During my recent vacation to the Netherlands, I had the honor of delivering the keynote to 90 international women at the American Women’s Club of Amsterdam’s annual luncheon.
The theme was “Shining Bright Together,” which celebrated the many ways in which AWCA makes an impact through its commitment to women and children’s causes, including their university scholarships for students who wish to study in the U.S., their volunteerism with Blijf Groep, and financial support to end the trafficking of women in Vietnam. It could not have been more fitting.
I lived in the Netherlands for nearly a decade and spent another 5 years living and working in the Middle East. Those experiences shaped me more than any job title or credential ever could: navigating new cultures, learning new languages, rebuilding my network, finding my people, and, most of all, being out of my comfort zone.
I create communities for women, like I did when I founded the Qatar Professional Women’s Network (QPWN), because I need them myself. I coach women leaders because I know what it feels like to start over and find your footing again, usually because another woman extended her hand and lifted me up.
To the international group of women leaders in the audience: thank you for reminding me why we shine brighter when we’re in community.
#WomenInLeadership #ExecutiveCoaching #SheDreamsBig #Expat #WomenEmpowerment #LeadershipDevelopment #AmericanWomensClubofAmsterdam #AWCA
