why work with me?

My earlier professional career as a diplomat and my personal journey of healing from C-PTSD deepened my belief that as leaders we can achieve more meaningful impact by staying whole, open and healthy. Transitioning from diplomacy into IMind2Lead coaching, consultation and community, it is now my mission to guide leaders to live and lead from a heart / mind / body congruence. 

As your travel companion on your transformative journey towards whole leadership or thriving teams, I will draw from the richness of my professional and personal experience, knowledge and insights: 

• My solid and inspiring leadership foundation as Ambassador and Director at the Netherlands Ministry of Foreign Affairs. 

• The international connections and practice having lived and worked as a diplomat over the past 20 years in Central America (Costa Rica), Zimbabwe and various other (Sub-Saharan African) countries.

• The teachings and wisdom recovering from C-PTSD.

• My training as international coach by CTI Co-Active and on stress-management, building resilience and wellbeing at Stanford University

Work experience

2022 - now
Founder IMind2Lead Coaching | Consultation | Community

2020 - 2022
Sabbatical and healing from C-PTSD | Netherlands Ministry of Foreign Affairs MFA-NL

2018 - 2020
Director / Ambassador Women’s Rights and Gender Equality | MFA-NL

2017 - 2018
Coordinator evaluation regional policy officers Embassy Network | MFA-NL

2017
Recovering from burn-out | MFA-NL

2016 - 2017
Director Sub Sahara Africa | MFA-NL

2012 - 2016
Dutch Ambassador to Costa Rica, El Salvador, Honduras, Guatemala & Nicaragua

2002 - 2005
Policy officer / manager Royal Netherlands Embassy in Zimbabwe

1999 - 2012
Several policy, management functions | MFA-NL

Education

1993 - 1998
Master European Public Administration | University of Twente

Courses

2021 - 2022
Employee Wellness & Stress Management | Stanford Centre for Health Education
ICF Coaching Training | Co-Active CTI – Fundamentals & Intermediate
Various courses on trauma & stress-systems | NICABM
Course Prof. Dr. Bessel van der Kolk on trauma, stress | Collectively Rooted

2014 & 2015
Higher Management Leadership Program | Berenschot

2011
Middle Management Leadership Program | Berenschot

2010
Leadership and Emotions | Berenschot & Erasmus University Rotterdam

2000 - 2001
European Diplomatic Program | European Commission & Presidencies

1998 - 1999
Diplomatic training course | MFA-NL & Clingendael Institute for International Relations

Various language courses (English, French, Spanish)

my training / resources