My working life started at 16, and hospitality became my first real classroom. Hotel management showed me how a business actually runs behind the scenes, from operations and team coordination to delivering consistently good service.
Over time I moved into leadership roles, where I learned how to manage people, make decisions under pressure, and focus on results when it matters.
Today I bring that experience into my work at Houwen Holding, a company focused on investing in innovation, supporting growth, and helping strong ideas turn into real performance.
01. Pursuing Opportunity
Driven by ambition, I relocated from a small town to the dynamic city of Groningen. While pursuing my academic goals, I remained active in the catering industry, balancing education with hands-on experience. These early years solidified my passion for business and deepened my drive to create entrepreneurial opportunities.
03. Scaling and Diversifying
Following the success in 2018, I partnered with a group of like-minded entrepreneurs to build a diverse portfolio of businesses. Together, we launched companies across sectors including real estate, marketing, boat rentals, and industrial gases. This phase of growth allowed me to evolve into a serial entrepreneur, with a focus on operational efficiency, strategic expansion, and sustainable company structuring.
02. A Pivotal Chapter in Blanes
A significant turning point came during my time in Blanes, where I helped organize high-impact events along Spain’s Costa Brava. With a clear focus on maximizing revenue during the brief summer season, I leveraged my background in hospitality to successfully launch a bar. This venture marked the beginning of my entrepreneurial career.
04. Vision and Leadership
At the core of my approach is a commitment to innovation, collaboration, and strategic execution. I actively seek out bold ideas and exceptional teams, guiding early-stage ventures from inception to growth. As each business matures, I focus on empowering strong leadership, enabling me to return to the visionary role that fuels my passion: building what’s next.