10 Years with James Goodger: A Journey of Growth and Leadership

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27 October 2025

James Goodger, UK Director and co-owner of GDK Software, has reached a significant milestone: 10 years with the Delphi specialist software company. As both a technical leader and business architect, James has been instrumental in establishing and growing GDK’s presence in the United Kingdom. We sat down with him to reflect on his journey, the challenges he’s overcome, and his vision for the future.

From Developer to Director
Sitting in GDK’s new UK office in southeast London, James is clearly proud of his surroundings. “We began in a small office in Bromley, but this new office reflects how far GDK UK has come in the past 10 years,” he says with a big smile. So how did the Crystal Palace supporter find himself working for a Dutch company? “I’d been working as a Delphi developer for one of our customers, Den Hartogh, where I was outsourced to GDK for one of their projects. I really enjoyed working with the Dutch Directors, Marco and Kees, and they asked if I would be interested in working for them as the GDK UK Team Lead.”

James explained that he is enthusiastic, diligent and has an eye for detail when working on challenging technical work and GDK wanted to embrace this. “The offer to work with an expanding Delphi specialist company was an opportunity I wanted to seize, and I knew that there was potential to build a UK customer base.”

James soon progressed to the position of UK Director and co-owner of GDK Software. “It was a natural progression to Director,” explained James, “but I was incredibly proud to be asked by Marco and Kees. Building and running my own company alongside my Netherlands colleagues continues to be one of the highlights of my career so far.”

Building a Team of Specialists

It’s clear that James is still honoured by the offer, and he affirmed that it hasn’t been without its challenges. “Building a team of Delphi specialists here in the UK hasn’t been easy, because there are a limited number of developers in the UK who can work in this area confidently, but with those we have hired, it’s been a privilege to coach, mentor and develop them into Delphi Specialists.”

And how do you coach and mentor developers into Delphi specialists successfully? James explains, “I’ve strived to ensure that the culture here in the UK mirrors that of the Netherlands office and that all employees are free to develop themselves, that the door is always open to ideas and suggestions, and if there are any issues, to reach out to me and/or colleagues and ask for help.”

To demonstrate this further, James shows me GDK’s internal messaging system, Slack, where GDK’s directors, senior and junior developers openly ask for help and support. Responses are respectful, timely and within a safe environment. “This is a very active channel, and we openly encourage everyone to learn from each other. I’ve learnt so much from everyone at GDK,” points out James, and goes on to explain how investment in their employees is at the heart of the organisation. “All employees are invited to Knowledge Sessions, where senior members of the team share their knowledge with everyone, and monthly self-development days are compulsory.”

Embracing Cultural Differences
James also explains the cultural challenges that he has overcome when working with his Dutch colleagues. “The Dutch are very direct when giving opinions and feedback, and I’ve learnt that there is no hidden meaning with my colleagues in the Netherlands, just honesty.”

His commitment to bridging the cultural gap went beyond just understanding communication styles. When James joined GDK in 2015, he began learning Dutch using Duolingo. His dedication to mastering the language led him to enrol at University College London’s Centre for Languages and International Education in 2022, where he successfully completed both intermediate and advanced Dutch courses.

Technical Excellence and Innovation
James’s fluency in Dutch has been invaluable in bridging the UK and Netherlands operations, but his true specialism lies within the language of Delphi. “I really enjoy working with complex technical challenges, such as creating our low code system ‘Codolex’ that was successfully launched in 2023, As a Delphi specialist, I thrive when faced with a labyrinth of solutions that need to be found”.

This passion for Delphi and delivering customer solutions is what drives GDK’s approach to customer projects. Whether it’s legacy system modernisation, custom software development, or intricate technical challenges, James and his team bring decades of combined Delphi expertise to every engagement.

Looking Ahead
As James reflects on a decade of growth, he remains focused on the future. “We’ve built something special here at GDK UK—a team of dedicated specialists who are passionate about Delphi and committed to delivering exceptional solutions for our customers. The next chapter is about continuing to support businesses who rely on Delphi technology and showing them what’s possible when you work with true specialists”.

Are you facing complex Delphi challenges or looking for a trusted partner to support your legacy systems? GDK Software’s UK team brings deep technical expertise and a collaborative approach to every project. Get in touch with James and the team to discuss how we can help your business thrive.