Narcissistic Leaders: The Dark Triad, narcissism, psychopathy and Machiavellianism
I think it’s time to talk about psychopathic, sociopathic and narcissistic leaders and the damage they do. Over the more than 20 years that I been working with global companies, I have for sure met a few that had been diagnosed for one of those traits. We still see them in business, but today ́s […]
From Cell to Soul – From a Molecular Scientist to a Psychologist and Leadership Coach
You never know when the life-changing moment is approaching. From an outsider’s point of view, I was at the top of the world in 1994. After graduating from one of the best universities in China, Beijing University, with a bachelor of science degree in biochemistry and working in the university as a teacher for two […]
The Calling of The Heart
It was the year of my 40th birthday. In this moment of their lives, people usually look back and reflect on how much they have managed to achieve so far. They measure their success and wonder what is still ahead of them. Today I see the significance of that threshold, but at that time, I […]
The Magic of Life-Changing Encounters
Can it be a coincidence that most of my life-changing moments have taken place in cafés? Over a cup of tea, I have been incredibly fortunate to meet amazing, inspiring people who have significantly altered my life journey in the most positive ways. Simply put, they have guided me on paths I could not have […]
A Drawing of a Tree
Pinpointing the start of one’s journey is never going to be easy. Life is full of starts. Some things stick and some don’t. Some things only click much later. The seasonality of this journey is part of shaping who you are. I believe that it isn’t about finding yourself, rather it is about making yourself. […]
Lead by Your Heart
For the last 20 years, I have been pondering more deeply on my own purpose, and my observation is that it is very simple and very deep. Simple in a way that it is not complicated, thinking that my experience will help others find their purpose. Deep in the sense that my understanding of my […]
The Day Everything Changed
When I reflect on where I am today and how I got here, I can see my drive to help others is the product of growing up with dysfunctional family communication and experiencing first-hand the devastation of bankruptcy and a bitterly contested will. And who would have thought that an “expensive hobby” combined with a […]
Invent Yourself and Then Re-Invent Yourself
Homecoming – Berkeley, California. As I walked into this beautiful Julia Morgan-designed house south of the University of California campus and saw the beaming faces of my roommates- to-be, I felt deep inside that I had crossed an important threshold. Nothing would ever be the same again. It was Halloween evening 1981 and I was […]
Dare to Be Happy
I saw it coming again like a rippling wave of frustration and anger in my heart. We had been on the road for less than 30 minutes and already I was having problems with Mignonne. I had carefully said my morning prayers and set an intention for a day of peace and happiness side by […]
I did it
“I did it. I resigned. I quit!” Tears had wet my face even before I called Klara to tell her. … I felt so relieved by saying it to her out loud! It was December 8, 2005, and I was driving home to Badhoevedorp after a meeting in the vicinity of Utrecht. It was dark […]