Kaz van Rootselaar (Kaz) – The Strategic Head of Product Owners Driving Growth at Lizard Global

Some people stumble into their careers. Others carve their path with precision, strategy, and a touch of adventure. Kaz, Head of Product Owners at Lizard Global, is firmly in the latter camp. Having started his journey with the company back in 2018, Kaz has spent the past seven years shaping products, guiding clients, and building processes that ensure custom software development is more than just code—it’s about creating real business impact.

In this blog, we take you behind the scenes of Kaz’s journey, his philosophy as a Product Owner, and the way his passions outside of work fuel his leadership inside the company.

From Business Student to Head of Product Owners

Kaz didn’t begin his career in software by chance. While studying International Business and Entrepreneurship, he interned at Nationale-Nederlanden, working on an innovation team that developed a mortgage-closing app called Brickler. The app’s development partner? Lizard Global.

That collaboration introduced him to Jeremy Raes, the Co-Founder and CEO. After seeing Kaz’s drive firsthand, Jeremy offered him a role at Lizard Global. At just 20 years old, Kaz began his professional journey in software development—and he hasn’t looked back since.

A Role Built on Strategy, Collaboration, and Leadership

Kaz’s role as Head of Product Owners is more than a title—it’s a balancing act that combines big-picture strategy with day-to-day collaboration and hands-on leadership.

At its core, the position requires him to think several steps ahead. “Strategy, for me, is about setting ambitious but realistic goals for both our clients and our own department,” he explains. “It’s like mapping out a route before a long hike. You need to know where you’re headed, anticipate the tough parts, and plan the checkpoints that keep you on track.” This strategic mindset allows him to guide projects from early ideas into successful products, while also making sure the Product Owner team itself grows stronger with each challenge.

But strategy doesn’t work in isolation—collaboration is the glue that holds it together. Kaz spends much of his day aligning with developers, designers, sales, and management. Whether it’s refining a backlog, testing a feature, or aligning budgets with clients, he ensures every decision connects back to the product’s goals. “My role wouldn’t work without every department’s contribution. The best outcomes happen when all the perspectives—technical, creative, financial—come together in one solution.”

Leadership, meanwhile, shows up in the way he supports his team. As Head of Product Owners, Kaz focuses on optimizing processes, mentoring team members, and creating a culture of transparency and trust. “I don’t want Product Owners to just ‘manage tasks.’ I want them to take ownership, to be confident in guiding clients, and to trust their instincts. That only happens when you give people the tools, clarity, and freedom to do their best work.”

What makes his role unique is the combination of all three pillars—strategy, collaboration, and leadership. Remove one, and the balance falls apart. Together, they allow Kaz to not only deliver successful products for clients but also to shape the future of Lizard Global’s Product Owner department.

The Passions that Shape His Work

When Kaz talks about his passions outside of work, it’s clear they’re more than just hobbies. They mirror the way he approaches challenges as a Product Owner.

“Take hiking or mountain biking, for example,” he explains. “I could choose the easy route, but I like to set myself bigger goals—like pushing through a 20km hill climb. It’s not about rushing to the finish, it’s about testing yourself, building momentum step by step, and enjoying the satisfaction when you finally reach the top.”

That mindset translates directly into his role. Each project at Lizard Global is like a new climb—filled with obstacles, but also opportunities. For Kaz, the reward lies in guiding clients and teams through that journey, making sure the goals they set are ambitious yet achievable, and celebrating the success when the product is launched and performs as intended.

Fitness has also given him a unique perspective. “Going to the gym or running regularly teaches you discipline and consistency. You don’t see results overnight—it’s about showing up, doing the work, and trusting the process. Building digital products is the same. With steady effort, you see the results compound.”

And then there’s the social side. Kaz thrives on connecting with people—whether it’s a casual game of FIFA with colleagues or meeting teammates in Bali for the 10th-year anniversary gathering. “Those moments of connection fuel collaboration. They make the work more human, and in the end, that’s what keeps us moving forward as a team.”

What Makes a Great Product Owner?

“A Product Owner isn’t just an order-taker,” Kaz explains. “It’s about guiding decisions, adding context, and ensuring the product achieves its purpose.” When asked what defines a great Product Owner, Kaz doesn’t hesitate—it’s not about titles or technical jargon, but about people and perspective.

“A good Product Owner makes sure everyone is aligned,” he says. “That means guiding clients with clear recommendations instead of just taking orders. It’s about constantly asking: does this decision bring us closer to the product goal?”

But it doesn’t stop there. Transparency, according to Kaz, is just as critical. “You have to be upfront—about budgets, about risks, about timelines. Surprises only hurt the process. If everyone knows what we’re working with, then we can make the right calls together.”

And then comes balance—the art of holding two perspectives at once. “You need to keep the big picture in sight, the long-term vision of where the product is headed. At the same time, you can’t ignore the little details that make the user experience great. It’s that balance that separates good Product Owners from great ones.”

For Kaz, being a Product Owner is less about control and more about enabling. “It’s not my job to dictate how developers and designers work—it’s my job to give them everything they need: a clear backlog, the right context, and the freedom to deliver the best solution.”

Collaboration Across Every Department

One theme that runs through Kaz’s story is collaboration. For him, it’s not just part of the job—it’s the job.

“With clients, I see myself as a guide. They come to us with ideas, ambitions, sometimes even uncertainties. My role is to listen, filter, and help them make decisions that keep the product goals in sight. It’s not about saying yes to everything—it’s about steering the ship in the right direction.”

That guidance extends internally. With developers and designers, Kaz ensures the backlog is crystal clear so they can focus on what they do best: building. “If they have context and clarity, they’ll deliver solutions that not only work but truly add value for users.”

The handovers with Sales, the alignment with Management, the checkpoints with QA and data analysts—Kaz describes them as threads in a larger fabric. “No department works in isolation here. Every piece is interconnected, and my role is to make sure those threads weave together seamlessly.”

For him, documentation and transparency are the glue. “I try to keep everything open and well-documented. That way, even if someone joins a project midway, they can immediately understand the context and contribute without missing a beat.”

Kaz’s perspective is simple yet powerful: collaboration isn’t about avoiding friction; it’s about embracing it productively. “When different perspectives come together—whether it’s Sales, Design, Development, or Management—that’s when the product becomes stronger. It’s in those conversations and debates that the best solutions are found.”

A Career Full of Milestones and Memories

Looking back on his seven years at Lizard Global, Kaz doesn’t see a straight line of career steps—he sees milestones that shaped both him and the company.

One of the earliest was his transition from student to professional. “I started here when I was just 20. Most of my peers were still figuring out what to do after graduation, and suddenly I was part of a growing tech company, learning on the job, and helping clients build digital products. It felt like being thrown into the deep end—but that’s where you learn the fastest.”

Over time, those small early wins turned into larger achievements. From working closely with clients on their first apps, to leading more complex, multi-country projects, Kaz began to see the bigger picture of what it meant to be a Product Owner. “It wasn’t just about ticking tasks off a list. It was about shaping something that could change the way people work, shop, or live.”

And of course, there are the memories outside of day-to-day work—the ones that bring the company culture to life. The Bali gathering stands out above the rest. “Having the whole company together in one place, surrounded by great food, drinks, and the energy of the team—it was more than just a party. It was a reminder of how far we’ve come, and how much stronger we are when we’re together.”

For Kaz, these milestones and memories are not just personal highlights, but also markers of Lizard Global’s growth. “Every project delivered, every client success, every gathering—they’re all part of the bigger story we’re writing as a company. And that’s what makes it exciting to think about what the next five years will bring.”

Building Success with Lizard Global

Kaz’s journey reflects what makes Lizard Global unique: people who combine strategy, passion, and collaboration to build products that matter. Whether it’s guiding startups from idea to launch or helping enterprises scale, the Product Owner team ensures clarity and alignment every step of the way.

At Lizard Global, we don’t just deliver apps—we craft digital solutions that grow stronger with time, much like Kaz’s own journey. If you’re ready to turn your vision into a product that performs, our team is here to make it happen. Your success is one conversation away..