My Story

At the heart of my work lies a simple but powerful realization: everything we do comes from who we are.

During my PhD, I delved into the topic of identity, exploring the sense of self of sustainable entrepreneurs and its impact on their entrepreneurial journey. I became fascinated by the science of identity and how it shapes behavior, decisions, and the capacity for change. Through my research I discovered that understanding and working with our identity consciously unlocks new levels of clarity, motivation, and impact.

That insight has guided my career ever since. I found my purpose in sustainability – helping organizations align business success with societal and environmental value. At Bain & Company, I worked as a sustainability consultant, designing strategies for positive impact. As I navigated this space, I noticed that transformation depends not only on new systems or business models, but also on the people behind them. True change happens when the work resonates with who they are and what they stand for. This reflection led me back to identity, not just as an academic topic, but as the underlying force shaping how we choose, lead, and grow.

This realization inspired me to create The Identity Institute: a platform where I translate identity research into hands-on knowledge and practical tools anyone can use to better understand themselves, navigate change, and live with greater purpose.

My Pivotal Moments of Learning

Throughout my journey, there were moments when my understanding of identity deepened – times when my own sense of self was challenged, and I had to adapt, reconsider my perspective, or take deliberate action. These experiences became turning points in how I understand and work with identity today.

1. Charting My Career in Sustainability

My professional journey has been guided by the belief that purpose must be personally owned, rather than externally defined. Early in my consulting career, I learned to “build my own Bain” – aligning my values and expertise with a sustainability path that felt authentic to me. This mindset has helped me integrate meaning into performance, rather than viewing them as separate pursuits.

2. Experiencing Identity Across Cultures

Living and learning across cultures – from high school in Canada, semesters abroad in Spain and Denmark, as well as research & school exchange programs in Guatemala and Australia – has taught me how fluid identity can be. Each environment revealed different aspects of who I am and how I relate to others. These experiences reinforced my conviction that identity is always shaped by the contexts and communities with which we engage.

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3. Navigating Institutional Environments

Working in institutions such as Technical University of Munich and Bain & Company showed me how systems influence identity. These environments can both empower and challenge personal growth. Learning to navigate them consciously helped me define success on my own terms, and taught me that embracing as well as constructively challenging organizational culture can enable authenticity and innovation.

4. Becoming a Mother

For me, motherhood marked a profound shift in identity. It invited me to reconsider my priorities, redefine success, and embrace new aspects of self. It deepened my understanding of identity showing me that it is not just as a theoretical concept, but as a lived process of continual transformation.

From all these experiences, one common thread has emerged: a belief in the power of identity as the foundation for lasting personal and systemic change. This belief is the driving force behind The Identity Institute today – bridging academic insight and real-world practice to help individuals and organizations use evidence-based approaches to understand themselves, navigate change, and create impact that lasts.