Meet Isabelle François - PhD in Bio-Engineering, science communicator for 15+ years in various sectors, and now the founder of Bright Star Coaching.
In 2022, Isabelle made a bold career switch to follow her passion: supporting gifted children ánd their families in rediscovering their strengths and shining with confidence.
Isabelle also teaches at SPRING-STOF, a non-profit offering tailored education to cognitively talented children.
In this episode, Isabelle opens up about her entrepreneurial journey in Belgium - the bright moments ánd the challenges.
💡 Highlights from the episode:
🔹 Even as a coach and expert in giftedness, Isabelle still finds it hard to say out loud that she is gifted.
🔹 Being an entrepreneur can be lonely, so having a tribe to support you is important.
🔹 Her favorite quote? "Everyting is an experiment." It doesn't need to be perfect, it needs to be good, just try it.
🔹 Despite the challenges of being an entrepreneur, it's worth it. The overall balance? Positive.
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Organisations, Programme and Podcast Referenced:
- Hoogbloeier: www.hoogbloeier.be
- Spring-stof: https://www.spring-stof.be/
- Springplank: https://www.vlaanderen.be/springplank-naar-zelfstandige
- FastForwardAmy Podcast-Amy Vandeputte
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Contact Isabelle François:
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/snelle_hoofdjes_coach/
- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/isabellefrancois/
- Website: https://brightstarcoaching.be/
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Contact Heidi Coaching & Training:
- Book your free discovery call here (EN/NL/FR): www.heidicoaching.be/contact
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/heididelanghe/
- LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/heididelanghe
- Website: www.heidicoaching.be
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#Entrepreneurship #Coaching #Giftedness #Career #CareerGrowth #Podcast #Solopreneur#ChooseWork #Hoogbegaafdheid #Carrière
Many people dream of starting their own business.
Not that many people do it.
And few people... manage to build a multi-million dollar business.
Bruno Lowagie (55) is one of the few who achieved this. As the original developer of iText, an open-source PDF library, he built a multi-million dollar business alongside his wife, growing it from a startup to a successful exit.
Bruno is also co-founder of the Wintercircus in Ghent and an author of both fiction and non-fiction books.
This 6th episode in English marks the start of a new theme we will explore in several episodes: Entrepreneurship.
🔎 What will you discover in this rollercoaster episode?
✅ Bruno's top entrepreneurial lessons
✅ What he would change if he were running Belgium
✅ His "superpower"
✅ His ambitions for the future
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Books and Hub Referenced:
- Lowagie, B. (2025). Onvoltooid toekomstige tijd.
- Lowagie, B. (2024). Entreprenerd. Building a Multi-Million-Dollar Business with Open Source Software.
- Thoreau, H.D. (originally published in 1854). Walden: or, Life in the Woods.
- Wasserman, N. (2013). The Founder's Dilemmas.
- Wintercircus: https://www.wintercircus.be/en
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Contact Bruno Lowagie:
- Website: https://lowagie.com/
- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/blowagie/
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Contact Heidi Coaching & Training:
- Website: www.heidicoaching.be
- Book your free call here (EN/NL/FR): www.heidicoaching.be/contact
- LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/heididelanghe
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/heididelanghe/
Voor NL samenvatting, zie onderaan ⬇️
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Susan Osenga (49) works as a physician in social medical advisory services and only discovered later in life that she is gifted.
In this episode on Giftedness in the Workplace, she openly shares her story – with a touch of humor.
🔎 What will you discover in this episode?
✅ Why she mainly remembers the hallways and principals' offices from her elementary school days
✅ How challenging her search for answers was
✅ Why this discovery came with a grieving process
✅ Practical tips for schools and employers to better support gifted people
✅ How she ultimately found peace – both personally and professionally
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NL samenvatting
Susan Osenga (49) werkt als keuringsarts en kwam er pas op latere leeftijd achter dat ze hoogbegaafd is.
In deze aflevering over Hoogbegaafdheid op de Werkvloerdeelt ze haar verhaal – openhartig én met een vleugje humor.
🔎 Wat ontdek je in deze aflevering?
✅ Waarom ze zich vooral de gangen en directeurskamers van haar lagere scholen herinnert
✅ Hoe moeizaam haar zoektocht naar antwoorden verliep
✅ Waarom deze ontdekking gepaard ging met een rouwproces
✅ Praktische tips voor scholen en werkgevers om hoogbegaafden beter te ondersteunen
✅ Hoe ze uiteindelijk rust vond - privé én professioneel
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Missed Episodes 1, 2, 3 and 4 on Giftedness in theWorkplace?
- Episode 1: From Architectural Engineer to Doctor inPsychology & Entrepreneur | Dr. Sabine Sypré | Giftedness [001] (NL)
- Episode 2: Discovering You’re Gifted... Because ofWorkplace Conflicts? | Dr. Noks Nauta | Giftedness [002] (NL)
- Episode 3: Gifted People & Workplace Conflict: ADesire for Change? | Ido van der Waal | Giftedness [003] (NL)
- Episode 4: From Bored at Work to Business Coach for GiftedEntrepreneurs | Wilma Kaptein | Giftedness [004] (NL)
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Organisations, Events and Books Referenced:
- Instituut Hoogbegaafdheid Volwassenen (IHBV): https://ihbv.nl/
- Mensa: https://www.mensa.org/
- HB-cafés: https://hb-cafe.nl/
- Nationaal HB Congres on 11/03/2025: https://rijkaantalent.nl/
- HB huiskamer in Amsterdam: https://www.renatevanderveen.nl/hb-huiskamer/
- Webb, J. (2013). Searching for Meaning.
- Van der Waal, I., & Nauta, N. (2025). Hoogbegaafden in conflict.
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Contact Susan Osenga:
- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/susan-osenga-58374b152/
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Contact Heidi Coaching & Training:
- Website: www.heidicoaching.be
- Book your free call here (EN/NL/FR): www.heidicoaching.be/contact
- LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/heididelanghe
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/heididelanghe/
Voor NL samenvatting, zie onderaan ⬇️
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From Bored at Work to Business Coach for Gifted Entrepreneurs. Wilma Kaptein (45) knows better than anyone what it’s like to feel bored in the workplace and to struggle with a silo mentality.
That experience led her to a new path: entrepreneurship.
In other words, the perfect reason to further explore the theme of Giftedness in the Workplace in the 4th episode of the Choose Work podcast.
🔎 What will you discover in this episode?
✅ Why Wilma often felt bored in the workplace - and how she dealt with it
✅ How discovering her giftedness and a personality assessment helped her embrace entrepreneurship
✅ The advantages and pitfalls of gifted entrepreneurs
✅ A real-life case study of a gifted entrepreneur struggling with a business challenge
✅ Her golden career tips
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NL samenvatting
Van Verveling op het Werk naar Business Coach voor Hoogbegaafde Ondernemers. Wilma Kaptein (45) weet als geen ander hoe het is om zich in loondienst te vervelen en vast te lopen in silo-denken.
Die ervaring bracht haar op een nieuw pad: ondernemerschap.
Maw, de perfecte aanleiding om het thema Hoogbegaafdheid op de Werkvloer verder te verkennen in de 4e aflevering van de Choose Work podcast.
🔎 Wat ontdek je in deze aflevering?
✅ Waarom Wilma zich in loondienst vaak verveelde – en hoe ze daarmee omging
✅ Hoe de ontdekking van haar hoogbegaafdheid en een persoonlijkheidsonderzoek haar hielpen om ondernemerschap te omarmen
✅ De voordelen én valkuilen van hoogbegaafde ondernemers
✅ Een real-life casusbespreking van een hoogbegaafde ondernemer met een ondernemersvraagstuk
✅ Haar gouden carrièretips
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Missed Episodes 1, 2 and 3 on Giftedness in theWorkplace?
- Episode 1: From Architectural Engineer to Doctor inPsychology & Entrepreneur | Dr. Sabine Sypré | Giftedness [001] (NL): https://open.spotify.com/episode/1UdcxI0Iulkoxv6ix5DP9v?si=a6KnlfH-RaahKC2YDfxGaA
- Episode 2: Discovering You’re Gifted... Because ofWorkplace Conflicts? | Dr. Noks Nauta | Giftedness [002] (NL): https://open.spotify.com/episode/1FYiRH8DO7Zke41csi84xs?si=K-3YDD8lSPOOr9KDjtwOBQ
- Episode 3: Gifted People & Workplace Conflict: ADesire for Change? | Ido van der Waal | Giftedness [003] (NL): https://open.spotify.com/episode/37DLmZVl1tYMhVRfCEcJf2?si=mT90o1j7TxqrGDYz6gO_0A
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Organisation Referenced:
- Instituut Hoogbegaafdheid Volwassenen (IHBV) -HB-ondernemers: https://ihbv.nl/hb-ondernemers/
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Contact Wilma Kaptein:
- Website: https://wilmakaptein.nl/
- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/wilmakaptein/
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Contact Heidi Coaching & Training:
- Website: www.heidicoaching.be
- Book your free call here (EN/NL/FR): www.heidicoaching.be/contact
- LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/heididelanghe
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/heididelanghe/
Voor NL samenvatting, zie onderaan ⬇️
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Many workplace conflicts involving gifted people are about... a desire for change.
That’s what Ido van der Waal has discovered through his experience as a mediator in hundreds of workplace conflicts.
Together with Dr. Noks Nauta, he recently dedicated a book to this topic: Hoogbegaafden in Conflict.
A perfect reason to dive deeper into this subject in the 3rd episode in Dutch of the Choose Work podcast!
🔎 What will you discover in this episode?
✅ Why Ido is so fascinated by conflicts - and how his dyslexia plays a role
✅ Why gifted people experience conflict, both as employees and entrepreneurs
✅ How to navigate and resolve conflicts together
✅ Why conflicts can actually drive innovation
✅ How different countries and cultures handle conflicts
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NL samenvatting:
Veel conflicten van hoogbegaafden op de werkvloer gaan over... een wens tot verandering.
Dat is Ido van der Waal te weten gekomen dankzij zijnervaring als mediator in honderden conflicten op de werkvloer.
Samen met Dr. Noks Nauta heeft hij recent een boek aan dit thema gewijd: Hoogbegaafden in Conflict.
Kortom, de perfecte aanleiding om in de 3e aflevering van de Choose Work podcast dieper in te gaan op dit onderwerp!
🔎 Wat ontdek je in deze aflevering?
✅ Hoe het komt dat Ido zo gefascineerd is door conflicten - en hoe zijn dyslexie daarbij een rol speelt
✅ Waarom hoogbegaafden in conflict raken, in loondienst énals ondernemer
✅ Hoe je conflicten samen kunt aanpakken
✅ Waarom conflicten juist een bron van innovatie kunnen zijn
✅ Hoe ze in verschillende landen en culturen met conflicten omgaan
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Missed Episodes 1 and 2 on Giftedness in the Workplace?
- Episode 1: From Architectural Engineer to Doctor inPsychology & Entrepreneur | Dr. Sabine Sypré | Giftedness [001] (NL): https://open.spotify.com/episode/1UdcxI0Iulkoxv6ix5DP9v?si=a6KnlfH-RaahKC2YDfxGaA
- Episode 2: Discovering You’re Gifted... Because ofWorkplace Conflicts? | Dr. Noks Nauta | Giftedness [002] (NL): https://open.spotify.com/episode/1FYiRH8DO7Zke41csi84xs?si=K-3YDD8lSPOOr9KDjtwOBQ
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Book, Research, Organisation and Event Referenced:
- Van der Waal, I., & Nauta, N. (2025). Hoogbegaafdenin conflict.
- Delphimodel Hoogbegaafdheid: https://www.maudvanthiel.nl/onderzoeker
- Instituut Hoogbegaafdheid Volwassenen (IHBV): https://ihbv.nl/
- HB-cafés: https://hb-cafe.nl/
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Contact Ido van der Waal
- Website: https://www.altena-ned.nl/
- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ido-van-der-waal-07354a15
- Bijzondere breinen: https://social-enterprise.nl/artikelen/achter-de-schermen-bijbijzondere-breinen/
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Contact Heidi Coaching & Training:
- Website: www.heidicoaching.be
- Book your free call here (EN/NL/FR): www.heidicoaching.be/contact
- LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/heididelanghe
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/heididelanghe/
Discovering you're gifted... because of workplace conflicts?
That’s exactly what happened to Noks Nauta (77) - doctor in work and organisational psychology, non-practicing physician, and co-founder of the Instituut Hoogbegaafdheid Volwassenen (IHBV).
🔎 What will you discover in this episode?
✅ How workplace conflicts led to the discovery of her giftedness 25 years ago
✅ The impact of this discovery on her career and self-image
✅ Key insights of scientific research on giftedness in the workplace - and why further research is important
✅ Practical strategies for gifted individuals in the workplace
✅ Her most valuable life lessons and golden career tips
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Missed Episode 1 on Giftedness in the Workplace?
- Listen here: From Architectural Engineer to Doctor inPsychology & Entrepreneur | Dr. Sabine Sypré | Giftedness [001] (NL): https://open.spotify.com/episode/1UdcxI0Iulkoxv6ix5DP9v?si=a6KnlfH-RaahKC2YDfxGaA
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Research, Books, Organisations and Events Referenced:
- Nauta, N., & Corten, F. (2002). Hoogbegaafden aanhet werk. Link: https://werkenwaarde.nl/wp-content/uploads/2019/07/artikel-frans-corten-hoogbegaafden-en-werk-tbv-2002.pdf
- Emans, B., Visscher, E, & Nauta, N. (2017). Heelslim en toch zonder werk? Hoe kan dat?. Link:https://ihbv.nl/rapport-hb-zonder-werk-2017
- Leaflet about the 4 A's: Van Casteren, P., & Nauta, N.(2024). Kwaliteit van de arbeid voor hoogbegaafden. Naar een betere fit tusseneen hoogbegaafde en het werk. Link: https://ihbv.nl/wp-content/uploads/IHBV-Leaflet-Kwaliteit-van-de-arbeid.pdf
- Van der Waal, I., & Nauta, N. (2025). Hoogbegaafdenin conflict.
- Miller, A. (2008). The Drama of the Gifted Child.
- Delphimodel Hoogbegaafdheid: https://www.maudvanthiel.nl/onderzoeker- Mensa: https://www.mensa.org/
- Triple Nine Society (TNS): www.triplenine.org
- International Society for Philosphical Enquiry (ISPE):https://www.thethousand.com
- Instituut Hoogbegaafdheid Volwassenen (IHBV): https://ihbv.nl/
- IHBV - HB-ondernemers: https://ihbv.nl/hb-ondernemers/
- Nationaal HB Congres on 11/03/2025: https://rijkaantalent.nl/- HB-cafés: https://hb-cafe.nl/
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Contact Dr. Noks Nauta:
- Website: https://www.noksnauta.nl/
- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/noksnauta
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Contact Heidi Coaching & Training:
- Website: www.heidicoaching.be
- Book your free call here (EN/NL/FR): www.heidicoaching.be/contact
- LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/heididelanghe
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/heididelanghe/
This episodes in Dutch explores the theme of Giftedness in the Workplace.
Our first guest? Dr. Sabine Sypré, founder of Hoogbloeier and a Doctor in Psychology.
What will you discover in this episode?
✅ Why her studies in Architectural Engineering didn’t go smoothly
✅ How discovering her giftedness and experiencing burnout impacted her career
✅ Which scientific research on giftedness in the workplace is still missing, according to her
✅ Which employment status many gifted adults likely have – and why
✅ Her most valuable entrepreneurial lessons and golden career tips
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Book referenced:
-Mindset by Carol Dweck
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Contact Dr. Sabine Sypré:
- Website: https://www.hoogbloeier.be/
- Newsletter: https://www.hoogbloeier.be/nl/nieuwsbrief-hoogbloeier
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Hoogbloeierbv
- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/hoogbloeier
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/hoogbloeier/
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Contact Heidi Coaching & Training:
- Website: www.heidicoaching.be
- Ideas & suggestions for this podcast: https://forms.gle/1ocnB1Ze5mzx27hw5
- LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/heididelanghe
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/heididelanghe/
Work. We spend a large part of our lives working.
But how do you find a job that aligns with your personality, talents, and values?
What inspires someone to become an entrepreneur, and what entrepreneurial lessons can we learn?
How can you manage your personal finances optimally while building a meaningful career?
And how can employers promote Diversity & Inclusion in the workplace?
I’m Heidi, Founder of Heidi Coaching & Training. In this podcast, I share practical career tips, inspiring stories, and expert insights to help you make thoughtful decisions about your career and workplace.
Each episode focuses on one specific work-related theme, explored in-depth over multiple episodes through interviews with Dutch or English-speaking experts or individuals with firsthand experience.
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Feedback
👉 If you have ideas or suggestions for podcast topics or podcast guests, please fill in the feedback form here: https://forms.gle/R76XUuVinkgDq6Fq8
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Contact
📩 info@heidicoaching.be
🌍 www.heidicoaching.be
