In September, the Nationale-Nederlanden Café in Rotterdam transformed into the Women in Control Café, hosting an inspiring program on careers, overcoming barriers, personal finance, and reaching your peak potential. Drawing from the insights of three accomplished women leaders who spoke at the event, here are their top 10 career lessons, honed from real-world experience.
Top 10 Career Lessons
1. Dare to dream big and pursue it fearlessly. The worst outcome is failure—and then what? To discover new oceans, you must first lose sight of the shore.
2. Skip rigid career planning. Stay adaptable to opportunities.
3. Give generously, but never undervalue your worth.
4. Winners are those who persist through setbacks. Fall down, get up, and keep moving forward.
5. Aim high. Women often set modest goals—challenge yourself by raising the bar even higher. You'll be surprised what you achieve.
6. Create a 'not-to-do' list. Align daily actions with your big goals and eliminate distractions.
7. Before offering unsolicited advice, ask a question first to understand the situation.
8. Embrace authenticity. Showing up as yourself saves energy and builds genuine connections.
9. Dress and act for the role you aspire to. Add unique signatures—make it memorable.
10. As Dorothee van Vredenburch, NN Group Board Member, shared: “Your smile is your logo, your personality is your business card. How you leave others feeling after an experience with you becomes your trademark.”
