FutureWomenX

The world needs FutureMakers—now. Not burned out, boxed in, or stuck in old systems. We’re being called to show up differently: 💥 To lead with intention 💥 To unlearn what holds us back 💥 To focus on who we need to become and where we need to go Yesterday, we gathered 30 FutureWomen living across 15 countries to explore the life-changing magic of not giving a F*CK. This wasn’t about apathy—it was about clarity, boundaries, and boldness. Because we are women committed to something much greater: To using who we are to actively shape what’s next. ✨ This is how we go beyond. Let’s keep the conversation contagious. Victoria Foster Patricia Becker Anouk Bikkel Meryl Marshall-Daniels #FutureMakers #wisdom #power #purpose #intention #agency

Challenge our stories, create new futures. Every leader is a storyteller. The narratives we uphold—about who we are, what’s possible, and how change happens—shape the cultures we build and the futures we create. But too often, we fail to question which stories we are reinforcing and which ones we are avoiding. In our recent FutureWomenX Harnessing the Power of Storytelling dialogue, in partnership with Voice of Witness, we explored how storytelling isn’t just about communication—it’s about transformation. It’s about what’s said—and more importantly, what’s left unsaid. Marketing Storytelling vs. Impact Storytelling 🚀 Marketing storytelling is strategic and persuasive—it sells a vision. 🔥 Impact storytelling is disruptive and raw—it shifts mindsets and challenges power. Many of us have been conditioned to tell the stories that feel “acceptable.” But what about the ones we avoid? The stories that challenge the status quo, unsettle assumptions, or expose uncomfortable truths? Why This Matters for Every Leader 🔹 Stories define what’s possible. If we keep saying, “This is how things have always been,” we stay stuck. Challenging a narrative isn’t just personal—it’s an act of leadership. 🔹 Listening is a radical act. The best leaders don’t just tell great stories; they create space for new voices. True storytelling begins with deep listening—because, as one participant put it, “You can’t be a good storyteller if you’re not a good listener. Even more, listening comes before storytelling.” 🔹 The stories we don’t tell matter. As another insight from our conversation reminds us: “The stories we stop ourselves from sharing are the stories we stop ourselves from listening to.” The Stories We Need to Rewrite Too often, storytelling is co-opted for branding—sanitized for comfort. But the most transformational stories push us, provoke us, and force us to rethink not just the world around us, but ourselves. Leadership isn’t just about telling a compelling story. It’s about questioning the ones we’ve inherited—and daring to write new ones. What story do you need to rewrite? And where does it need to be heard? #Leadership #Storytelling #Impact #ChallengeTheNarrative #FutureMakers #Listen #Power #Women Victoria Foster Patricia Becker Anouk Bikkel Meryl Marshall-Daniels Natasha R. Johnson, JD/RYT Fanny Julissa García, MA

A shout out to all you 750@FutureWomenX FutureMakers across the globe out there… All you trailblazing entrepreneurs, seasoned executives, ambassadors, revolutionary thought leaders, and rising stars of all kinds, YOU know who you are! For us EVERY day is WOMEN’s day. Victoria Foster Patricia Becker Anouk Bikkel Cameron Trimble Meryl Marshall-Daniels Carey Bohjanen Kat Egan Raquel Weisz Nicole Tollenaar-van Horssen Barbara Lammers

Yesterday, we officially started the new FutureWomenX ‘BEYOND’ themed year in the Netherlands with an inspiring Sisterhood Walk & Talk Alumna Only event. On this sunny day, the team at Winclove Probiotics warmly welcomed our 60 FutureWomenX Alumna. How special it was to be greeted by 5 of the 8 FWX alumna who make up the company’s management and leadership team! The guided tours of their new office were incredibly insightful, offering a glimpse into how they bring their vision to life. For the Sisterhood Walk & Talk, we carefully paired all 60 of them and, of course, sent them off for their walk with the inquiry question, 'What's Beyond?! ' We truly enjoyed the stories they brought back, the courageous conversations, and reconnecting with one another. This experience, a yearly tradition to start the year, always leaves us wanting more! 💡 Every live event reminds us of how strong and powerful our tribe truly is. The connection we have with each and every one of them, the energy, and the way these incredible women support each other on so many levels are simply unmatched. Together, we continue to inspire, empower, and elevate each other to new heights. Let's go Beyond. Anouk Bikkel Patricia Becker Victoria Foster #futuremaker #futuremakership #beyond #futurewomenx

FutureWomenX Alumna Elizabeth C. shares her story about her journey of redefining Power and Authenticity. Growing up in a working-class Dublin household, I developed an early hunger for knowledge and financial independence. This drive has shaped every step of my personal and professional journey. As I advanced in the corporate world, I became acutely aware of women’s unique challenges in leadership, particularly the lack of role models and the impact of stereotypes like the "Queen Bee" phenomenon. These experiences drove me to pursue a PhD alongside my role as a CCO, delving into the dynamics of gender and power to challenge harmful narratives and uncover deeper truths about systemic biases. My research dismantles the stereotype that women in power hold others back out of competitiveness. Instead, it highlights how societal pressures force some women to navigate male-dominated spaces in ways that can be misinterpreted. This work and my passion for empowering others inspired me to co-create the Women in Power program. Our goal is to redefine power, not as something to hoard but to share, creating space for more women in leadership roles that shape profit, strategy, and beyond. For more information about the program, see the first comment👇 The saying "when the student is ready, the teacher appears" resonates deeply with my experience of discovering FutureWomenX. Beyond a network, FutureWomenX has been a transformative sanctuary where my journey gained clarity and purpose. Within this supportive community, I realized I already possess everything I need; now is the time to embrace life fully, play, and share. #Leadership #WomenInBusiness #empowerment #queenbee

Long-year FWX Alumna Ilyse Kaplan, CFO of Reebelo, shares her reflections on what it means to be a FutureMaker and the relationship between ambition and sisterhood. FutureMakers don’t fit in boxes. We are ambitious, but it is not about wanting to get to the top or to win per se. Our ambition is linked to our commitment to taking risks on behalf of the things we care about. This can be incredibly hard, and to do so, we need to be open and willing to be vulnerable. FutureMakers know that our x factor is having others in the trenches with us - next to us, behind us, and in front of us. We know that when leaders, particularly women, come together in spaces where we can be honest, strong, vulnerable, it is incredibly powerful. We help one another to see beyond and stretch even further in the furtherance of richness and building for the future. I light up when I talk about FutureWomenX because it has been a life-line for me. I’m committed to paying forward to others leaders and being a role model to other women who dare to embody true ambition. Victoria, Anouk, Patricia, Meryl, Ellen #futurewomenx, #futuremaker, #rolemodel, #sisterhood

FWX alumna and true sister Anne van Herwijnen reflects on sisterhood in a new light, focusing on power, softness, and standing up for yourself. FutureWomenX asked me how I see power. For me, power used to feel heavy, linked to conflict and control. But my life has taught me that power can be something else entirely. It doesn’t have to be a struggle – it can be an invitation to grow, to connect, and to be yourself. The most important thing I’ve learned? Standing up for myself. Finding my voice in a world that sometimes prefers silence. When I stay true to who I am, I open the door for others to do the same. It’s not about selfishness, but about a kind of leadership that comes from self-love and intuition. The future of women in leadership needs a new definition of power. What if power wasn’t about domination, but about connection? True strength is in softness – in embracing compassion and empathy without fear. Softness isn’t a weakness; it’s a transformative energy. This is where sisterhood comes in. Sisterhood is about women lifting each other up, mentoring one another, and creating space at the table. It’s about choosing collaboration over competition, and seeing vulnerability as a strength, not a weakness. For me, it’s been about letting go. Anouk, Patricia,Victoria, Ellen #futurewomenX, #futuremakership, #radicalsisterhood, #powerful

FWX Alumna and a true connector Drusilla Doorjé shares her reflections on her relationship with power: When I was 10, I wrote in my notebook that I wanted to “be the boss,” thinking that was the way to be heard. Thinking about power, I realize I come from a background where respect for authority was key, even though I’ve always felt a strong pull toward equality. Obedience was a deeply rooted value in my family, part of a long history. Yet, I’ve always been a bit of a headstrong kid, and even now, I feel that same need to choose my own path. I’ve learned to find my way between having formal power and exercising it, and in doing so, I realized how important it is to speak up, express myself, and take ownership of what’s mine. To me, power has always had two sides: it can earn respect, but it can also create distance. Growing up, I thought power was something to bow down to, but over time, I discovered it could also be a way to build connections and equality. For women, there’s an opportunity here to embody power in a fresh way—not as a tool for control but as a way to nurture shared growth and support. That’s when power truly gains meaning. Anouk, Patricia, Ellen, Victoria #futurewomenX, #futuremakership, #femininepower, #powerful

FWX Alumna Wencke van der Meijden, Director and Boardmember at Novicare shares her reflections on her relationship with Futuremakership. For me, FutureMakership is all about empowerment. It’s about supporting each other so we can lift one another up and keep pushing ourselves to be our best. I’ve realized that during the most successful times in my career, I always had people around me who had my back and helped me feel empowered. That’s the kind of leader I want to be within my organization, supporting our management team and healthcare professionals who work tirelessly every day to give their best for our clients. I feel that same sense of empowerment within the FutureWomenX network. It’s a community of amazing, powerful women who inspire and uplift each other to reach our full potential. Anouk, Patricia, Ellen, Victoria #futurewomenx, #futuremakership, #radicalsisterhood, #empowerment

We are grieving. Many of us are grieving the U.S. election result and what could have been; while others are grieving for what once was but perhaps may never be again. The question for us all to ask ourselves now is “who do I choose to be from here? Our dominant culture is fueled by the narrative of relentless growth. We don’t give ourselves the space to grieve. And yet, it is only by dignifying our grief and heartbreak that we can begin to rise anew. Vice President Kamala Harris reminded and modeled for us yesterday that we have the opportunity to be a steady light, a voice of kindness, a presence of courage. We can choose to transform this heartbreak into fuel for justice, for change, for love. We can choose to be a living testament that even in the face of hatred and division, love is stronger, deeper, and more enduring. Leadership is not bestowed by title. It is who we choose to be and to be with. Let us tend to one another, to our communities. Find solice in seeing and being seen in our communities. When we are ready we will roll up our sleeves put on our boots and begin the work again to listen deeply and create the path for where we go from here. Victoria, Patricia, Anouk, Ellen, Cameron, Meryl #futurewomenx #futuremaker #leadership #election2024 #power