Renald studied Computer Science at the Twente University, where he focused on Machine Learning and Natural Language Processing. After that, he spent more than a decade as a researcher for the Leiden University, where he got a PhD in the field of the Quantitative Analysis of Science. He has been active in the world of Big Data and Data Science since 2010.

While studying in Twente, his aspirations in building his own computer were squashed when during a Laboratory Class he blew up a transistor in just under a minute and only found out after more than half an hour.

Currently, Renald is helping to set up a global community within Xebia around Data & AI.