Reflecting on my own midlife transition and ageing, while simultaneously contemplating the many challenges facing our societies - such as mental health, demographic shifts, housing, and climate - became a pivotal catalyst for birthing the movement of Conscious Ageing. In 2019, I co-founded the Hekate Conscious Ageing Foundation.
Since 2017, conscious ageing and conscious living have become foundational to both my personal and professional life. They have allowed me to integrate Gestalt therapy, mental health and (social) Permaculture while contributing to positive change at individual, community and societal levels.
Through my work in Conscious Ageing, alongside the application of the Gestalt approach, I delved deeper into the design framework of Permaculture. It helped me comprehend the beauty and wisdom of Nature's interconnected ecosystems and their relevance to human systems. Today, Nature and Permaculture form another cornerstone of my life philosophy and underpin my therapeutic, coaching and organisational development work.
Over time, this ecological and systemic perspective became increasingly important in my organisational work. Through Roots to Sprouts, I now bring together Conscious Ageing®, organisational and leadership development, systems thinking and ecological design to support organisations facing demographic transition, longer careers and the changing future of work.
Since June 2025, I have been serving as Co-Executive Director of the Budapest Gestalt Institute (BGI). This role feels like a natural continuation of my path, allowing me to integrate my therapeutic, leadership and systemic perspectives within a community of learning and professional practice.
My life is driven by an endless curiosity to observe, explore, find meaning, and understand the interconnectedness of life - whether it's a cell in our body, a human being in her/his environment, or Earth's ecosystems.
My career path authentically reflects my exploration and understanding of the world around me. It began with a deep admiration for the beauty of systems and processes, which I fully immersed myself in while working with integrated information systems at complex corporate organizations. However, I soon realized that the people within these organizations, utilizing these IT systems, were the most crucial components.
While my fascination with built systems persisted, I felt a strong desire to learn more about the individuals making sense of and utilizing them. Throughout this journey - both as a leader and a consultant - I acquired extensive knowledge and experience, along with certifications, in organization development, change management, and coaching.
During these formative years, I began applying the Gestalt approach in my work and witnessed its effectiveness on both individual and organizational levels. As my focus shifted entirely to human beings, transitioning to become a Gestalt therapist felt like a natural yet significant step.
Arriving at this juncture in my life - established in my professional career, with a family and a settled life - I found myself amidst the tumult of midlife change. Moving to The Netherlands with my family in my early 40s emphasized the need to pause, reconsider, and redefine my personal and professional identity.