Your NameJanneke Leenaars
Email Addressjannekeleenaars22@gmail.com
Cohort AssignmentEurope Summer-Fall 2023, Cohort 2
1. What do you see as your primary work at this stage of your life?

I am working as a 'Sustainability Manager' at a global corporate organization, moreover I am a (single) mother of two great kids (8 en 9)

2. What role do you see as yours to play?

In the context of business - internal and external stakeholders: To push forward, to challenge and to create awareness to change to ensure society will get back within the planetary boundaries and transform to having a positive impact (for all life on earth)

3. What goals or aims do you have in regard to the above?

- restore the natural ecosystem(services) on our factory location, combined with having a positive impact on the community, our colleagues, and customers. This being one of the enablers to explore true regeneration/what does this mean for our business/mission etc.
- taking next steps in the context of the circular economy together with the value chain
- taking next steps in the context of important topics related supply chain
- personal ambition: have a vision (to translate this action plan together with all stakeholders involved) on 'true regeneration' in the context of our mission broadly and in the context of circular economy specifically

4. Where do you feel your next arenas for personal growth are?

Retain Self-love (in lonely periods in life)
Reaching out for help in tough times,
and building/embracing new tribes/friendships

5. And for professional growth?

Navigating current business reality (whilst still creating/accelerating/working on (conditions for) 'quantum leaps'/transitions needed based on vision/long term thinking)
> in other words connect with people/contexts that are not as 'progressive' as my self nor long term thinkers/thinking, and find a way to take them with me.

6. What have you invested in to get you where you are?

Dedication, passion, trusting my own compass and values
Masters' degree in Law, coaching courses (TA, Systemic work), Sustainability (self)education

7. What fields of learning and which thinkers have been important in your life?

Books and trainers on TA/Systemic work - personal development
Book on a 'meaningful' life (title/writer I do not remember unfortunately)
Social Entrepreneur/impact investor - Willemijn Verloop
Hans Stegeman - Chief Economist Triodos Bank/impact investing

8. Can you frame your philosophy or cosmology of life? What role(s) do humans play in it?

Humans are just one of the inhabitants of planet earth. We are not better nor of more importance then any other species on earth. Strangely we do behave like that. Humans as a collective and individuals seemingly have lost connection with themselves and nature, although we are nature and dependent of nature. For me the current crises on eg climate, biodiversity and human rights, animal rights etc. are spiritual crises as well as a moral/ethic/value crises. Off course I myself also am part of the above/not writing this as if this about any other human then myself. I do try to reconnect and would like to re-learn the wisdom of nature (eg. the way indigenous people are still connected with nature.)

Date CreatedAugust 30, 2023