'Life in multitude is courage!'*
* Translation of ‘Leven is meervoud van lef’, a Dutch quote by poster-activist movement Loesje, simultaneously a world wide collective of people and a fictional character – a young girl from the Netherlands, who wants to make our world a more positive, creative place.
This quote by Loesje has been my favourite for years. To me it is an invitation to really take on life, to look in the mirror and see what you have to learn and discover. By taking your personal growth into your own hands and dealing with learned patterns and limiting thoughts, one can set oneself free. And become your whole self.
Be successful in your career and stay true to yourself
ABOUT NITA
I am an adventurer, mother and outdoor person. In 2015 I exchanged my corporate career for freedom and inspiration. My 24 years in the corporate world were beautiful, packed with great collaborations and experiences. The full agenda and a broad spectrum of responsibilities kept me busy. My years of international travel and working with different nationalities in an international environment, enabled me to develop a rich multi-cultural awareness. And yet I did not feel complete, I knew there had to be more to my life than this.
I am grateful for the decision to dig deeper in what I was missing and the adventures I have lived since. I have studied psychodynamics of organisations, natural leadership, systemic principles and equine assisted systemic work and more. These different experiences have made me who I am.
Now I coach professionals who really want to get to know themselves. Out of the head, into your heart and soul.
I apply all my experience as an executive coach. I guide both teams and individuals in one-on-one settings. I am regularly surrounded by nature from my home and workplace, Buitenplaats ‘Het Blik’, and in and around Amsterdam.
In partnership with my colleague, Iris Garnier, I guide people with the wisdom of the horses, both individually and in a team or group. We work at various beautiful locations in the Netherlands and abroad. And we are partners of Van Stal, horse & dog school in Amstelveen.
In addition, I work with great passion on verDIEPing (the DEEPening), a life-changing coaching journey held in small groups that I set up with my counterpart and colleague, Evodie Koolstra.
Rediscovering your strength is the essence of my mission.
EXPERIENCE & BACKGROUND
\ INTERNATIONALLY CURIOUS
My interest in numbers – but more especially in people and organisations – drew me to the audit profession. After completing my Post Doctorate at Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, I went to work for PwC, became a chartered accountant and earned an MBA from the Rotterdam School of Management. I became a partner with an international portfolio. As a management team member I was responsible for HR and talent management. As an auditor, I requested to work with International companies, governments and organisations, many in former war torn countries such as Afghanistan, Somalia, Haiti, Ethiopia and Pakistan. In my travels to approximately 80 countries, I have met many inspiring people, have heard some unforgettable stories, and have learned so much about myself.
\ COACHING WITH A FRESH PERSPECTIVE
In 2015, I graduated from INSEAD international business school with an Executive Masters in Consulting and Coaching for Change, a program that takes a psychodynamic approach to leadership and organisations. There I wrote a thesis, rated as excellent by the program directors, entitled “Awakening through your dreams” on how dreams contribute to the transformational process in the context of executive coaching. In 2017 At the Hellinger Institute in the Netherlands, I completed the course System Dynamics in Organisations. And in 2018 I qualified as a Kifungo certified coach for Systemic / Shamanic Equine assisted work.
\ GLOBAL CITIZEN, WITH ROOTS IN AMSTERDAM
I was born in Germany to Dutch parents, grew up in the Netherlands, and studied in France and Costa Rica. Although I see myself as a global citizen, my growth took place in the 27 years when I called Amsterdam my home, where I lived with my husband and two children and enjoyed running in the city and along the canals. When the weekend came, you would find me packing our old VW campervan for our next adventure. And in 2021,my family and I moved to our beautiful, rustic farm, Buitenplaats ‘Het Blik’, surrounded by nature, my horses finally in my back “garden” – yet close enough to Amsterdam and my roots.
\ GIVING BACK
I want to make a difference for girls in the world, and am therefore thrilled to be working with Skateistan since 2015 and was asked to become chair of the International Advisory Board at Skateistan in 2017. This international NGO with its HQ in Berlin that works with young people, especially girls, from different ethnic and socioeconomic backgrounds, provides an education and valuable leadership skills via the challenging sport of skateboarding. It is active in Afghanistan, where I spent 12 years working as auditor, Cambodia, Jordan and South Africa and grows more globally. Skateistan has Vans, Tony Hawk and Mimi Knoop as sponsors, to name a few.
To contribute to a more inclusive world, since 2016 I am involved as (supervisory) board member at Mama Cash, a radical feminist activist organisation for equal rights for women, girls, trans and intersex persons. Mama Cash mobilises resources from individuals and institutions, makes grants to self-led, feminist organisations, and helps to build the partnerships and networks needed to successfully defend and advance women’s, girls’, trans and intersex people’s human rights globally. Mama Cash is active in approximately 60 countries.