I have always been fascinated by the human voice and all its possibilities. I started my business in the early ’90s as a Speech Pathologist specializing in voice disorders. Many years of experience have helped me to develop my own style and I have established myself as a successful voice expert.
Today I work as a Public Speaking Coach & Executive Voice Expert with (senior) executives in highly tailored, individual coaching relationships. It's all about Personal Branding and Leadership Development. I guide them through discovering and becoming aware of their strengths and weaknesses in public speaking so that they gain more confidence, create more impact and build credibility.
As a Voice Coach I also contribute to TedXInsead, TEDxAmstelveen, TEDxMadrid and the International Masterclass Learning & Development Leadership 2017, 2018 & 2019 at Nyenrode Business University in the Netherlands. Furthermore, I contributed as a co-author to two chapters on ‘Mindful voice techniques’ and ‘Effective presentation tips and tricks’ in a book and practical toolkit on developing ‘Authentic Professional Confidence Through Emotional Flexibility’ that just has been released.
I believe that through finding and knowing your strengths and weaknesses in public speaking, you as a human being will be able to unlock your full leadership potential. By improving the way your message comes across, you gain a skill for life with impact!
I have just started the TEDxWassenaar initiative. It was a logical step for me after several years of coaching all kind of TEDx speakers at several TEDxEvents through Europe. April 16th 2020 the first TEDxWassenaar event will be held. Enjoying every second in organizing this first event. Love the journey. Lifelong learning!
I have always been more interested in the journey than in the destination. Everchanging circumstances force me to think in terms of solutions. This allows me to adopt an open-minded attitude towards others and to stay curious about the unknown. Communicating even when words fail, and translation seems inadequate is what drives me in life. The end goal is to be happy- together.
Moreover, I have learned that I am focused on content more than on presentation and I have experienced that people are all the same in their differences. Dialogue is what binds us. Living in Brussels taught me the complexity of cooperation in and outside the EU bubble. The people in Sarajevo taught me resilience, the feeling of belonging and encouraged me to speak my mind. Ankara made me aware of the importance of the freedom of speech. Life in Riyadh cured me of cultural bias, and I felt the importance for men and women to find their freedom through emancipation there and everywhere in the world.
After having moved back to the Netherlands, I continued my search for trying to understand the other. I have come to the conclusion that in doing so I feel part of a whole. To enhance my chances of finding a job I recently attained my diploma of senior communications advisor. I became more aware of the figurative meaning of translation in order to connect.
When I was asked to join the TEDxWassenaar team, I didn’t have to think twice. The TED platforms give people all over the world a chance to broaden their horizons and to open their minds. For some they form an intellectual enrichment, for others they are a lifeline to other realities.
I am very excited that I am able to help spread valuable ideas and thus to contribute to a better understanding of the world and of the people in it. I wish for everybody to feel connected and to find their voice.
Even after working over 20 years in the field of change management and communications, I still love to listen… to give people a voice to inspire others… to bring light to uncertainty and ease the pain of loss in times of transformation… to facilitate and nudge global communities into collaborating and knowledge sharing… and to listen again...
As a person, I am passionate about raising consciousness in life and in business. I have always been interested in how to touch people’s heart, connect, collaborate and engage in a global and often remote and asynchronous world. How can we overcome cultural differences, find common ground, connect and collaborate in a global community?
This is also what the TED and TEDx concept is about. Working together with an amazing team of passionate women and truly inspiring speakers and acts gives me so much energy. By organizing this year’s TEDxWassenaars event, I feel I’m living my purpose.
I invite you to join our TEDxWassenaar community to find your voice…
After travelling the world for 20 years and having lived in Indonesia, China, Poland and Germany it is wonderful to be back in my home country. Meeting new people and learning about new cultures were always both my inspiration and challenge. With TEDxWassenaar I feel I will be challenged again by creating an event in a country that sometimes feels unknown to me and by being inspired by so many new faces within my team, the speakers, volunteers and TEDx partners. Being well organized and a perfectionist, the role of event manager feels like a natural fit. It feels like this was meant to be my next step in life!
Find your voice
We invite the audience and our partners to take part in the conversation about topics that matter by being inspired, heard, connected and known.