HELLO
Thank you for visiting my portfolio website.
Let me start with a quote by David Viscott: “The purpose of life is to discover your gift; the work of life is to develop it; and the meaning of life is to give your gift away.”
As you will see on this website, I aim to do all three at the same time. Figuring out how I can contribute to society has been a journey since childhood: from elementary school presentations on child labor to running high school campaigns on topics such as human rights and animal welfare. At age sixteen I became an ambassador in a field journalism project in Uganda, run by a non-profit (Edukans) to raise funds and awareness for the country’s schools. It was a definitive confirmation that I wanted to dedicate my life to making our world a better place. Even if it’s just a tiny bit.
Discovering one’s gifts is a lifelong journey. It’s why, as you’ll see in my biography & CV, I also believe in lifelong learning. Not only in formal, organized ways, but also in every day life. As a student in the 2000s, I saw the untapped “positive impact potential” of the private sector. In the years that followed, I created new sustainability roles at a variety of businesses: both for myself and many others. I was given extraordinary opportunities and trust by various people I am very grateful to. You’ll see some of them in the testimonials.
Developing my skills and experience, in order to be of value to others, has resulted in a laser-like focus on sustainability. In applying this focus, I embrace high versatility in the roles and responsibilities I have. This is why I’m always developing four areas of work: leadership, advice, board roles and creative work. Tailored to the role I have - and the needs of those I work with - I bring elements of each. My publications, media engagements and experience as a speaker may also be of interest.
Giving away my energy, time and expertise to help individuals and initiatives, that I find important, has become my second nature. For example, I currently serve on the boards of UK charity Count Us In and the University of Amsterdam Business School Impact Center. I simply enjoy creating opportunities for others: whether through mentoring young entrepreneurs and professionals or by making meaningful connections. The networks I am part of, such as IMAGINE, support this. The latter has directly contributed to many partnerships (for example, between large companies and innovative social enterprises) and dozens of long-lasting placements (mostly with non-profit organizations, startups and social enterprises).
While today’s environmental, social, economic and geopolitical challenges are tougher than ever, I am still positive about human ingenuity. This is why I am particularly interested in teaming up with courageous individuals, high-impact organizations, bold initiatives and ambitious brands that directly engage with consumers and/or citizens. I hope you’ll enjoy discovering more about my work!
Warm regards,