About me

"I am a German northern light"

That is a German expression for someone from the north of Germany — and that is me. I grew up in Hamburg and Lübeck, just four to five hours' drive from Amsterdam. Two historic Hanseatic cities, just like Zwolle and Deventer. The Hanse was a partnership of German-Dutch traders who were active across borders and spoke partly the same language centuries ago. That connection still exists — and I grew up right in the middle of it. After my studies in German studies, architecture, and media at the Freie Universität Berlin, I worked in Berlin and Hamburg in marketing, PR, and project development. During a real estate fair in southern France, I coincidentally met my future husband — a Dutchman. That’s how my life began on both sides of the border. After moving to the Randstad, I continued to actively collaborate with my business contacts in Germany. I built e-commerce activities, was involved in interim project management in southern Germany, and regularly attended fairs and acquisition meetings with German business partners. My MBA in Sustainable Finance and Investments has further deepened my understanding of the German-Dutch economy. I am still active in business — this is not theory, this is my daily practice. Since 2019, I have been sharing that knowledge in education, among others at TU Delft.

Why I do this

I know from personal experience exactly what works in business communication in German. Not because I learned the language, but because it is my mother tongue. Not because I read about it, but because I have operated in it for years — as an entrepreneur, as a negotiator, as someone who knows both cultures from the inside. What I often see with Dutch professionals is that they underestimate how much a little German can yield. They rely on English, while with German they have an immediate advantage that no marketing budget can replace. I want to change that. In particular, I invite women to realize their entrepreneurial goals in collaboration with German business partners. The opportunities are there — the language is the key.

How I work

Above all, I am an empathetic person.

This is not a minor detail; it is the foundation of everything I do. I am genuinely interested in people. In their concerns, their ambitions, and the situations they face. When you follow a program with me, I first listen — to what you want to achieve, but also to what might be holding you back. Doubts about your level, uncertainty about whether this is right for you, or simply a busy schedule that makes learning difficult. I understand that, and I work around it. Learning is easier in a pleasant and relaxed atmosphere. Feel free to grab a cup of coffee or tea, and know that there is always room for a laugh between focus sessions — even when it comes to serious business matters. I work fully with you on your development, but I also understand that sometimes you need to set other priorities temporarily. Flexibility is therefore not an exception for me — it is the standard. My students are often so enthusiastic that one or more follow-up programs follow. That says more than I can say myself.