Who I am

I’m Emiel Bouwens, born in 1978 near Maastricht and living in beautiful Ghent since 2017. As a coach, I combine soft Limburg roots with Dutch directness, so we get to the point quickly. I enjoy it when people who come as they are, in all colours and flavours. I’m curious, sharp‑minded, and I listen closely.

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Of course I also have my flaws: I can be messy and stubborn and I don’t always make it off the sofa to go exercise. I’m not a perfect guru, but a real human being, and I try to hide as little as possible. That way you know who you’re sitting with and be at ease.

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I hold a Master’s degree in International Economics from Tilburg University and have completed several renowned coach training programmes (more info). I use that mix of analytical background and coaching skills to clarify your questions. Before I started coaching in 2020, I spent 15 years abroad as a consultant and manager (including at C‑level) in Asia, Africa, Russia, and the Caribbean, mainly in microfinance. Those years challenged me constantly and pushed me to keep climbing higher in the hierarchy – until I hit a wall in 2010. Since then, step by step, I’ve chosen a path that fits me better. These days I navigate more by intuition and less by the need to prove myself or live up to “what’s expected”.

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In my free time I love to travel or have a beer with friends. I read and walk a lot, exercise more and more, am always up for a game of chess, and draw a lot of inspiration from museums, music, and art. Find out more.