About Me

What has always fascinated me is why people do what they do.

As a manager, I asked that about my team. Later about myself. Why do I keep putting off that conversation? Why do I react the way I do under pressure? Why is it easier to hold on to control than to let go?

That curiosity led me to philosophy and psychology. To thinkers like Nietzsche, who wrote that character is a work of art you spend your whole life building. To Joseph Campbell, on the confrontations you consciously avoid but where the real growth is hiding. To Alan Watts and others I collect on my inspiration page. At the same time, I studied leadership from the practical side: Adam Grant, Simon Sinek, the science behind motivation, communication and strategy.

And then there is mindfulness. Not the vague kind. A few years ago I did a ten-day silent retreat. No phone, no conversations, just my own head. Confronting, and one of the most valuable experiences I have had. The discipline of observing your own thoughts and emotions without getting swept up in them. Choosing a conscious response instead of an instinctive reaction. That is a skill. And it fundamentally changes how you lead.

Those three worlds, the philosophical, the practical and the inner, have been the foundation of everything I do.

Leadership is about who you are and what you do. Your self-image, your assumptions, your inner critic, and how you handle emotions like fear or anger when it matters most. But also your communication, your feedback, your vision, your strategy. Both deserve attention. And both are more deeply connected than most training programmes will tell you.

Co-Active coaching is built on exactly that principle. Who do you want to be? And what are you going to do? That is the question we keep coming back to.

For years I lived this myself as a leader in the legal sector. I know what those first months as a team lead feel like, when you go from colleague to manager and no one tells you how. But I also know what it means to run a large international department with Fortune 500 clients as stakeholders. The complex decisions, the boardroom dynamics, the conversations you carry alone, the loneliness that can come with senior leadership. This is not theory for me. I have been there.

Based in Amsterdam, I work with leaders at all levels, online and in person. What I bring is trust, clear communication and quality. The directness of the city is reflected in how I coach: straight to the point, no detours, but always in service of your growth.

This is the work that gives me energy every day. If you are curious whether it is a good fit, book a free introductory call.

Certifications & Methods 

• International Coaching Federation (ICF): Associate Certified Coach (ACC)

• Co-Active Training Institute: Co-Active Fundamentals & Intermediate

• Brainbakery: ‘No More Boring Learning’ Train the Trainer Year Program with L&D Thought Leader Jeanne Bakker

• DISC: Certified Practitioner