At home on stage
I am a blessed person, really, I can't say otherwise. But to say that my journey so far has been without bumps? Not really. Sober and full of dreams, this is how I stood in front of the mirror as a girl with a hairbrush as a microphone in my hand and this is how I am today.
Reject
As a child, my life was all about the spotlight. Singing, dancing, presenting. Writing the school musical. If there was a stage, you could find me there. Until I was 17, when this came to an abrupt end. After being rejected from drama school, I felt lost. It seemed like the universe didn't want me on that stage. I hated not being allowed to play, but practical as I am, I opted for the HEAO and then a study in Business Economics at the University of Amsterdam. Also fun, but looking back now, I missed the limelight even then.
A new adventure
Just graduated and with two degrees in business under our belt, an American adventure beckoned. Together with my boyfriend, we flew to Seattle, not knowing what the future would bring. An old love awaited us there. The bus that took me to 'downtown Seattle' literally stopped in front of the Freehold Theatre Lab. When I saw that, I stood still. It was a shock, a reminder, a deeper knowing and a call to return. I could do two things: walk on to my original goal or choose what felt like my destination.
The American Dream
I stepped inside, introduced myself to the receptionist as an actress and asked for theatre lessons. An hour later, I was outside with a role in a play. I now think this was the first moment I really felt my 'guts'. It was 100% a choice for myself. That time there was a big celebration. I did the marketing for the theatre, took all the classes there were for a year in return, acted in several plays, and got closer and closer to my core.
Back to the roots
When theatre life in Seattle came to an end and day-to-day reality in the Netherlands resumed, practicality was the obvious thing to do. Finding a job and putting those degrees to work. I thought 'no'. That happiness of the stage, I want to hold on to that. And so followed presenting the news in Goedemorgen Nederland, various travel programmes for RTL 4 and RTL Z, such as RTL Snowmagazine, ViaVacance, Duurzaam Ondernemen, Lokaal Duurzaam and Ondernemerszaken.
Guts 2.0
From that career as a TV presenter, that second love beckoned: business. So I made a decision: I give myself two years to become the very best female chairperson with flair in the Netherlands. And I did! Fascinated by people and their motives and my dual background, I developed myself further and all the pieces of the puzzle fell into place. Staying true to yourself is not a luxury, it is a necessity. Do you want that too? Then get in touch with me!