About me...

When I look at what life has given me over sixty-two years, I feel immensely grateful and rich. First of all because I am the mother of two wonderful, grown-up children. And also because I have a profession that reminds me every day of the lessons life has taught me, and of what a privilege it is to be able to live and grow in freedom and in love. Through this special work, I have also met people from all over the world, each with their own unique stories. I am grateful for the vulnerability, courage and trust with which they shared those stories. Without that, I could not and cannot do my work.

 

When I am not working, I enjoy spending time caring for the many plants in and around my home. I also take great pleasure in cultural outings to museums, concerts, theatre or dance performances. In addition, I never tire of reading books related to my profession. And I love having good conversations with the people who are dear to me, preferably over a meal that lasts for hours.

My own journey

In order to work with people at the deeper levels of awareness, I first had to begin an inward journey myself. This was driven not only by curiosity, but above all because life shook me awake. My divorce in 2004, a burnout, the decline and passing of both my parents, and other forms of loss caused a pain that awakened the need to understand myself better.

I began to explore my personality, my deeper motivations and my past. This helped – and continues to help – me to see and understand the origins of my own familiar dynamics and patterns. I will continue to do this, because development is never finished. Personal leadership, in my view, is a lifelong quest whose aim is not to become a ‘good’ person, but a ‘whole’ person: strong and vulnerable at the same time.

I sometimes draw on my own journey in coaching conversations. Not because I now know how things work, or how they should be done, but because it can be comforting to be guided by someone who is familiar with the themes you bring. Without making it too much about me, I occasionally use my own stories to invite clients to explore for themselves.

When you work with me, you can be sure that every question I ask you is one that I have asked myself before.

What drives me?

Since 1992, I have gained experience as both a trainer and a coach in facilitating balance, strength, confidence and calm in the lives of others.

I particularly enjoy working with smart, driven leaders and professionals who want to help build a better world and who focus on the five pillars of the UN 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development:

  • People: ending poverty
  • Planet: protecting the environment
  • Prosperity: ensuring economic well-being
  • Peace: promoting peaceful societies
  • Partnership: global collaboration

Developing personal leadership brings my clients closer to realising their – and my – dreams of a better world. That is why my sole practise is called 'Dreams in Business'.

What characterises me?

My strength lies in my ability to create safety and depth with ease by connecting with people with my heart fully engaged and judgement set aside. In addition, my clients value the clarity, focus and calm I bring. In my collaboration with HR and managers, I am described as reliable, careful and professional.

 

In my work, I operate from the following principles:

  • I practise what I ‘preach’
  • I begin with the end in mind
  • I do not think in terms of right or wrong
  • I use knowledge as a tool, not as a goal
  • I go as far as possible, but no further than necessary
  • I place your needs, not my own, at the centre
  • I will not loosen more than I am able to tighten again
  • I can lead a horse to water, but I cannot and will not force it to drink
  • I do not waste time trying to put something into you that you were not given; I work on and with what is already there.

 

I have specialised in working at the deeper levels of awareness of my clients: the layers of values, beliefs, identity and mission. In doing so, I see myself as an enabler with a richly filled backpack of techniques, theories, exercises, models and assignments that I can apply in a tailored way. You could say that over the years I have become the tool myself. This allows me the freedom to work in the moment with what is present.

Code of conduct

  • I act solely on the basis of what I can and am willing to justify according to my own values and standards.
  • I always adopt a service-oriented attitude and place my clients at the centre of my work.
  • I offer confidentiality at the highest possible level, as I respect my clients’ privacy and recognise that this is essential for building the trust required to do my work.
  • I ensure that confidential information can never be traced through overlapping networks of relationships.
  • I always protect the identity of my clients, including in discussions with colleagues or during supervision and/or intervision sessions.
  • I commit to bringing sufficient qualities and techniques to my work to achieve the agreed results.
  • I do everything possible to monitor the quality of my work, to improve my own competence, and to work at all times within the boundaries of that competence. I make regular use of appropriate supervision and/or peer coaching.
  • I invest a significant part of my time and income in study and further professional development.
  • I keep myself up to date with the most recent developments in my field.
  • I provide honest and complete insight into my qualifications and limitations when asked.
  • I will never misuse my professional position, nor my knowledge and skills.
  • I offer advice only on a non-binding basis. My client is free to follow it or not.
  • I never receive commission for referrals.
  • I conduct myself in such a way that trust in my work, or in the work of my colleagues, is not undermined.
  • I show respect for the knowledge and expertise of my colleagues.
  • I respect the cultural context and worldview of my clients.
  • I take responsibility for working with my clients in a respectful manner and for encouraging them to make independent decisions within their own beliefs, norms and values.
  • I am responsible for making clear agreements about outcomes with my clients.
  • I am responsible for setting and safeguarding boundaries between myself and my clients. Coaching is a formal, contractual relationship and nothing else.

Who do/did I work with?

I enjoy working with motivated, highly educated leaders and professionals who place sustainability at the heart of how they engage with People, Planet, Prosperity, Peace and Partnership.

Because I express myself just as easily in English as in Dutch, I am regularly asked to take on international assignments in which English is the working language. Over the years, I have worked with clients from Albania, Argentina, Belgium, Bosnia, Brazil, Bulgaria, Canada, Denmark, Dubai, Germany, Egypt, France, Ghana, Greece, Great Britain, Haiti, Hungary, Ireland, India, Indonesia, Israel, Italy, Jordan, Lebanon, Malawi, Morocco, Mexico, Nigeria, Ukraine, the Palestinian Territories, Paraguay, Poland, Portugal, Qatar, Romania, Russia, Singapore, Sudan, Spain, Trinidad & Tobago, Tunisia, Turkey, Venezuela, the United States, Vietnam, South Africa, Sweden and Switzerland.

For whom do/did I work

Organisations I have worked for include:
ABN AMRO Bank, Ahold, the Dutch Authority for the Financial Markets (AFM), APG, a.s.r., Atradius, De Baak, the Bank of Dutch Municipalities (BNG), BDO, the Dutch Tax and Customs Administration, Boertien Vergouwen Overduin, Booking.com, Deloitte, Deltares, The Dutch Central Bank, the Municipality of The Hague, the Municipality of Tytsjerksteradiel, Amsterdam University of Applied Sciences, ICA Young Professionals, ICS, the Immigration and Naturalisation Service (IND), ING, the Youth Education Fund, KLM, the Dutch College of General Practitioners, Maxeda, Mazars, Menzis, Merem, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Nationale-Nederlanden, the National Police of the Netherlands, the Dutch Organisation for Scientific Research (NWO), New Venture, OLX, ProRail, PwC, Rabobank, Randstad Training Centre, the Amsterdam District Court, THNK – The School of Creative Leadership, TNO, Triam Float, VDS, Vinu, VodafoneZiggo, Wehkamp, Women Inc., and Zilveren Kruis Achmea.

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