A new begin!
On 17 July, I stood at the Dutch Chamber of Commerce to register my own business. A big moment — official, festive… and to be honest, also a bit nerve-wracking. After 24 years at Utrecht University, it felt like the right time for a new step. But a decision like that doesn’t come overnight. It had been bubbling under the surface for a while — a process that needed time.
I had many doubts. How do you know when it’s truly the right time? I loved my work, the people, the content. And still, something started to shift. A quiet sense that things no longer fully fit. A longing for a new shape, a different rhythm.
My career started in industry, at Numico Research (now Danone), and eventually brought me back to academia — where I found what truly drives me: learning, guiding, researching, designing. I taught, developed courses, mentored colleagues, and led educational programmes. And I learned how valuable it is not only to do teaching well, but to regularly step back and ask: what works? What could be different? What fits the current moment?
Over the years, my interest grew in what makes learning truly meaningful — not only for students, but also for professionals and teams. More and more, I felt the pull to bring that perspective into other spaces. To support development, collaboration and movement — wherever learning is alive.
What I’ve Learned
A shift like this doesn’t happen on a whim. For me, it involved many sleepless nights, endless lists, conversations with others — and more than a few knots in my stomach. Letting go of the familiar was hard. It felt like saying goodbye to something that was very much part of me.
But now, I feel what’s coming in return. Space. Energy. Direction. A renewed sense that I can bring my experience into new settings — that it doesn’t end with a title or institution, but is something I carry with me.
I now work with a stronger sense of ownership. And that’s exactly the feeling I hope to spark in others too.
Tip for Your Own Work
Sometimes change doesn’t start with a big decision, but with a quiet voice in the background. A subtle restlessness. A gentle nudge. Maybe you know the feeling — that sense that you’re no longer quite in the right place, or that something else is calling you.
If so, try asking yourself:
“What still fits me — what gives me energy, and what feels like a coat that no longer suits?”
And once that becomes a little clearer: what’s one small, concrete step you could take today to explore that direction?
It might be something small. Writing something down. Having a conversation. Saying an idea out loud. But often, that’s exactly what creates movement.