People are shaped by their background, experiences and the environment they move through, and they bring these influences into their interactions with others.

In The Culture Garden, we explore what happens when tension rises. I look at what emerges in these interactions and which patterns are activated as tension increases, and how these influence the way people respond.

By slowing down and examining what is happening, space is created to respond in a way that is true to who someone is and appropriate to the situation. This forms the foundation of my coaching for professionals.

The Culture Garden grew out of my fascination with behaviour, interaction, and what happens between people when tension arises or situations are unclear.

My experience in supporting people began through guiding young adults on international working holidays abroad, and later supporting tourists in crisis situations. I learned how important it is to create a sense of calm, listen carefully and respond to what someone needs in that moment.

Working as a Dutch language trainer for expats changed the way I looked at people and interaction. I saw how a new cultural context reveals the assumptions, expectations, and values people bring with them, and how these influence their interactions. This sparked my interest in the interplay between people and their environment.

My own experiences in international contexts and my exploration of cultural differences formed the foundation for my work as a coach and trainer in intercultural communication.

To support professionals more deeply in questions around behaviour and interaction, I further developed my expertise through courses and training programmes in systemic coaching, intercultural coaching and various approaches to communication and facilitation. This further development strengthened my understanding of how our behaviour is shaped by the systems we move through, such as our background, a team or an organisation.

These experiences and professional development have shaped the approach I now use to coach professionals.

I focus on the question: what exactly happens when tension arises?

By consciously slowing down and observing carefully, I make visible which recurring dynamics are at play in a situation. This creates space to respond with more calm and steadiness.