Four years ago, my coach asked: "What do you want? What is your vision for your future?"

I froze. I had no authentic answer that came from my heart.

Growing up in Curaçao, identity was tied to relationships and roles. Moving to the Netherlands added another layer, navigating Dutch professional culture while maintaining Caribbean warmth. I code-switched constantly, performing a version of myself I thought would succeed.

The exhaustion was real. I didn't even realize I was doing it.

This moment sparked my self-leadership journey, understanding the difference between knowing my resume and knowing myself. The foundation for everything that followed.