FROM DEAL MAKER TO DECISION MAKER: A JOURNEY IN CREATING IMPACT

I WAS BORN A DEAL MAKER

My entrepreneurial journey started at just 10 years old—not in a boardroom, but in the schoolyard. Pokémon cards were the currency of the time, yet I had none. My Parents did not want to buy me any. Instead of seeing a limitation, I saw an opportunity. I collected unwanted cards for free from friends, traded strategically, and by the end of the craze, I had built a collection worth selling for what felt like a small fortune.

That passion for creating value only grew. As a teenager, I immersed myself in Live Action Role Playing (LARPing). To play, I crafted my own gear—but soon, I wasn’t just making equipment for myself. I was buying, selling, and trading chainmail, orc ears, and leather armor, learning firsthand how to turn a hobby into a thriving enterprise. The same cycle repeated itself when I started flipping retro video games online. At first, I just wanted access to better games, but before long, I realized I was spending far more time on the art of the deal than on playing the games themselves.

Looking back, it was never just about making money. It was about understanding people’s needs, spotting opportunities, and translating those insights into action.

MY LOVE OF MAKING DEALS GREW

As a young adult, my deal-making passion drove me to the stock market. I became obsessed with analyzing companies and evaluating how great they were at creating value (i.e making great deals). I made money. A lot of money. At some point so much, I decided to quit my boring day job. I also lost money. A lot of money. At 28 years old, I joined the board of directors of a company in which I had invested, to help to turn things around. But that’s another story for another time.

After graduating with a handful of business/finance degrees (shout outs to free education) I wanted to step up my deal-making once again. I was attracted to the hot-shot investment banks in London and Wall Street, where I could make the biggest deals there are. Luckily I ran into a few people from the Boston Consulting Group. After some guidance and reflection, I realized what I am truly aiming for: not only making bigger and bigger deals but rather knowing how to make better and better deals. (and how to make them with the right people).

What do better and better deals then mean? I understood a great lesson. While it is the great companies who make the great deals, it is the teams and the people in them, that make it all possible. So I became increasingly curious about understanding the success factors of teams and the qualities of the individuals within them. With curiosity came a hunger to learn. After learning the need to share! With a new sense of purpose and with the experiences gained I felt ready to embark on the next adventure of starting my own company.

WHY I DO WHAT I DO TODAY

Running my own business has given me the chance to focus on what truly matters: helping professionals and teams make better decisions that drive meaningful impact. Through coaching, training, and consulting, I equip people with the tools to navigate complex challenges, communicate persuasively, and lead with confidence.

Whether I’m coaching an individual one-on-one or facilitating a workshop for an auditorium full of professionals, I get that same feeling of excitement I had as a kid trading Pokémon cards. The thrill isn’t about the deal itself—it’s about helping others unlock their potential, see new opportunities, and take action with confidence.

I am passionate about helping business professionals help themselves through coaching, training, and consulting on topics that are crucial for them, and close to my heart.