About Me:
An Information Geek’s Journey

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Oh Hello!

Hey there! I’m Vera Lakmaker, part explorer, part storyteller and full-time Information Geek. Whether I’m diving into AI, experimenting with product innovation or uncovering stories from the past, I thrive at the intersection of curiosity and creativity.

I’ve always been driven by curiosity and a love for learning. My journey has taken me across multiple fields. From games journalism and community building to AI-driven product strategy. Whether I’m researching historical narratives, experimenting with AI models, or designing interactive experiences, my goal remains the same: to bridge information, technology, and human connection.

What’s an Information Geek?

An Information Geek is someone who thrives on learning, exploring, and making sense of complex ideas. I don’t limit myself to one field. I’m a generalist who dives into anything that sparks curiosity, whether it’s AI ethics, game mechanics, history, or how technology shapes our world.

This mindset has fueled my work across industries. I started as a games journalist, analyzing how history and storytelling shape interactive experiences. That passion led me into community management, marketing, and product strategy—bringing people together around ideas. Now, I’m applying my skills to AI-driven learning, gamification, and product exploration.

My Professional Journey So Far

01

From Games Journalism to Community-Building

I kicked off my career as a games journalist, writing for publications like Eurogamer.nl, NG-Gamer.nl, and TwoDashStash. I was fascinated by how games tell stories and shape historical narratives, leading me to explore the deeper connections between game design, culture, and history.

Wrote articles about games, reviews and in-depth research about what interested me.
Hosted BetaWaveRadio, a podcast where I interviewed indie developers and created a dedicated space the for game of music.
Expanded into marketing, PR, and community management, helping indie developers connect with their audiences.

This experience taught me how to build and nurture communities, a skill that later became a core part of my career.

02

Bridging Tech, Product, and People: My Strategic Shift

While I loved storytelling and gaming, I was equally drawn to the world of technology and product development. I transitioned into support engineering and Linux infrastructure, gaining hands-on experience with Red Hat, Ubuntu, Docker, and automation tools.

But I soon realized that my true strength wasn’t in troubleshooting technology, it was in shaping how people interact with it. That realization led me to remote work advocacy and product strategy:

At Gameye, I helped foster team culture, knowledge sharing, and operational efficiency in a fully remote environment.
At Unlock, I became a Remote Work Champion, blending research, strategy, and community engagement to help organizations create better remote cultures.
At Social Seeder, I worked in product management and customer engagement, learning how to design and iterate products that enhance user experience.

This phase helped me understand how technology, culture, and business strategy intersect, an insight that now drives my work in AI and product innovation.

03

AI, Storytelling & Product Thinking: Where I Am Now

Today, I focus on how AI can enhance storytelling, decision-making, and product strategy. My projects range from:

AI-powered roleplay simulations that explore decision-making in interactive narratives.
Gamified learning for product managers, blending AI-driven challenges with strategic thinking.
AI tools for market research, helping product teams analyze trends and competitor insights faster.

I see AI as a tool for exploration, innovation, and storytelling, and I’m always experimenting with how it can transform learning, creativity, and product development.

What’s Next?

I’m always looking for new ways to bridge AI, strategy, and storytelling. Whether it’s through experimentation, product development, or historical analysis, I believe that knowledge is meant to be explored, tested, and shared.

Let’s build something great together! 🚀

Got an idea to explore? Let’s talk! Whether it’s AI, product innovation, or immersive storytelling, I’d love to hear from you.
vera [at] informationgeek.org

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