Peter Smets

What I Do

I drive results by aligning cross-functional teams of up to 15 FTEs across continents and time zones keeping complex, multi-stakeholder projects on track and on target. I specialize in breaking down large challenges into manageable parts, ensuring clarity at every stage. Alongside strategic oversight, I take a hands-on approach to transitions, migrations, and greenfield projects, from infrastructure to networks and security.I deliver this work in four languages —Dutch, French, English, and German—making me equally effective in international, multilingual environments.

What I Bring to the Table

Decades of IT experience, sharp communication skills, and a proven ability to align business goals with technical execution. I specialize in smoothing collaboration across silos and removing roadblocks before they become critical. Alongside strategic oversight, I maintain a hands-on approach, ensuring that complex technical and organizational challenges are not only managed but also understood and guided at a practical level.

My Background

With over 20 years in IT and a strong foundation in Windows, Citrix, and VMware system administration, I’ve delivered results in logistics, mining, brewing, aviation, banking, insurance, and retail. Over a decade ago, I moved into project management, combining deep technical fluency with strategic oversight to lead high-impact transformation and infrastructure initiatives.Key accomplishments include:

Greenfielding and upgrading warehouses and brewery sites, deploying full-stack IT environments including LAN, Wi-Fi, and WAN infrastructure with HPE Aruba, Cisco, and Fortinet solutions. working with multilingual site teams across Europe (Dutch, French, English, German).
Driving major transitions, such as data center closures and cloud migrations for global mining operations, ensuring resilient connectivity and regulatory compliance.
Modernizing airline operations by migrating 2,000 concurrent users from IBM green screen systems to a modern Active Directory and Citrix environment, requiring cross-border collaboration in Dutch, French, English, and German while improving usability, security, and scalability.
40% database size reduction via SQL archiving for a multinational.
Citrix migration for 2,000+ users across all European sites of a multinational logistics firm.
Decommissioning legacy infrastructure and resolving technical debt, streamlining support and enabling modern platforms.
Upgrading network hardware and strengthening the stability of a private fiber ring for a government organization, ensuring secure and reliable internal communications.
Design and deploying industrial network solutions in rugged, high-availability environments.
Enterprise security modernization, including full rollout of Zscaler for secure, cloud-first access across distributed users.
Network technology renewals with full vendor management, ensuring long-term vendor support, improved stability, and readiness for future business demands.
Upgrading network hardware and strengthening the stability of a private fiber ring for a government organization, ensuring secure and reliable internal communications across multilingual teams. using Dutch, French and English.
Knowing that OT is not a typo.

Freelance since 2007, I have operated with autonomy and accountability—bringing clarity, structure, and execution to complex technical and organizational challenges. I regularly communicate with C-level executives, lead and present at steering committees, and keep stakeholders informed with timely updates to ensure alignment and transparency throughout projects.

In April 2025 I launched and host “IT Horror Stories with Jack Smith”, a globally streamed podcast designed to share real-world technology challenges and lessons learned through a witty, tongue-in-cheek storytelling style. Episodes are released monthly and feature guest speakers sourced from my extensive professional and entrepreneurial network, offering a rich variety of perspectives from across the IT landscape. The show blends humor with practical insight, making complex technical topics accessible and engaging for a worldwide audience of IT professionals, business leaders, and tech enthusiasts. I Oversee all aspects of production—including content strategy, guest coordination, audio editing, and promotional campaigns—while cultivating an active and growing global community around the podcast.

Beyond work

I’ve been active in the demoscene since 1991, cultivating a lifelong passion for creative coding and digital art within this vibrant community. Each year, I coordinate an international team of over 10 volunteers at Revision Demoparty to manage computing competitions at a 1,000-person tech event, supporting a wide range of platforms from retro to experimental. I also assist with streaming the yearly Commodore 64 online event, Transmission64, and provide support to other events in The Netherlands and Finland with their internet streaming needs.In addition, I run Consolekabels.be, a dedicated website providing retro gamers with essential addons such as power supplies, controllers, cables, and HDMI converters for vintage gaming gear.Since 2023, I’ve been part of the board of owners at a 78-apartment building in Brussels, providing management, technical, and cybersecurity advice to co-owners to support effective building operations and governance.I also provide management, technical, and financial advice to the World Catch League, a Belgian independent wrestling promotion, where I sometimes act as host speaker and perform a ringside role during events.From 2006 until 2010, I operated F-Stop, a concert and portrait photography business, and contributed to the Drieduizend photography collective.From 2009 until 2019, I ran Rastermania.be, a boutique business selling arcade and console hardware both online and at enthusiast events.