About Your Trainer: My Story

After the birth of my third child, I found myself in a profound and challenging chapter of my life, a period that would last nearly nine years. I resigned from my highly successful twelve-year career with heavy roles in search of a new challenge with lighter roles now that I have a newborn. Like a nomad, I wandered from one company to another for nine years thereafter, searching for something I couldn’t name. Each new job or promotion offered only temporary satisfaction but did not fulfill the growing confusion in my heart. I felt like a ship without a compass, drifting on a sea of uncertainty. Do you recognize that feeling of searching for your place in the world? Yes, I truly struggled with an identity crisis that made me question: “Who am I really? What do I truly want to achieve in my life?”

Due to my upbringing, I had never really had the chance to listen to my own needs. The values I grew up with, such as respect, connection, integrity, and loyalty, took on a different meaning in my new environment and no longer worked, causing me to stumble in my relationships and communication. Therefore, I wanted to understand the root cause of both my successes and my ineffective patterns. As a child, I quickly learned that success was often measured by performance and recognition. But I longed for more than just a good career and a nice salary; which until then had been the only measures of my success. This no longer aligned with who I was, what I valued, and what I believed in. Thus, I sought the true key to my self-realization. I wanted to know who I really was, what my place in this world was, and what I really wanted to achieve.

This quest was not without struggle. My body could not bear the weight, and I ended up in the hospital for two whole weeks; I hit rock bottom- for the first time in my life, and thankfully also the last for now. I didn’t come so far even when I lost my country at the age of 21. The insights I gained during those two weeks are beyond words. The question now ran even deeper: To live or to survive? Doctors didn’t even believe I would survive, let alone truly live. My husband and children cried at my bedside and didn’t want to say goodbye. The innocent face of my son, my youngest child, reminded me every day not to give up; his loving presence gave me the strength to continue searching for my true self.

I chose life. My business background helped me set clear and achievable goals in the hospital on my journey towards a real life and my true self. This was a turning point– a new beginning. Step by step, layer by layer, day by day, within three months, I was fully cleared by the doctors to resume my life. Despite continuing to work every day during that period, I did so with newfound meaning. This healing felt like a new chance, not just in a physical sense but also as the beginning of spiritual healing. It marked a new chapter in my life path, from pain to purpose. Without medication, but with immense willpower and strong confidence in my ultimate destination, I embraced a loving and gentle leadership in everything that I believe in and stand for, drawing closer to my heart.

In NLP terms, where I exhausted my new frameworks since early 2022, I refer to this loving and gentle leadership from the fifth position of perception. It was also a pleasant surprise to later discover that “The Value of People-Centric Leadership” (Gentle leadership) was one of the executive programs at Erasmus University. Thus, during the past years I undertook  more than 10 trainings in Neuro-Linguistic Programming to rediscover my true self and explore my passions, which helped me anchor loving and gentle leadership in my personal. professional  and social lives. Along the way, I discovered that the five core values that define my identity are: integrity, gentle leadership, social connection, inclusivity, and people-centric entrepreneurship.

This was a turning point; gradually I discovered that I was not alone in this quest for the purpose of life and personal identity. In my coaching practice, I have met many incredible individuals who are eager to find their life purpose and overcome challenges. They don’t feel understood, and often feel lost,  lonely, unaccepted, excluded, unheard and overlooked in their struggles, not knowing how to realize their potential effectively. These individuals come from diverse backgrounds, including both young and older people, working professionals as well as job seekers, and local Dutch residents alongside newcomers from different other countries. 

One particular story stands out—a woman named Anna, who came to me feeling lost and disheartened after a series of job rejections. Her dreams seemed out of reach, and her self-esteem had dwindled. Through our sessions, we explored her beliefs and values, cleared limited decisions and negative emotions, and together we uncovered the strengths she hadn’t recognized in herself. After several months, Anna not only secured a new job but also developed a newfound confidence that transformed every aspect of her life. Her story is a testament to the power of self-discovery and the journey many of us undertake together.

This insight led to the establishment of  my own company, Identitàs, in April 2024 ,and to the new concept of NLP ART trainings in May 2025, where I help individuals, professionals, and organizations discover their inclusivity and embrace their unique potential. Every person is unique and should think and feel based on their own beliefs and values; the art lies in translating this into personal mastery from a connection with the language of love and the mindset of acceptance, focusing on well-being, self-care, flourishing, in the interest of yourself and others. In NLP ART trainings, everything revolves around inclusivity and diversity, your personal, professional and social transformation, your self- and social acceptance and connection, your self- realization and self- accomplishment.

My Mission

My mission is to create an inclusive world  through NLP ART trainings by bringing together inclusive individuals from diverse backgrounds so that we can all contribute to a safe, joyful and peaceful planet for our next generation. As an International accredited NLP Trainer and an NLP Business and Life Transformation Coach, I am your  personal guide, your critical friend, and  a gentle troubleshooter for your organization during your critical business transformation, helping you not only overcome challenges but also realize your goals and dreams in the business world and beyond. Whether you are an individual seeking personal growth or an organization wanting to strengthen its team, I am here to support you. Feel free to contact me or explore my services. Together, we can transform your story and create a life full of meaning.

With Love,

Carmen van Manen- Baijanova