I’ve always thoroughly enjoyed contributing to the business and facilitative side of organisational goals. And have done so all my working life. Over the years, I’ve gathered tools, knowledge, and experience to developed skills to support, simplify, focus, and amplify. And to direct these efforts to where they matter most: the level where strategic decisions are made.
Towards the arts and organisational development
Through roles in administration, sales, and technology, I eventually carved my path as a freelancer, in copywriting, bookkeeping, as financial controller, business manager, board member, into organisational development.
After spending 10 years in the commercial world, I’ve been active in Arts and Culture in the southern province of Noord-Brabant since 2012. This journey has sparked a deep love for the arts. I like it as a field to work in and for how it influences societal change and models skills for creating. I have worked for organisations in a wide variety of artistic disciplines, including theatre, visual arts, playful arts, tiny housing, printmaking, talent development, classical music, urban arts. I’ve also delved into areas like cultural participation, arts education, sports, amateur arts, literacy development, libraries, studio management, and countless inspiring crossovers.
As a freelancer, I’ve had the privilege of observing and studying dozens of approaches to organisational management, success strategies, and leadership styles. This fascination has been a major driver of my career choices.
Navigating tensions
Entrepreneurial spirit, in all its forms, strongly appeals to me, almost regardless of the specific field. That said, my heart beats especially for societal development and the creation of a world that works for everyone and everything.
I take pleasure in navigating complex tensions. For instance, the tension between artistic autonomy and desired societal impact. Or the tension between the business side of things that provides focus and structure, and the freedom essential for the artistic side of things. And through all of this I love working with the ever present tension between organisational goals and the current reality from which we work towards them.
Shared values are a decisive factor when I take on a project. I thrive in environments where professionalism, vision, creativity, freedom, inclusivity, openness, and care are either aspirations or part of everyday reality.
Roles
I help organisations and people create what they want to create. This translates into assignments as:
- Business director
- Consultant
- Process guide
- Change manager
- Coach
I enjoy working both one-on-one and with groups. In my thinking and design work I like other brains to spar with.
Education
Since 2018, I’ve been involved with the work of Robert Fritz, studying structural dynamics in the creative process. His unique blend of artistic experience and scientific thinking about how people and organisations create resonates perfectly with me. Both with my background, field of work, as well as personal interests. In 2020, I began developing my own offering and client base, and it’s been immensely rewarding to watch the different facets of my career come together in my current projects.
The combination of this educational journey and my professional experience has filled my toolbox with resources to facilitate and amplify capabilities to create.
While I guide the overall movement towards what you want to create, experience acquired in business management for non-profits, solo-entrepreneurship and (co)copywriting is also at your disposal. Like (Netherlands based) knowledge on finance & control, bookkeeping, process optimisation, operations, legal structures, fundraising, subsidies, cultural codes, wet DBA, impact measurement, policy plans, annual reporting, marketing principles.
I apply these to organisational development, (cultural) entrepreneurship, and coaching for leaders, (solo) entrepreneurs, and individuals with ambitious aspirations.