Tjerk Joustra, general manager for business development at Shell Ventures, is one of our top 50 Emerging Leaders in corporate venturing for 2026.
What keeps Tjerk Joustra energised in his job is that moment when enthusiasm for a project turns to commitment, when a proof-of-concept stops being an experiment and starts becoming something people inside the business genuinely want to scale.
“When a company starts to scale, it becomes a very different type of company, with very different types of skills than when it first started,” says Joustra. “All of a sudden, you need different skills and different people. That moment is pivotal for these companies. You see a vision turning into a success. That is the part I love being close to.”
He spent much of his early career in Shell’s upstream business, starting as an engineer straight from technical university. He loved the technology, but wanted more exposure to how those technologies translated into real commercial outcomes. When the opportunity with Shell Ventures emerged a few years later, it immediately resonated.
“When a company starts to scale, it becomes a very different type of company. All of a sudden, you need different skills and different people. That moment is pivotal. You see a vision turning into a success. That is the part I love”
The challenges come in deploying new technologies inside large organisations. There are always reasons that something cannot be done and much of the job, he says, is about patiently finding ways around objections and obstacles, with a view to delivering the benefits to both corporate and startup.
For those considering a career in corporate venturing, his advice is pragmatic. The role demands a rare combination of skills: curiosity for technology, commercial intuition, comfort with financial detail and a genuine enjoyment of working with people. For those willing to lean into that mix, the impact can be substantial.
“The first thing you need to think about is whether this is really something for you. It can be very high-paced, frustrating, intellectually challenging and the combination of all that immensely rewarding. Talk to lots of people in the industry and if you then decide it is for you, start in the area where you have your natural strength and develop the rest of the skills as you go. It will come fairly quickly.”
The Emerging Leaders are mid-career corporate venture professionals who are making an outstanding contribution to their teams and the industry.
See the full list of Emerging Leaders here.
