From Dream to Reality: My Journey to Leadership
- aklar3
- May 27, 2024
- 2 min read
Updated: May 31, 2024
From Dream to Reality: My Journey to Leadership
When I was young, I had a dream. I wanted to become a manager in a hotel - Sales Manager or F&B Manager, that was where my heart was. My career in the hotel world started at Accor (Hotel Ibis Amsterdam Schiphol) when I was 19. I loved the international flair and the dynamics of a 24/7 environment
Within a year I got my first promotion, and at the age of 24 I became F&B Manager at Hotel Inntel Rotterdam. I still remember the moment when I thought: "Have I achieved my life purpose now?" After that I had no specific ambition anymore. I decided to just do my best and see where the ship would founder.
At the age of 30 I became Hotel Director at Dorint Hotel Mönchengladbach, and at the age of 39 my business card said "CEO". I did my work with passion and pleasure, always striving for improvement and higher customer satisfaction.
I was now a single mother, and my two children happily moved with me. With a new employer I always said, "I don't come alone - when I work, I'm there 24/7, and my home is my work and my work is my home." My children grew up in hotels, amusement parks, between trade and public fairs and at events.
After countless CEO positions, a moment of reflection came. Did I want to continue doing this for the next 25 years? Wasn't it starting to look more and more like the same? And when I was asked again and again to "prepare" companies for a possible sale, how could I maintain my deep-seated motivation to serve others and be a people person?
In 2020 I decided to change course and enter the world of executive search. My background enabled me to quickly connect with entrepreneurs and directors. I recognized the different phases that companies were in and was able to adapt to specific challenges because I understood what was going on.
Now I am back in my power - I can help companies become better by selecting leaders who can make the right impact. As a people person, I can quickly find out what makes someone happy and what he/she is good at – but also what demotivates him/her. It is precisely because of this that I can do what makes me happy, namely providing added value.
The great thing about this story is that my children have accompanied me in my work all my life. They are now adults, and my youngest son asked me six months ago if he could support me. Since then I have been training him, we go to appointments together and discuss assignments. How great is that?
Would you like to know more about my work or start a conversation about your challenges? Please feel free to contact me - I would be happy to schedule a coffee appointment with you.
