Meet Isabelle François - PhD in Bio-Engineering, science communicator for 15+ years in various sectors, and now the founder of Bright Star Coaching.

In 2022, Isabelle made a bold career switch to follow her passion: supporting gifted children ánd their families in rediscovering their strengths and shining with confidence.

Isabelle also teaches at SPRING-STOF, a non-profit offering tailored education to cognitively talented children.

In this episode in English, Isabelle opens up about her entrepreneurial journey in Belgium - the bright moments ánd the challenges.

💡 Highlights from the episode:

🔹 Even as a coach and expert in giftedness, Isabelle still finds it hard to say out loud that she is gifted.

🔹 Being an entrepreneur can be lonely, so having a tribe to support you is important.

🔹 Her favorite quote? "Everyting is an experiment." It doesn't need to be perfect, it needs to be good, just try it.

🔹 Despite the challenges of being an entrepreneur, it's worth it. The overall balance? Positive. 

---

 Organisations, Programme and Podcast Referenced:

- Hoogbloeier: www.hoogbloeier.be

- Spring-stof: https://www.spring-stof.be/

- Springplank: https://www.vlaanderen.be/springplank-naar-zelfstandige

- FastForwardAmy Podcast-Amy Vandeputte

---

Contact Isabelle François:

- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/snelle_hoofdjes_coach/

- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/isabellefrancois/

- Website: https://brightstarcoaching.be/

---

Contact Heidi De Langhe - Evidence-based Coaching & Training:

- Book your free discovery call here (EN/NL/FR): www.heididelanghe.com/contact

- Instagram: www.instagram.com/heididelanghe/

- LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/heididelanghe

- Website: www.heididelanghe.com

#Entrepreneurship #Coaching #Giftedness #Career #CareerGrowth #Podcast #Solopreneur#ChooseWork #Hoogbegaafdheid #Carrière

Many people dream of starting their own business.

Not that many people do it.

And few people... manage to build a multi-million dollar business.

Bruno Lowagie (55) is one of the few who achieved this. As the original developer of iText, an open-source PDF library, he built a multi-million dollar business alongside his wife, growing it from a startup to a successful exit.

Bruno is also co-founder of the Wintercircus in Ghent and an author of both fiction and non-fiction books.

This 6th episode in English marks the start of a new theme we will explore in several episodes: Entrepreneurship.

🔎 What will you discover in this rollercoaster episode?
✅ Bruno's top entrepreneurial lessons

✅ What he would change if he were running Belgium  

✅ His "superpower"

✅ His ambitions for the future

---

Books and Hub Referenced:

- Lowagie, B. (2025). Onvoltooid toekomstige tijd.

- Lowagie, B. (2024). Entreprenerd. Building a Multi-Million-Dollar Business with Open Source Software.

- Thoreau, H.D. (originally published in 1854). Walden: or, Life in the Woods.

- Wasserman, N. (2013). The Founder's Dilemmas.

- Wintercircus: https://www.wintercircus.be/en

--- 

Contact Bruno Lowagie:

- Website: https://lowagie.com/

- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/blowagie/

---

Contact Heidi De Langhe - Evidence-based Coaching & Training:

- Book your free discovery call here (EN/NL/FR): www.heididelanghe.com/contact

- Instagram: www.instagram.com/heididelanghe/

- LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/heididelanghe

- Website: www.heididelanghe.com

Voor NL samenvatting, zie onderaan ⬇️

---

Susan Osenga (49) works as a physician in social medical advisory services and only discovered later in life that she is gifted.

In this episode in Dutch on Giftedness in the Workplace, she openly shares her story – with a touch of humor.

🔎 What will you discover in this episode?
✅ Why she mainly remembers the hallways and principals' offices from her elementary school days
✅ How challenging her search for answers was
✅ Why this discovery came with a grieving process
✅ Practical tips for schools and employers to better support gifted people
✅ How she ultimately found peace – both personally and professionally

---

NL samenvatting

Susan Osenga (49) werkt als keuringsarts en kwam er pas op latere leeftijd achter dat ze hoogbegaafd is.

In deze aflevering in het Nederlands over Hoogbegaafdheid op de Werkvloer deelt ze haar verhaal – openhartig én met een vleugje humor.

🔎 Wat ontdek je in deze aflevering?
✅ Waarom ze zich vooral de gangen en directeurskamers van haar lagere scholen herinnert

✅ Hoe moeizaam haar zoektocht naar antwoorden verliep

✅ Waarom deze ontdekking gepaard ging met een rouwproces

✅ Praktische tips voor scholen en werkgevers om hoogbegaafden beter te ondersteunen
✅ Hoe ze uiteindelijk rust vond - privé én professioneel

---

Missed Episodes 1, 2, 3 and 4 on Giftedness in the Workplace?

- Episode 1: From Architectural Engineer to Doctor in Psychology & Entrepreneur | Dr. Sabine Sypré | Giftedness [001] (NL): https://open.spotify.com/episode/1UdcxI0Iulkoxv6ix5DP9v?si=B40IWjlJQ8-GNiLon3C9uw

- Episode 2: Discovering You’re Gifted... Because of Workplace Conflicts? | Dr. Noks Nauta | Giftedness [002] (NL): https://open.spotify.com/episode/1FYiRH8DO7Zke41csi84xs?si=K-3YDD8lSPOOr9KDjtwOBQ

- Episode 3: Gifted People & Workplace Conflict: A Desire for Change? | Ido van der Waal | Giftedness [003] (NL): https://open.spotify.com/episode/37DLmZVl1tYMhVRfCEcJf2?si=mT90o1j7TxqrGDYz6gO_0A

- Episode 4: From Bored at Work to Business Coach for Gifted Entrepreneurs | Wilma Kaptein | Giftedness [004] (NL): https://open.spotify.com/episode/2TdVkVZkn8dBNIgYTIUKgk?si=fv3MHMsATb-RcZfZQ-TS-g

---

Organisations, Events and Books Referenced:

- Instituut Hoogbegaafdheid Volwassenen (IHBV): https://ihbv.nl/

- Mensa: https://www.mensa.org/

- HB-cafés: https://hb-cafe.nl/

- Nationaal HB Congres on 11/03/2025: https://rijkaantalent.nl/

- HB huiskamer in Amsterdam: https://www.renatevanderveen.nl/hb-huiskamer/

- Webb, J. (2013). Searching for Meaning.

- Van der Waal, I., & Nauta, N. (2025). Hoogbegaafden in conflict.

---

Contact Susan Osenga:

- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/susan-osenga-58374b152/

---

Contact Heidi De Langhe - Evidence-based Coaching & Training:

- Book your free discovery call here (EN/NL/FR): www.heididelanghe.com/contact

- Instagram: www.instagram.com/heididelanghe/

- LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/heididelanghe

- Website: www.heididelanghe.com

Voor NL samenvatting, zie onderaan ⬇️

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From Bored at Work to Business Coach for Gifted Entrepreneurs. Wilma Kaptein (45) knows better than anyone what it’s like to feel bored in the workplace and to struggle with a silo mentality.

That experience led her to a new path: entrepreneurship.

In other words, the perfect reason to further explore the theme of Giftedness in the Workplace in the 4th episode in Dutch of the Choose Work podcast.

🔎 What will you discover in this episode?
✅ Why Wilma often felt bored in the workplace - and how she dealt with it
✅ How discovering her giftedness and a personality assessment helped her embrace entrepreneurship
✅ The advantages and pitfalls of gifted entrepreneurs
✅ A real-life case study of a gifted entrepreneur struggling with a business challenge
✅ Her golden career tips

---

NL samenvatting

Van Verveling op het Werk naar Business Coach voor Hoogbegaafde Ondernemers. Wilma Kaptein (45) weet als geen ander hoe het is om zich in loondienst te vervelen en vast te lopen in silo-denken.

Die ervaring bracht haar op een nieuw pad: ondernemerschap.

Maw, de perfecte aanleiding om het thema Hoogbegaafdheid op de Werkvloer verder te verkennen in de 4e aflevering in het Nederlands van de Choose Work podcast.

🔎 Wat ontdek je in deze aflevering?
✅ Waarom Wilma zich in loondienst vaak verveelde – en hoe ze daarmee omging
✅ Hoe de ontdekking van haar hoogbegaafdheid en een persoonlijkheidsonderzoek haar hielpen om ondernemerschap te omarmen
✅ De voordelen én valkuilen van hoogbegaafde ondernemers
✅ Een real-life casusbespreking van een hoogbegaafde ondernemer met een ondernemersvraagstuk
✅ Haar gouden carrièretips

---

Missed Episodes 1, 2 and 3 on Giftedness in theWorkplace?

- Episode 1: From Architectural Engineer to Doctor inPsychology & Entrepreneur | Dr. Sabine Sypré | Giftedness [001] (NL): https://open.spotify.com/episode/1UdcxI0Iulkoxv6ix5DP9v?si=a6KnlfH-RaahKC2YDfxGaA

- Episode 2: Discovering You’re Gifted... Because ofWorkplace Conflicts? | Dr. Noks Nauta | Giftedness [002] (NL): https://open.spotify.com/episode/1FYiRH8DO7Zke41csi84xs?si=K-3YDD8lSPOOr9KDjtwOBQ

- Episode 3: Gifted People & Workplace Conflict: ADesire for Change? | Ido van der Waal | Giftedness [003] (NL): https://open.spotify.com/episode/37DLmZVl1tYMhVRfCEcJf2?si=mT90o1j7TxqrGDYz6gO_0A

---

Organisation Referenced:

- Instituut Hoogbegaafdheid Volwassenen (IHBV) -HB-ondernemers: https://ihbv.nl/hb-ondernemers/

---

Contact Wilma Kaptein:

- Website: https://wilmakaptein.nl/

- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/wilmakaptein/

---

Contact Heidi De Langhe - Evidence-based Coaching & Training:

- Book your free discovery call here (EN/NL/FR): www.heididelanghe.com/contact

- Instagram: www.instagram.com/heididelanghe/

- LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/heididelanghe

- Website: www.heididelanghe.com

Voor NL samenvatting, zie onderaan ⬇️

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Many workplace conflicts involving gifted people are about... a desire for change.

That’s what Ido van der Waal has discovered through his experience as a mediator in hundreds of workplace conflicts.

Together with Dr. Noks Nauta, he recently dedicated a book to this topic: Hoogbegaafden in Conflict.

A perfect reason to dive deeper into this subject in the 3rd episode in Dutch of the Choose Work podcast!

🔎 What will you discover in this episode?
✅ Why Ido is so fascinated by conflicts - and how his dyslexia plays a role
✅ Why gifted people experience conflict, both as employees and entrepreneurs
✅ How to navigate and resolve conflicts together
✅ Why conflicts can actually drive innovation
✅ How different countries and cultures handle conflicts

--

NL samenvatting:

Veel conflicten van hoogbegaafden op de werkvloer gaan over... een wens tot verandering.

 Dat is Ido van der Waal te weten gekomen dankzij zijnervaring als mediator in honderden conflicten op de werkvloer.

Samen met Dr. Noks Nauta heeft hij recent een boek aan dit thema gewijd: Hoogbegaafden in Conflict.

Kortom, de perfecte aanleiding om in de 3e aflevering in het Nederlands van de Choose Work podcast dieper in te gaan op dit onderwerp!

🔎 Wat ontdek je in deze aflevering?

✅ Hoe het komt dat Ido zo gefascineerd is door conflicten -  en hoe zijn dyslexie daarbij een rol speelt

✅ Waarom hoogbegaafden in conflict raken, in loondienst énals ondernemer

✅ Hoe je conflicten samen kunt aanpakken

✅ Waarom conflicten juist een bron van innovatie kunnen zijn
✅ Hoe ze in verschillende landen en culturen met conflicten omgaan

---

Missed Episodes 1 and 2 on Giftedness in the Workplace?

- Episode 1: From Architectural Engineer to Doctor inPsychology & Entrepreneur | Dr. Sabine Sypré | Giftedness [001] (NL): https://open.spotify.com/episode/1UdcxI0Iulkoxv6ix5DP9v?si=a6KnlfH-RaahKC2YDfxGaA

- Episode 2: Discovering You’re Gifted... Because ofWorkplace Conflicts? | Dr. Noks Nauta | Giftedness [002] (NL): https://open.spotify.com/episode/1FYiRH8DO7Zke41csi84xs?si=K-3YDD8lSPOOr9KDjtwOBQ

---

Book, Research, Organisation and Event Referenced:

- Van der Waal, I., & Nauta, N. (2025). Hoogbegaafdenin conflict.

- Delphimodel Hoogbegaafdheid: https://www.maudvanthiel.nl/onderzoeker

- Instituut Hoogbegaafdheid Volwassenen (IHBV): https://ihbv.nl/

- HB-cafés: https://hb-cafe.nl/

---

Contact Ido van der Waal

- Website: https://www.altena-ned.nl/

- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ido-van-der-waal-07354a15 

- Bijzondere breinen: https://social-enterprise.nl/artikelen/achter-de-schermen-bijbijzondere-breinen/

---

Contact Heidi De Langhe - Evidence-based Coaching & Training:

- Book your free discovery call here (EN/NL/FR): www.heididelanghe.com/contact

- Instagram: www.instagram.com/heididelanghe/

- LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/heididelanghe

- Website: www.heididelanghe.com

Voor NL samenvatting, zie onderaan ⬇️

--

Discovering you're gifted... because of workplace conflicts? That’s exactly what happened to Noks Nauta (77) - doctor in work and organisational psychology, non-practicing physician, and co-founder of the Instituut Hoogbegaafdheid Volwassenen (IHBV).

In this episode in Dutch, we further explore the topic of Giftedness in the Workplace.

🔎 What will you discover in this episode?
✅ How workplace conflicts led to the discovery of her giftedness 25 years ago
✅ The impact of this discovery on her career and self-image
✅ Key insights of scientific research on giftedness in the workplace - and why further research is important

✅ Practical strategies for gifted individuals in the workplace
✅ Her most valuable life lessons and golden career tips

--

NL samenvatting
Ontdekken dat je hoogbegaafd bent... door arbeidsconflicten? Dat overkwam Noks Nauta (77) - doctor in arbeids- en organisatiepsychologie, niet-praktiserend arts en mede-oprichter van het IHBV, Instituut Hoogbegaafdheid Volwassenen.  

In deze aflevering in het Nederlands duiken we dieper in het thema Hoogbegaafdheid op de Werkvloer.

🔎 Wat ontdek je in deze aflevering?
✅ Hoe arbeidsconflicten geleid hebben tot de ontdekking van haar hoogbegaafdheid25 jaar geleden
✅ De impact van deze ontdekking op haar loopbaan en zelfbeeld
✅ Inzichten uit wetenschappelijk onderzoek rond hoogbegaafdheid op de werkvloer - en waarom verder onderzoek zo belangrijk is
✅ Praktische handvatten voor hoogbegaafden op de werkvloer
✅ Haar waardevolste levenslessen én gouden carrièretips

--

Missed Episode 1 on Giftedness in the Workplace?

- Listen here: From Architectural Engineer to Doctor inPsychology & Entrepreneur | Dr. Sabine Sypré | Giftedness [001] (NL): https://open.spotify.com/episode/1UdcxI0Iulkoxv6ix5DP9v?si=a6KnlfH-RaahKC2YDfxGaA

---

Research, Books, Organisations and Events Referenced:

- Nauta, N., & Corten, F. (2002). Hoogbegaafden aanhet werk. Link: https://werkenwaarde.nl/wp-content/uploads/2019/07/artikel-frans-corten-hoogbegaafden-en-werk-tbv-2002.pdf

- Emans, B., Visscher, E, & Nauta, N. (2017). Heelslim en toch zonder werk? Hoe kan dat?. Link:https://ihbv.nl/rapport-hb-zonder-werk-2017

- Leaflet about the 4 A's: Van Casteren, P., & Nauta, N.(2024). Kwaliteit van de arbeid voor hoogbegaafden. Naar een betere fit tusseneen hoogbegaafde en het werk. Link:  https://ihbv.nl/wp-content/uploads/IHBV-Leaflet-Kwaliteit-van-de-arbeid.pdf

- Van der Waal, I., & Nauta, N. (2025). Hoogbegaafdenin conflict.

- Miller, A. (2008). The Drama of the Gifted Child.

- Delphimodel Hoogbegaafdheid: https://www.maudvanthiel.nl/onderzoeker

- Mensa: https://www.mensa.org/

- Triple Nine Society (TNS): www.triplenine.org

- International Society for Philosphical Enquiry (ISPE):https://www.thethousand.com

- Instituut Hoogbegaafdheid Volwassenen (IHBV): https://ihbv.nl/

- IHBV - HB-ondernemers: https://ihbv.nl/hb-ondernemers/

- Nationaal HB Congres on 11/03/2025: https://rijkaantalent.nl/- HB-cafés: https://hb-cafe.nl/

---

Contact Dr. Noks Nauta:

- Website: https://www.noksnauta.nl/

- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/noksnauta

---

Contact Heidi De Langhe - Evidence-based Coaching & Training:

- Book your free discovery call here (EN/NL/FR): www.heididelanghe.com/contact

- Instagram: www.instagram.com/heididelanghe/

- LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/heididelanghe

- Website: www.heididelanghe.com

Voor NL samenvatting, zie onderaan ⬇️

---

This episodes in Dutch explores the theme of Giftedness in the Workplace.

Our first guest? Dr. Sabine Sypré, founder of Hoogbloeier and a Doctor in Psychology.

What will you discover in this episode?
✅ Why her studies in Architectural Engineering didn’t go smoothly
✅ How discovering her giftedness and experiencing burnout impacted her career
✅ Which scientific research on giftedness in the workplace is still missing, according to her
✅ Which employment status many gifted adults likely have – and why
✅ Her most valuable entrepreneurial lessons and golden career tips

---

NL samenvatting

De eerste podcast aflevering in het Nederlands draait rond het thema Hoogbegaafdheid op de Werkvloer.

Onze eerste gast? Dr. Sabine Sypre, founder van Hoogbloeier en doctor in de Psychologie.

Wat ontdek je in deze aflevering?
✅ Waarom haar studies tot burgerlijk ingenieur-architect niet over een leien dakje verliepen
✅ Hoe de ontdekking van haar hoogbegaafdheid en een burn-out haar carrière beïnvloedden
✅ Welk wetenschappelijk onderzoek volgens haar nog ontbreekt rond hoogbegaafdheid op de werkvloer
✅ Welk statuut veel hoogbegaafde volwassenen waarschijnlijk hebben – en waarom
✅ Haar belangrijkste ondernemerslessen én gouden carrière-tips

---

Book referenced:

- Dweck, C. Mindset

---

Contact Dr. Sabine Sypré:

- Website: https://www.hoogbloeier.be/

- Newsletter: https://www.hoogbloeier.be/nl/nieuwsbrief-hoogbloeier

- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Hoogbloeierbv

- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/hoogbloeier

- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/hoogbloeier/

---

Contact Heidi De Langhe - Evidence-based Coaching & Training:

- Book your free discovery call here (EN/NL/FR): www.heididelanghe.com/contact

- Instagram: www.instagram.com/heididelanghe/

- LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/heididelanghe

- Website: www.heididelanghe.com

Voor NL samenvatting, zie onderaan ⬇️

--

Work. We spend a large part of our lives working.

But how do you find a job that aligns with your personality,talents, and values?

What inspires someone to become an entrepreneur, and what entrepreneurial lessons can we learn?

How can you manage your personal finances optimally while building a meaningful career?

And how can employers promote Diversity & Inclusion in the workplace?

I’m Heidi De Langhe and in this podcast, I share practical career tips, inspiring stories, and expert insights to empower you to make thoughtful decisions about your career and workplace.

Each episode focuses on one specific work-related theme, explored in-depth over multiple episodes through interviews with Dutch or English-speaking experts or individuals with firsthand experience.

--

NL samenvatting

Werk. We besteden een groot deel van ons leven aan werken.

Maar hoe vind je een job die aansluit bij jouw persoonlijkheid, talenten en waarden?

Wat inspireert iemand om ondernemer te worden, en welke ondernemerslessen kunnen we leren?

Hoe beheer je je persoonlijke financiën optimaal terwijl je een betekenisvolle carrière opbouwt?

En hoe kunnen werkgevers Diversiteit & Inclusie op de werkvloer bevorderen?

Ik ben Heidi De Langhe en in deze podcast deel ik praktische carrièretips, inspirerende verhalen en inzichten van experts om je te empower om doordachte keuzes te maken over je loopbaan en werkomgeving.

Elke aflevering focust op één specifiek werkgerelateerd thema, dat in meerdere afleveringen wordt uitgediept via interviews met Nederlandstalige of Engelstalige experts of ervaringsdeskundigen.

--

Feedback

👉 If you have ideas or suggestions for podcast topics or podcast guests, please fill in the feedback form here: https://forms.gle/R76XUuVinkgDq6Fq8

___

Contact Heidi De Langhe - Evidence-based Coaching & Training:

- Book your free discovery call here (EN/NL/FR): www.heididelanghe.com/contact

- Instagram: www.instagram.com/heididelanghe/

- LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/heididelanghe

- Website: www.heididelanghe.com

How do you navigate career transitions when things feel uncertain and uncomfortable?

In this episode in English, I’m joined by Dr. Rachael Skews — behavioural scientist, psychologist, coach, and internationally recognised expert in Acceptance & Commitment Coaching.

We take a deep dive into career transitions and psychological flexibility & ACT (Acceptance & Commitment Therapy),exploring why uncertainty, fear, impostor thoughts, and self-doubt often show up when our work really matters — and how ACT can help us move forward.

*

TIMESTAMPS:

00:00 Introduction to Choose Work
01:05 Career transitions, psychological flexibility, and why this episode matters
01:30 Meet Dr. Rachael Skews and her work in Acceptance & Commitment Coaching
03:10 What Acceptance & Commitment Coaching really is (and what it isn’t)
06:45 Impostor thoughts, self-doubt, and why high performers experience them
08:30 Why the goal isn’t to get rid of difficult thoughts and feelings
10:30 Rachael’s non-linear career journey: consultancy, academia, health tech, and entrepreneurship
15:10 Moving from academia to Headspace and working in behavioural science
18:10 Entrepreneurship, uncertainty, and psychological flexibility as a resource
20:00 Rest, recovery, and treating yourself like an elite performer
22:20 Self-criticism, overworking, and building self-compassion at work
23:40 Redundancy, career inflection points, and conscious career choice
25:10 Starting a business: loneliness, creativity, and stepping into the swamp
27:30 Values, meaning, and designing work that actually fits you
30:10 The “swamp” metaphor: discomfort as the price of meaningful work
33:00 Fear, uncertainty, and speaking outside your comfort zone
35:10 ACT in action: focusing on what’s on the other side of the swamp
38:00 Risk tolerance, uncertainty, and how personality shapes career choices
42:20 Case example: supporting a senior leader considering entrepreneurship
45:00 Scarcity mindset, money fears, and responsibility during career transitions
48:00 Why fear makes sense — and why it shouldn’t make the decision
50:30 Is it ever too late to build psychological flexibility?
53:10 Psychological flexibility as “conscious evolution”
54:20 Rachael’s upcoming book on Acceptance & Commitment Coaching
56:00 A practical reflection exercise for listeners navigating career transitions
58:10 Where to find Rachael and her work

*

Resources mentioned:

- Association for Contextual Behavioral Science (ACBS)

- ACBS World Conference 2026

*

Contact Dr. Rachael Skews and learn more about her work:

- Website: https://www.rachaelskews.com/

- The Coaching UnpACT podcast

*

For show notes, please visit ⁠heididelanghe.com/podcast⁠

For feedback or suggestions for topics or guests, email me atcontact@heididelanghe.com

Contact Heidi - Evidence-based Coach & Trainer: Book a free discovery call at ⁠heididelanghe.com/contact⁠

Linkedin: ⁠linkedin.com/in/heididelanghe⁠

Instagram: ⁠⁠instagram.com/heididelanghe.coaching/⁠

In this episode in English, I’m joined by Sharmin Reehman — CEO and Founder of Elev8te — a company dedicated to building partnerships that drive a more diverse, innovative, and inclusive tech industry. Sharmin is also the City Leader for Founders Live Singapore, where she regularly hosts free pitching competitions for founders.
Half Indian and half Iranian, Sharmin has called Singapore home for the past 16 years. Drawing on nearly two decades of experience across banking, consulting, and government — and her bold transition into entrepreneurship — she shares candid lessons on failure, neurodiversity (including ADHD and dyslexia), and building companies that genuinely align withlife goals. We also dive into why diversity, innovation, and inclusion in tech matters.

*

 TIMESTAMPS:

00:00 Introduction to Choose Work
01:00 Meet Sharmin Reehman and why diversity, innovation, and inclusion in tech matter
02:00 Sharmin’s career journey across banking, consulting, government, and entrepreneurship
03:00 Core career lessons: mentors, neurodiversity as strength, and falling forward
06:00 Shifting from proving yourself to making an impact and delivering value
09:00 Navigating bias, identity, and being an outcast in male-dominated environments
13:00 From corporate roles to founding Elev8te and embracing entrepreneurship

14:18 The steep learning curve—and fulfillment—of building something from scratch

16:46 Purpose, impact, and why entrepreneurship feels different from corporate work

22:00 Flexibility, productivity, and designing work around energy—not hours
23:30 The loneliness of entrepreneurship and how to cope with it
25:00 Building support systems and finding validation beyond titles and salary

36:00 Neurodiversity, ADHD, dyslexia, and big-picture thinking

41:55 How diversity fuels innovation—and why inclusion sustains it

43:16 Diversity, innovation and inclusion to build high-performance teams
49:43 Five-year vision: learning, travel, wellness, and global impact
52:54 Where to find Sharmin and how to connect

*

For show notes, please visit heididelanghe.com/podcast

For feedback or suggestions for topics or guests, email me at contact@heididelanghe.com

Contact Heidi - Evidence-based Coach & Trainer:

Book a free discovery call at heididelanghe.com/contact

Linkedin: linkedin.com/in/heididelanghe

Instagram: instagram.com/heididelanghe.coaching/

I had the privilege of speaking with Professor Filip De Fruyt, who brings over 35 years of expertise in academic research and international business consultancy.

🎓 Filip is a Senior Full Professor of Differential Psychology and Personality Assessment at Ghent University and serves as International Relationships Officer at Low Lands Assessment Systems.

This episode in English is a deep dive into Person-Environment Fit (P-EFit) - and why it’s central to understanding careers, performance, and employee retention.

💡 Key insights from our conversation:
🔹 For over three decades, Filip has studied the intersection of how people work and perform (Big Five personality model) and what they do (Holland’s RIASEC vocational interest model).
🔹 Fit can be supplementary or complementary — a crucial consideration when hiring.
🔹 Fit is dynamic, not static: your role at 28 may no longer be the right fit at 32.
🔹 Organisations often over-focus on performance, but should also align employees’ learning and development with their vocational interests - critical in today's fast-changing job market.

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 Resources Referenced:

- Low Lands Assessment Systems: https://lowlandsassessmentsystems.com/en

- Lola-test: https://lowlandsassessmentsystems.com/en/explore-your-passion- The Big Five or Five-Factor Model: dimensions of neuroticism, extraversion, openness, agreeableness, and conscientiousness

- John Holland's theory of vocational interests, the "RIASECmodel": interest domains of Realistic, Investigative, Artistic, Social, Enterprising, and Conventional

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Contact Filip De Fruyt: 

- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/filip-de-fruyt/

- Google Scholar: https://scholar.google.com/citations?user=aqL24tgAAAAJ&hl=en

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Contact Heidi De Langhe - Evidence-based Coaching & Training:

- Book a free discovery call here: www.heididelanghe.com/contact

- Instagram: www.instagram.com/heididelanghe/

- LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/heididelanghe

- Website: www.heididelanghe.com

#CareerDevelopment #PersonEnvironmentFit #Psychology #FutureOfWork #BigFive #RIASEC #EmployeeEngagement