Marleen Weener stands out as a beacon of inspiration and transformation. As a thought leader, advisor, and passionate advocate for the #MeToo movement, Marleen's work transcends traditional boundaries, influencing both personal and professional spheres. With a unique blend of leadership coaching and unwavering commitment to justice and equality, she empowers individuals and organisations to navigate the complexities of modern leadership and social responsibility.
1. How do you balance your entrepreneurial dreams with personal self-care, and
what rituals or practices help you maintain this balance?
I do this by really living in the moment. I try not to dwell too much on the future or the past
but to be present where I am, with the people around me, and to enjoy every moment. I'm
not someone who is on her phone 24/7. When times are tough, I write, sit quietly, feel my
emotions, and let things go using the Sedona Method. This works very well for me and helps
me stay in the moment and maintain high energy. What also helps is going out, surfing,
walking, calling a friend, just being, jumping in the pool, and similar activities. I actually lead
a fairly boring life, which I love very much.
2. What has been your biggest challenge as a female entrepreneur or digital
nomad, and how did you overcome it?
Money. I think thats the hardest part. Honestly, I believe it is much easier to find a steady
job at a company and work 40 hours a week from a stable base. Its simple, you have an
employer, and everything is arranged. As an entrepreneur, I'm often involved in multiple
projects. My income might be good this month, but you never know how it will be next
month. I found these fluctuations challenging, especially in the beginning.
Nowadays, I handle it very well and let go of a lot because worrying about things you can't
change immediately doesn't make sense. I'm now starting a foundation for #MeToo. This is
the first project where I feel everything is coming together. My knowledge, my network, the
bigger picture—something larger than myself—and I'm working on creating a sustainable
income while fulfilling all my dreams. And the bizarre thing is that it’s not much different from
how I live now—so in that sense, I'm very aware that you don't need a lot of money to live
the life of your dreams.
3. Can you share a moment when your persistence paid off in a significant way
for your business or personal growth?
Yes, this was at the beginning of the year when, after doing many different things, I had
completely worn myself out. I was exhausted, unhappy with where I was, had no money, no
love. I couldn't see how I would get out of it or what I really wanted. I realised then that I
could go back to Amsterdam and choose a 9/5 job, but I didn't choose that.
What I did when I was at my lowest was to write out scenarios. I wrote out three scenarios
for how I saw my future. One of them was going back to Amsterdam, but after feeling into
that for a few days, I just knew: this is not it. That was very valuable. Then I chose the least
logical and safe path, but the one my heart longed for: writing, and later my foundation came
into play. That's what I do now, and despite earning less than if I had returned to
Amsterdam, I know and feel that this has been the best decision of my life. My advice to
anyone feeling low or lost when you don’t know what you want: write out 3-5 scenarios of
how you would like your life to look and feel into them. It’s magical to see what it does for
your life. The key is to follow your heart, not your head.
4. Talk us through your TEDx talk and coaching!
My TEDx talk is titled “From MACHT to KRACHT.” These are two Dutch words that doesn’t
translate well to English; it could be “From Force to Power” or “From Power to Strength.” The
essence is that for “power,” you need others, and for strength, you only need yourself. I
compare it to hunger. With power, you always want more; you’re never satisfied, so many
leaders are mainly focused on retaining power. Whereas if leaders had strength and did not
seek power, they could fulfil their purpose on Earth (if you ask me): to make the world a
better place.
5. What does leadership mean to you in the context of being a female
entrepreneur, and how do you embody this in your daily life?
Leadership, to me, means taking responsibility, never pointing fingers at others, daring to be
vulnerable, and following your heart. I try to apply this in everything I do, from love to leading
my business and in contact with clients. I’m not that distant chick you can’t reach—quite the
opposite.
6. What strategies do you use to stay connected and build a community while
living a nomadic lifestyle?
Women’s groups. I’m part of an online women’s group mainly with entrepreneurs. I also lead
a women’s group here in Costa Rica, for my local network, and another international one
with mostly Canadian and American women. This combination works perfectly for me.
Besides, I have no trouble making friends. I read articles about people who find it difficult to
make friends at an “older” age. Honestly, I don’t get that at all. Join a new sport, travel
somewhere, go to yoga, start a cooking or book club, seriously, I don’t think it’s that hard.
7. Tell us more about your life in Costa Rica and as facilitator of mushroom
ceremonies?
I lived in Portugal for three years, where I grew my own mushrooms and held many
ceremonies—I’ve gained a lot of knowledge and wisdom from that. Because of this, I can
truly say I know myself, and I take responsibility. I don’t quickly blame others before looking
at myself: what is my role?
In my ceremonies, I often work in small groups and help others to go inward, as that is
where the gold lies for everyone. Unfortunately, most people don’t know how to do that or
find it scary. IMArleen: ’m here for those people. I guide men and women on that inward journey and
promise that no one will have a bad trip—and I can always keep that promise. This doesn’t
mean that what you encounter isn’t intense, sad, or another strong emotion, but coming
through it—and I guide them—feels like running a marathon. You don’t want to, you’re tired,
but when you cross the finish line, you’ve overcome something.
8. How do you integrate mindfulness or wellness practices into your
entrepreneurial journey, and what impact have they had on your success?
I’ve done many plant medicine ceremonies, from ayahuasca, huachuma, peyote to
mushrooms. These have had a significant impact on me and thus on how I do business. We
always talk about the growth of your business being the growth of yourself, which is true, but
I believe it applies to everyone and everything. We could all be more conscious—I
included—and that would help the entire world. It helps with raising children, not getting
angry quickly, and helping others better.
I believe everyone has their own path to follow. I’m a big advocate of seeking. Sometimes I
feel there’s a negative perception of this, but I actively sought for six years in my life and can
say I found a lot. It has made me a better person. More conscious. I feel better in my skin. I
know who I am. I wish that for everyone. For me, it was plant medicines that got me there,
but it could also be yoga, silent retreats, meditation, you name it—there are many paths
(always one that forces introspection), and figuring out which one works for you is what
people and entrepreneurs should do if they haven’t already.
Yes, I believe this truly helps you achieve more success in business (and life in general,
love, etc.)—it can’t be any other way.
9. What role does mentorship play in your life, both as a mentor and a mentee,
and how has it shaped your career?
I love being a mentor. It’s a role that fits me, but also one I had to grow into. It’s actually
through the work I’ve done myself that I can help others better. Sometimes I say things to
my mentees and think: practice what you preach, so it’s also a reminder for me to stay or
return to what I advise others. The feedback and reviews from my clients show they love it: I
help them not only with what they could do—I don’t give advice, I coach—but I also live it
myself.
10. How do you envision the future of female entrepreneurship and digital
nomadism evolving, and what steps can we take to ensure it becomes a more
inclusive and supportive space for all?
I can see that the nomadic lifestyle is not yet accessible to a large group. Despite COVID
making everyone work from home, many have returned to their offices. I think, however, that
the genie is out of the bottle and many people want this life. I believe that nomads
themselves, along with companies that support this lifestyle, are changing the world bit by
bit. Inclusivity isn’t an issue because anyone can be an entrepreneur, and there’s a niche for
everyone. The steps we can take are to support and encourage each other. Ultimately, 95% of
sustaining this lifestyle is mindset. I’ve been doing this for six years, and as far as I’m
concerned, that’s the key. Mindset has nothing to do with your background, colour, or
anything like that—maybe personal traits—but when you push through where others stop,
you’re bound to get there one day, I truly believe that.
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