. They share proud milestones, defining challenges, and the deliberate choice to remain independent and true to their culture. 

This episode offers a candid, inspiring look at what it means to grow without losing your DNA. 

On November 5, 2024, Donald J. Trump secured a second term as President of the United States. Now, just months into his presidency, the effects are already rippling across global markets.

In this episode, our host Marianne Aalders sits down with Martin Defauwes, Director and Lead Asset Management at Varrlyn, to explore the financial, regulatory, and geopolitical fallout.

We discuss the return of deregulation in the U.S. and what it means for European competitiveness. What risks emerge when banking safeguards are rolled back?
How are Trump’s renewed trade tariffs influencing markets and investor confidence? Is Europe prepared for the consequences of growing protectionism—and a shifting tech landscape?

We also examine the uncertain future of crypto under Trump’s unconventional stance, and whether Europe can reduce its dependency on American digital infrastructure.

From systemic risks to strategic repositioning, this episode dives deep into the new financial reality. Insightful, timely, and essential listening for anyone navigating today’s volatile markets.

In this podcast episode on Test Automation in financial markets, Charlene Venter (Consultant/Tester) and Philip van den Emster (Director Varrlyn and Lead Digital Services), from Dutch consulting firm Varrlyn, discuss the importance of test automation in ensuring efficiency, accuracy, and compliance in financial institutions. They define test automation as using specialized tools to execute predefined tests on software applications, emphasizing its role in modern software development. The conversation highlights unique challenges in financial markets, such as system integration, high data volume, and regulatory compliance. Charlene and Philip share real-life experiences and best practices, illustrating the benefits of test automation in enhancing efficiency and reliability. The episode concludes with insights into future trends, including AI-driven testing and increased focus on continuous testing and DevOps integration.

AI in Finance & Risk is revolutionising the financial sector. In this podcast Cherien van Ampt (Varrlyn, Lead Dealingroom & Sustainability Services) is interviewing Brian Mudhara (Senior Business Analyst ALM) and Stephan van der Windt (Director Varrlyn and Lead Finance & Risk) in which they explore how AI increases opportunities, optimise efficiency and improve risk management in financial institutions. They discuss real-world use cases to show the opportunities, considerations for strategic implementation, and challenges to look out for. Join us for an engaging discussion on the transformative power of AI in finance and risk. 

Het Nederlandse pensioenstelsel gaat hoogstwaarschijnlijk de komende jaren op de schop. Inmiddels tekent zich ook in de Eerste Kamer een meerderheid af die voorstander is van een nieuw stelsel. Invoering zal niet zonder slag of stoot gaan, onder meer omdat het een grote impact zal hebben op ons allemaal en er flinke discussies over worden gevoerd. Volgens de Rijksoverheid moet het door het nieuwe stelsel transparanter, flexibeler en persoonlijker worden. In deze podcast bespreken Marianne Aalders (Communicatie Manager in de financiële sector) en Martin Defauwes (Director en Lead Asset Management bij Varrlyn) een zeer actueel onderwerp, namelijk het nieuwe pensioenstelsel. Wat gaat er veranderen? Wat blijft er hetzelfde? Welke impact gaat het hebben op de pensioenfondsen en de -beheerders? Uiteraard bespreken ze ook waar Varrlyn eventueel bij kan helpen.

SFDR & Biodiversity Investments: Do's, don'ts and booby traps!

SFDR (Sustainable Finance Disclosure Regulation) is a European regulation introduced to improve transparency in the market for sustainable investment products. In this podcast Cherien van Ampt (Varrlyn, Lead Dealingroom & Sustainability Services), Boris Francioli (EU Taxonomy expert) and Jos lemmens (Natural Capital Consultant) discuss the status quo of SFDR it’s knock-on effect on Biodiversity Investments (private vs public equity), the role of data and the significance of the value chain for investment/fiduciary and risk managers.

De bankwereld is de laatste jaren nog verder gedigitaliseerd. De maatschappij verandert steeds sneller en daar moet ook de banksector op in spelen. In deze Podcast bespreken Cherien van Ampt en Martin Defauwes met Philip van den Emster het thema Digital. Welke rol spelen Agile, DevOps, SAFe en CI/CD in de dagelijkse praktijk? Hoe zorgt automatisering ervoor dat veranderingen sneller en goedkoper worden?

De grote kredietcrisis van 2008 ligt alweer even achter ons. Hoe bereiden we ons beter voor op een potentiële volgende bankencrisis?

In de allereerste Varrlyn Podcast bespreken Cherien van Ampt en Martin Defauwes met Stephan van der Windt het thema Finance & Risk, een belangrijke pijler in de bancaire wereld. Het voorkomen van zo’n nieuwe crisis is van groot belang. Hierbij geeft de toezichthouder richtlijnen met vernieuwde wet en regelgeving. Dit zorgt voor beter inzicht in posities o.a. met behulp van risicomodellen. Het opzetten hiervan is alleen geen sinecure. Binnen deze context laat Stephan het integratiebelang van Finance & Risk zien en benadrukt de rol van het veranderkundig vermogen binnen de gehele keten.