As an independent leadership development professional, I work in the outdoor sports industry and higher education.
I have a focus on leadership development, inclusion, gender equity and empowerment of young professionals. I develop curricula, conduct research, and provide leadership training during outdoor expeditions.
Besides this, I am active as volunteer mentor in Dutch youth prison. Diversity in my works keeps me motivated and on a continuous learning path.
I have been fortunate to travel all 7 continents, breaking some barriers as solo female traveler. Always looking for outdoor adventures, mountain ranges and to stretch my comfort zone across various cultures. I’ve lived, studied and worked abroad, ranging from USA, to months in South America and Antarctica in 2017, followed by 18 months in the Himalayas pre-COVID, where I’ve set up several sports projects. In the winter of 2024 I once again worked remotely from the mountains, this time in Central Asia. My learnings of Kyrgyzstan, Uzbekistan and Kazachstan can be found on my LinkedIn.
My services
I specialise in leadership development, inclusion, gender equality and youth empowerment through sports. I create tools for leadership trainings, provide tailor made workshops for organisations, and use outdoor experiences for the best learning environment.
Research & Advisory
I work as researcher at various organisations, with a focus on qualitative research.
Research insights guide my strategic advisory and policy making practices at sports organisations.
Teaching & Workshops
I create learning programs and facilitate workshops in a range of topics using my experience in extreme mountaineering environments, sports for development and leadership development.
I deliver tailor made talks, both for organizations, executive education and higher education. In Dutch and English.
Outdoor Leadership Trainer
I am a leadership development trainer during outdoor expedities in Europe. Going with a group of leaders from all ranges of business, into the remote outdoors, with only a backpack with the necessities. Moving along tracks surrounded by the force of nature, create the excellent environment to work on personal leadership challenges. Out of the comfort zone is where the learning starts.
Quality Assurance & Examiner
At various sports organisations in the Netherlands, I act in the board of advisors, for quality assurance of the non for profit goals or the organisation.
My Clients
The following list is merely intended to give you an idea of my credentials. The service I have provided before as evidence of the achievements I can secure for you.
MY HIMALAYAN EXPEDITION 🕵️♀️
In november 2024, I set off to Nepal for my PhD fieldwork. While my research is of the deeply qualitative kind, I am also here to serve those who understand the world better in numbers. Those months in the Himalaya, what did I do?
📅 Time Spent
• 191 days in the field
↳ 132 days on a mountain
• 105 mornings in a tent
↳ Longest tent streak: 70 nights
🥾On the move
• Covered 813 km on foot
• 410 m average vertical gain per day
• Backpack: 13 kg (without water)
• Blisters: uncountable 😅
🏔️ Mountains climbed:
Ama Dablam: 6812 m (summit success)
Everest: 6592 m (conducting interviews between C2 & C3)
Annapurna I ~5000 m: just below Camp 1 (observing the guiding team)
💫 Nights at Altitude:
Above 5364 m: 70 nights
Above 6400 m: 10 nights
No sleep but climbing: 5 nights
❗️Weather Extremes
• Days below -20°C: Lost count due to brain freeze 🥶
• Temperature swing: 50°C in one day (!!) (−17°C → +33°C)
❌Hazards & Encounters
• Avalanches seen: easily 3 per day
• Turned around:
• 9× due to natural hazard
• 1× due to anxiety
• Rescue 🚁 flying by: Too many for my taste
🍛Fuel for the Climb
• Tea: 3 liters daily
• Raksi: 1 a day keeps altitude sickness away….
• Frozen noodles dinner: Enough for a lifetime
• Supplemental O₂: None
🧲Special Mentions
• Khumbu Icefall crossing: 1 return trip
• Total vertical suffering: Up and down, up and down, and that’s why they call it Nepali flat.
Number of sunsets above cloud base: never enough. 🌅
Days and nights all by myself far away from society: numbers won’t do justice, just too precious!