Journeys of Empowerment

✨Journeys of Empowerment✨ – Episode 12What happens when you challenge the status quo in business, identity, and impact? Julie Hemels-Hoff, CEO & co-founder of Blueyse Agency, didn’t just build a marketing agency; she transformed it. Merging her inclusive marketing firm with her father’s traditional advertising agency, she faced resistance, lost clients, and still stood firm in her mission: to create marketing that truly represents everyone.Her journey isn’t just about business...it’s deeply personal. As a queer woman, Julie knows firsthand the power of representation. From navigating self-acceptance to fighting against discrimination in corporate spaces, she channels these experiences into her work, ensuring brands communicate with inclusivity and integrity.In this episode, we dive deep into:Rebuilding with Purpose: centering equity & inclusion in marketing;Navigating Resistance: the challenges of reshaping an industry;Pull the Card Initiative: a campaign tackling discrimination head-on;Queerness & Visibility: why embracing identity fuels confidence & change;Scaling with Impact: why hiring a mission-aligned COO is key to growth;Key Takeaways:True impact often comes with risk, but alignment with your mission is worth it;Self-reflection & vulnerability are essential tools for personal & professional growth;Businesses can (and should) drive social change through intentional & empowering choices;Representation matters, both in business & in life!Reach out to Julie via:LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/julie-hemels-hoff/ Website Blueyse: https://blueyse.agency Pull the Card: https://blueyse.agency/pullthecard/ Company Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/company/blueyse-inclusive-marketing-agency/ Struggling to create lasting behavior change? Discover how Positive Reinforcement can help you inspire and motivate with real impact!Check out our sponsor: https://neotopia.nl     Travel can be a force for change. Support Virginia’s mission to empower the overlooked through GINI! Join the journey and be part of the movement here: https://www.indiegogo.com/projects/gini-travel-can-be-a-force-for-change#/Your support helps amplify voices that matter! Leave a review and share this conversation with someone who needs to hear it! 🙏🏾

✨Journeys of Empowerment✨ – Episode 11 Imagine moving across continents, navigating major life changes, and still having the drive to create something bigger than yourself. That’s the story of Mustafa El Maghrabi, a founder, innovator, and someone deeply committed to redefining how companies support their people.From launching a startup during university to working at Booking.com, Mustafa saw a massive gap in employee perks and benefits, one that left too many people unsupported. So, he built Novu, a platform designed to empower employees with flexible benefits that actually work for them.In this conversation, we explore:His move from Cairo to the Netherlands: the challenges & lessons learned;The broken state of employee benefits: why one-size-fits-all solutions fail;Burnout, mental health & recovery: personal wake-up call that led to Novu;Lessons from the Egyptian Revolution: the power of action in uncertainty;The Role of Intuition: how trusting his gut shaped his biggest decisions!What stuck with me?A rigid workplace can’t support a dynamic workforce, flexibility is the future;Resilience isn’t just about bouncing back, it’s about building something stronger;Intuition is a skill, you can train yourself to trust it!And Mustafa’s big goal? Positively impact 100 million employees, and he’s just getting started!Join the conversation! What’s one change you’d make to your workplace benefits?Reach out to Mustafa via:LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mustafa-elmaghrabi/   Website Novu: https://getnovu.com Company Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/company/novu1/ Struggling to create lasting behavior change? Discover how Positive Reinforcement can help you inspire and motivate with real impact!Check out our sponsor: https://neotopia.nl    Ps if this episode resonated, please leave a review and share it with someone who needs to hear it today 🙏🏾

✨Journeys of Empowerment✨ – Episode 10 This episode feels personal – and for good reason. I had the privilege of sitting down with my dear friend and powerhouse advocate, Sacha Martina 💁🏽‍♀️ co-founder of House of Inclusion, Public Speaker, future Author and so much more..From the moment we connected in 2021 through the ScaleUpNation Board Membership Program, Sacha's unshakable spirit of inclusivity and community building has left a lasting imprint on my life!In this open, and sometimes vulnerable conversation, Sacha opens up about her transformative journey, navigating career hurdles, personal challenges, and ultimately, 𝗰𝗿𝗲𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘀𝗽𝗮𝗰𝗲𝘀 𝘄𝗵𝗲𝗿𝗲 𝗽𝗲𝗼𝗽𝗹𝗲 𝗳𝗲𝗲𝗹 𝘁𝗿𝘂𝗹𝘆 𝘀𝗲𝗲𝗻 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗵𝗲𝗮𝗿𝗱. From embracing her bicultural identity to leading with empathy and resilience, her story is a masterclass in strength and authenticity✨ What We Explored:🔹 Building Safe Spaces: Sacha’s gift for fostering trust and community.🔹 Resilience in Action: rising beyond career setbacks and personal struggles without falling into victimhood (!!);🔹 Role Models that Shape Us: the deep influence of Sacha’s mother on her mindset and strength;🔹 The Power of Belonging: how Sacha’s events inspire empowerment and connection;🔹 Entrepreneurial Grit: the rollercoaster of building businesses from the ground up :)Sacha’s commitment to empowerment and inclusivity is awe-inspiring. Her ability to turn adversity into meaningful impact is a reminder that the spaces we create can transform not only our own lives but the lives of others. She also gives us a glimpse of her upcoming book and 2025 event – two exciting initiatives set to take inclusivity to new heights.💡 A Few Takeaways You Can’t Miss:🔑 The importance of embracing your bicultural identity and self-awareness;🔑 How empathy and vulnerability lay the foundation for inclusive communities;🔑 Actionable insights on resilience, courage, and choosing growth over victimhood;Reach out to Sacha via:LinkedIn Sacha: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sachamartina/ Website House of Inclusion: https://www.house-of-inclusion.com Company Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/company/house-of-inclusion/ Podcast Gek op Witte Mannen: https://podcasts.apple.com/nl/podcast/gek-op-witte-mannen-de-podcast/id1772070861 Curious about the power of Positive Reinforcement? Check out our sponsor: https://neotopia.nl   👉🏾 Hit play now and let Sacha’s story inspire you to create spaces where everyone belongs.And….if this conversation resonated with you, pass it along to someone who might need it today. Your feedback helps amplify voices like Sacha’s...voices that uplift, inspire, and drive real change 🙏🏾.𝗬𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝘀𝗵𝗮𝗿𝗲𝘀, 𝗿𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗴𝘀 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗿𝗲𝘃𝗶𝗲𝘄𝘀 𝗺𝗮𝘁𝘁𝗲𝗿 𝗺𝗼𝗿𝗲 𝘁𝗵𝗮𝗻 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝗸𝗻𝗼𝘄 ✨

✨ Journeys of Empowerment ✨ - Episode 9In this episode, I’m honored to sit down with Robin Imthorn, Marine, Author, Public Speaker, and living proof that healing is possible even in the face of deep trauma. Our conversation dives into resilience and the power of storytelling, tracing Robin’s path from military service to personal transformation.Robin’s journey is one of raw honesty and unwavering strength, shaped by his experiences growing up as a sensitive boy in a challenging family dynamic, navigating bullying at school, and ultimately pursuing his dream of becoming a Marine. We explore how his tours in Afghanistan led to PTSD, and how running marathons and sharing his story helped him find peace and purpose.Key Themes We Covered:🔹 The Early Years: growing up sensitive in a tough environment, Robin shares how childhood experiences shaped his identity and his longing to serve in the military from a young age;🔹 The Military and PTSD: Robin reflects on the intensity of his first deployments in Afghanistan, the trauma he carried home, and his battle with PTSD;🔹 Healing Through Action: from marathons to writing his book "Levensvuur" [“Life’s Fire”], Robin highlights the role of physical and emotional endurance in his recovery, and his desire to help others by sharing his story.What stands out most about Robin is his courage to confront his past and turn it into fuel for growth. His reflections on overcoming adversity and finding purpose through movement and storytelling left me inspired—and I know they will do the same for you.Recommendations:Healing isn’t linear: Robin’s story reminds us that the road to recovery is paved with persistence, self-compassion, and action;Our pain can serve others: by sharing our journeys, we create space for others to heal and grow alongside us;Physical and mental endurance go hand in hand: whether it’s running marathons or writing a book, pushing our limits can unlock new paths toward healing.How to reach out to Robin:LinkedIn Robin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/robin-imthorn-36741923/Website Robin: http://robinimthorn.nl Company Linkedin Robin: https://www.linkedin.com/company/robin-imthorn/You can order the book via:For a signed Copy pre-order the book before the 10th of January'25 via: https://www.scheltema.nl/boek?authortitle=robin-imthorn/levensvuur--9789021499482 Bol: https://www.bol.com/nl/nl/p/levensvuur/9300000182187337/ Curious about the power of Positive Reinforcement? Check out our sponsor: https://neotopia.nl  And if this episode resonates, please rate and leave a review 🙏🏾Your support helps make sure more people can hear stories like Robin’s..stories that inspire, heal, and spark agency in others! 

✨ Journeys of Empowerment - Episode 8 ✨I’m beyond excited to welcome Virginia Scheele, the incredible founder of Life of Gini, a travel company that’s on a mission to empower overlooked minority groups through the transformative magic of travel.I first met Virginia at Demo Day of the DNNL network, where she stood out as one of the 11 cohort '24 members, passionately pitching Life of Gini. From the moment I heard her story, I knew she had something special to share.In this episode, we dive into resilience, identity, and the power of turning personal challenges into impactful ventures. Virginia opens up about her mixed heritage, early responsibilities, and how she pushed through financial struggles and 65 job rejections to launch her dream. Her commitment to fostering inclusivity and building bridges through travel is deeply inspiring.What I admire most about Virginia is her tenacity and heart for creating space where others feel seen and uplifted. This conversation will leave you reflecting on your own path, filled with new insights about perseverance, community, and embracing your authentic self.Key Themes We Covered:Transformative Travel and Inclusivity: how Life of Gini empowers minority groups and fosters cultural understanding;Overcoming Adversity: Virginia’s personal journey of resilience through rejection and financial struggles;Embracing Identity and Healing: the role of community, family, and self-reflection in shaping Virginia’s entrepreneurial path.Recommendations:Find your people. Seek out supportive communities and mentors who can guide you and offer empowerment during the tough times. Virginia reminded me how crucial it is to surround yourself with those who uplift and challenge you;Own your story. Embrace every part of your identity and life experiences, even the messy ones. Your past holds the keys to your personal growth and the blueprint for your future.Take the leap. Don’t wait for perfect conditions—pursue your passions and ideas even if they scare you. Virginia’s journey proves that action and courage pave the way for impactful work.Resources Mentioned:LinkedIn Virginia: https://www.linkedin.com/in/virginia-scheele/ Website Life of Gini: https://lifeofgini.nlDNNL Network: https://www.dnnl.org  Omek Community: https://myomek.com Gini's Impact Gala (14.3.25): Event Details - Coming Soon!Curious about the power of Positive Reinforcement?Check out our sponsor: https://neotopia.nl Quarterly Foundation Allyship:Join Freshtable's mission to make an impact: https://freshtablefoundation.nl ✨ Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays ✨

✨ Journeys of Empowerment ✨ - Episode 7The first time I met Nicolette Lazarus, I found myself surrounded by an incredible group of women during the “Where Serendipity Fuels Impact” Walky Talky. As the only man in the circle, I witnessed the profound energy of vulnerability, connection, and collective purpose. It was during that inspiring moment that I truly saw Nicolette's passion for creating safe spaces where women can share, connect, and grow without judgment.So today, I’m honored to feature Nicolette, the visionary Founder and Chief Connection Officer of Womanship!In our conversation, Nicolette opens up about her personal journey of transformation, from feeling unfulfilled to finding purpose and creating a movement that inspires vulnerability, self-discovery, and community.What makes this conversation a must-listen?The Power of Vulnerability: Nicolette's willingness to share her struggles and pivotal moments reminds us that embracing our vulnerabilities can lead to profound self-discovery;Creating Safe Spaces: she highlights how judgment-free environments can uplift women, foster connection, and inspire change;Unconscious Bias: Her candid reflections on her own biases challenge us to examine and unlearn the assumptions we may hold.Nicolette’s story will not only inspire you but also encourage you to reflect on how we can all contribute to building supportive communities.Resources Mentioned:LinkedIn Nicolette: https://www.linkedin.com/in/nicolette-lazarus-womanship/  Website Womanship: https://womanship.co Linkedin Womanship: https://www.linkedin.com/company/womanship/ Curious about the power of Positive Reinforcement? Check out our sponsor: https://neotopia.nl  Quarterly Foundation Allyship: Join Freshtable's mission to make an impact: https://freshtablefoundation.nl  ✨ ENJOY LISTENING ✨