As part of my psychology degree, I participated in a few personal and social development courses. While it was confronting at times, the insights that I gained, have helped me tremendously in my academic, professional, and personal life. Naively I thought that all studies had such courses as part of their curriculum; why would only Psychology students need to understand who they are and how best to relate to others? It was only when I pursued an academic career and started teaching at other disciplines that I learned that most degrees don’t have such courses incorporated. Oftentimes to the frustration of students, who do not feel ready to join “the real world” after finishing their degree.

As an academic, I also conducted research at all sorts of organizations, from large banks to government institutions, from small start-ups to big football clubs. Interviewing people from all echelons, I realized more and more that the challenges that most organizations face have not so much to do with the “hard stuff”, but much more with the “soft stuff”. It almost always has to do with people not being able to effectively communicate and collaborate. People lacking self- and social awareness, as well as the skills to leverage on that awareness.

This all, in combination with shocking numbers around student and employee well-being (stress, burnout, depression, loneliness), I decided to give up my academic career to pursue the one thing I’m most passionate about, as I believe it truly matters: helping people to connect better with themselves and each other, and as such making people happier and organizations better. I started the Connectors Lab, and the rest is history - as they say.

With love always,

Lisanne