The team of Authentic Leadership

“To empower people with care, energy and insight.”

I am co-owner of Authentiek Leiderschap. Having been educated in Business Economics and (Chartered) Controlling, I gained international experience in various executive positions in Finance, Sales and HR at Unilever. In 2007 I started my own company and soon after that I decided to spread the power of authentic leadership.

I like to create impact in a situation, on a person, in a team or organisation. That’s what I do and love to do. Making impact on a small or large scale, by making people feel more fulfilled and become more successful. That’s what makes me happy too.

“Let people discover and develop themselves so they empower themselves.”

I have a demonstrated history in working in the corporate sector and held various management positions at several companies in Retail and B2B industry.

In 2006 I made a career switch and started my own company as a coach.

I enjoy helping others to discover and improve themselves. This is one of the reasons why I have made a career switch. Making a real difference by giving people insights so they can make conscious choices. Of course, you will always run into certain patterns. Some of these patterns can block your successes and some of them are the key to your success. This applies to a team/department as well as to an individual, but just being aware of these patterns is the first step to growth.

“Helping people discover how powerful they actually are and “what makes them tick”.”

I gained my first work experience as an economist in the HR profession with a leading multinational. After varied work experience and a spell abroad, I became an independent coach, trainer and interim manager in 1999. Instructive, interesting years, full of variety and challenge.

Since working with Authentic Leadership, I use my in-depth knowledge and experience to help teams and individuals to be more successful and experience a greater sense of fulfillment. In a no-nonsense manner! And that suits my own personality perfectly. How great is that?!

“Reflecting people with love, so they are challenged to step out of their comfort zone and follow their hearts.”

Most people have once chosen from a deep drive or passion for what they do. Being important to the organization, lifting teams to a higher level, in short; do that which makes you happy and therefore successful.

But sometimes you suddenly come across yourself. Removed from the same drive, passion and what you wanted to mean. Cramped by your own egos. During my duties at the Ministry of Security and Justice, I often came across this and I saw the same in other organizations. How come? That is the question that concerns me and which I can answer better and better.

I have been working as an independent coach since 2009 and in 2014 I became a partner at Authentic Leadership. Great to challenge organizations and their people to (re) discover and live their mission. So that they become happier and more successful.

“My mission is to make a difference in the lives of all who share a passion for growing themselves and those around them.”

For the past 30 years I have been involved with creating high performance teams on the baseball field. The crowning achievement was being the Head Coach of the Dutch National Team that won a World Championship in 2011.

I am now part of a new high performance team here at Authentic Leadership. This allows me to take the next step in my career as a coach and that is to bring the knowledge, experience and wisdom gained on the field into the business world.

I’ve always been fascinated about why we make certain choices and what drives these decisions. Why do some people persevere under pressure while others give up?

My passion lies in my desire to understand the journey towards growth and to help those willing to come out of their comfort zone to achieve their potential.

“By making real contact, letting people grow in self-knowledge en self-confidence, enabling them to free their own potential.”

My biggest kick is to amaze people of themselves. To let them gain new experiences and insights, so they dare to do things that first seemed impossible.

I started my working life as a physiotherapist and I am also a haptonome. From a desire to be more involved with people as a whole, I have developed myself towards coaching and business. After a number of years as an independent coach I became a partner at Authentic Leadership. Here I found the ideal combination of analytical work combined with feeling, in a no nonsense way.

Clients describe me as disarming, refreshing, reliable and down-to-earth.

Yearly I take people on leadership journeys in the unspoilt nature of Europe and Africa.

“Taking leaders and their teams to the next level.”

After 25 years of experience in the corporate world in various international roles, I decided to shift gears: from the “business side” to the “people side”. Why? Because I thrive on change but most importantly because fulfilled people bring in better results and feel happier at the same time! I love to play a role in (re)connecting the Leadership with the organization so people are engaged and challenged to make use of their full potential. I am Dutch but live and work since 2001 in beautiful Bologna, Italy, where I manage the Italian branch of Authentic Leadership.

“*In your strength* through connection, love and vulnerability.”

With almost 20 years of experience in HR, business management and lean process management (black belt trained by McKinsey) and a background in Public Management and Psychology I have a passion for people and change. Always with the purpose to create optimal energy & happiness. By making the best use of each individual’s strengths, potential and (cultural) background.

I am who I am and I live my core. My personal and professional experiences help me in the coaching: I would not have been able to do without. And, moreover, I would not have wanted to do without! I bring everything along.

What clients say about me: “You have both, the combi of that personal and business approach”, “Right to the point”, “Able to confront”, “Clear and Personal approach”, “Strategic, analytical thinker, always one step ahead”.