Barbara Vercruysse
Barbara Vercruysse is a Global Kindness Advocate, Mentor, Personal Coach, Business Coach, Thought Leader and Public Speaker. She is CEO & Founder of the ‘BV Empowerment & Kindness Institute’ where her mission is to offer individuals and organizations tools and insights to lead with kindness and compassion.
She has worked +25 professional years as an entrepreneur, business consultant, mentor and role model on how to become resilient with grace after overcoming multiple challenges, surviving a stage 4 cancer being one of them.
She is happily married for more than 20 years, mom of 3 wonderful young adults, and strongly believes in leading by example.
Tell us about your life before the venture/ leading up to your venture?
Until being diagnosed with stage 4 cancer in 2003, at the age of 32, I was mostly living up to the expectations of others. So I promised myself if I would survive, I would leave a positive legacy.
Tell us something about your organization. What is it about and how is it helpful for people?
One of my clients is a group of BMW-dealerships where I operate as a Quality Officer and HR Soft Skills Responsible. I am responsible for screening all business processes and guiding people to perform optimally in their job. I have been part of the management team for several years there.
My personal coaching clients are business owners, entrepreneurs and corporate leaders who are dynamic, positive, open for change and always looking to grow and expand.
What has been the response of the consumers towards your venture?
I was published in the Huffington Post and Thrive Global. I reach millions of people with my weekly Inspirational Talks on different social platforms.
Recently I have been giving the opening speech for Girl Up Jabalpur– a United Nations Foundation talking about Leading with Powerful Kindness. I have given talks on the same topic for the Soft Skill Community of Microsoft (+1,600 managers), at the Kindness@Work Conference and will be talking about The Path of Powerful Kindness at Harvard University in the Summer of 2022.
I have been selected #1 Top 50 Global Thought Leaders on Mental Health by Thinkers360. Thinkers360 is the world’s first, largest and premier league for thought leaders – including academics, advisors, analysts, authors, consultants, entrepreneurs, executives, influencers and speakers.
Since 2021, I am the Vice-President Communication at Professional Women International, a Brussels based membership association, part of the PWN Global network with the aim to help women grow and succeed professionally and to accelerate the move to more gender balanced leadership in business and society. The values that guide PWI are those of respect, courage, collaboration, excellence, and inclusiveness.
How has your life changed because of your venture?
Being faced with death so acutely 19 years ago, made me realize that life is about leaving a positive legacy; it’s about the lives and hearts you touch. Bringing a message about Powerful Kindness has become my life’s mission ever since.
Give a motivational message for the audience/women who are reading this.
All you need to succeed is already present within you.