Michael de Jong.

Let me introduce myself. I'm Michael de Jong, 38 at the time of writing, living in Utrecht. My life revolves around three threads that all spring from one source: the creative, the made and the lived. At HKU I graduated with a Bachelor with Honors in Composition and Music Production; my Master in Composition in Context was awarded by the Open University of London. Even so, I then moved into IT, built a career and ended up as a manager. I had 'made it', yet I wasn't satisfied. It took coaching and self-reflection to see that the creative part of me needed attention — and that this was not at odds with the rest of who I am.

These days, everything has its place in my life. My management experience goes into my work as an organisational advisor, the creative side is expressed through my work as a composer, and the helping side finds its place as a coach. All three roles are driven by the same creative movement: creating, making, bringing into being. Whether the question is organisational, musical or personal — I help people and organisations move from that searching, making place into something new.

And that is exactly what I find beautiful about coaching: it brings you back to yourself. It surfaces things you thought you'd lost, and enables you to choose again from who you really are — and to stand differently in life.

Inspired by what coaching gave me, I completed the professional all-round coach programme at de Baak — not as an abstract title, but from a passion for helping people build a life where happiness and health have room. That blend of lived experience, professional training and genuine desire to help is what I bring to every conversation.