hi! i’m roos! the founder of the talent kitchen

The story behind the talent kitchen

If I hadn't become a psychologist and coach, I'd probably be running a kitchen.

Cooking has always been a love of mine; not just because I love good food, but the way it invites you to work with what you’ve got. To experiment, trust your instincts, make mistakes, and learn by doing. Great chefs don’t just follow recipes; they create them. They understand their ingredients, they experiment, and grow through practice.

That’s exactly how I see professional development.

Too often, talented professionals are handed generic advice like: "take more ownership", or "speak up more often". But no one helps them figure out what that actually looks like — in their context, their voice, their way. That’s like handing someone a recipe without teaching them how to cook.

I started The Talent Kitchen to change that.

Here, growth isn’t about becoming someone else. It’s about reconnecting with your own ingredients — your strengths, values, habits, and patterns — and learning how to use them in more skilful, energising ways. In the end, it’s your kitchen. I’m here to help you become the chef.

A blurred black-and-white photo of a woman sitting by a window, holding a book, with trees visible outside.

my story

I’ve always been fascinated by people — what drives us, what holds us back, and how we grow. That curiosity led me to study psychology. But like many professionals, I took a detour after university.

I started my career in Recruitment and People & Culture: roles that gave me a solid foundation in how people grow at work. On paper, everything was in place: great companies, clear progression, steady pay. But something felt off. I was supporting people, yes, but not in the deep, transformative way I craved. The moments that lit me up were the real, honest conversations: helping someone gain insight, move through a block, or reconnect with what really mattered to them. Everything else felt like going through the motions.

Eventually, I reached a breaking point and quit my job with no backup plan. It wasn't reckless — it was necessary. I had this clear inner knowing that if I wanted work that truly fit, I had to stop waiting and start creating it.

So I threw everything into making coaching work. For the first time, work felt like flow. I was doing what I was good at, what energised me, and what truly mattered. Now, I help others do the same: to lead and grow in ways that feel true to who they are — not who they think they should be.

A woman with blonde hair smiling and wearing a black shirt and beige pants, standing indoors near a window with cross-armed pose.

my mission

My mission is to create a world where people feel at home in their work, connected to who they are, clear on what they bring, and confident in how they show up.

I’m committed to helping professionals grow from the inside out. Not by asking them to be someone else, but by helping them reconnect with their own ingredients — their strengths, values, and voice — and learning how to bring those fully to the table.

Because when people are supported to reflect, experiment, and grow in ways that fit them, they don’t just perform better — they feel better. And when people thrive, so do the organisations they’re part of.

This is work that goes beyond performance. It’s about authenticity, ownership, and growth that actually sticks.

A woman writing on a whiteboard in a classroom or meeting room, with notes and diagrams related to goal setting and change management.

my approach

Think of me as your sous-chef: I’m not here to tell you what to do, but to stand beside you — offering guidance, insight, and the right tools at the right time.

Coaching with me is a mix of warmth and honesty, encouragement and challenge. I bring sharp, compassionate clarity to help you spot your strengths, patterns, beliefs and behaviours that might be helping or holding you back.

Together, we translate insights into into small, clear steps you can actually apply, so you can move forward with more focus, confidence, and energy. No fixed recipes, just the right ingredients for your kind of growth.

  • "The curious paradox is that when I accept myself just as I am, then I can change"

    Carl Rogers

professional foundation

As a certified coach with a Master's degree in Work & Organisational Psychology, I bring both academic grounding and practical training to my work. I completed an EQA-accredited coaching program, and I am a registered member of NOBCO, the Dutch professional association for coaches. This means I work according to the International Ethical Code (IEC), which outlines clear standards for a professional, transparent, and respectful coaching experience. Working with me means choosing someone trained, qualified, and committed to your growth — with clarity, care, and integrity.

Education & Courses

  • NONONS, 2024-2025 (certified)

    Accreditation on Practitioner Level

  • London, 2024 (certified)

  • University of Amsterdam 2016-2021

NOBCO badge with Dutch text and EMCC Global EQ Practice Practitioner logo with orange and blue accents.
Logo for NONONS ERKEND COACH.
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methods & techniques I work with

I tailor every session to what you need in the moment, drawing from a range of evidence-based coaching and therapeutic techniques.

I believe real change happens when we understand why our patterns exist and learn when to work with them and when to shift them. That’s why we don’t stay at the surface. We go deeper, connect the dots, and build ways of working that are honest, sustainable, and yours..

  • We focus on what’s already strong, energising, and meaningful in your life. Instead of just fixing problems, we build from your strengths. This helps create more sustainable and motivating growth.

  • Sometimes discomfort is part of the process. ACT helps you relate to it differently. Together, we explore what really matters to you and how to take action from that place. It’s about creating space for your experience and still moving forward.

  • You’ll get insight into the roles and patterns that shape your interactions — often developed early in life. Together, we explore the ‘scripts’ that may be guiding you unconsciously, so you can start choosing responses that serve you now.

  • Your words reflect how you think and influence how you feel and act. NLP helps uncover and shift the unconscious patterns behind your behaviour. It's a practical way to create new mental and emotional pathways.

  • You’re part of larger systems — family, teams, organisations — that shape how you show up. We explore the hidden dynamics at play and how they may be influencing your choices. This can bring clarity, relief, and room to act differently.

  • We all have different inner voices — the perfectionist, the achiever, the one who wants to keep everyone happy. Voice Dialogue helps you meet these parts with curiosity rather than resistance, so you can choose which voice to follow, instead of being led by them.

  • Rather than analysing what’s wrong, we focus on what’s already working. This method helps you tap into your own resourcefulness and make progress, one step at a time. It's forward-looking, practical, and energising.

  • CliftonStrengths is a research-based assessment that identifies your natural talents — the ways you think, feel, and behave that come most naturally to you. We use it to explore what energises you and how you can intentionally apply your strengths in your work and life. Instead of focusing on fixing weaknesses, this approach helps you grow by building on what’s already strong and authentic in you — leading to more effective, sustainable development.

curious what we could cook up together?

Tell me a little about who you are, what you're longing for, and where you feel stuck. What do you want to grow into — and what’s getting in the way?

Let’s connect and see what’s possible.