Bob Jan about his personal journey
Back to the
common thread
in my life
About Bob Jan
“I am Bob Jan Schoot Uiterkamp, the face behind De IJsselcoach. I would be grateful to accompany you on your personal journey to be of greater significance. My goal is to allow employees, entrepreneurs and business leaders to consciously discover what really touches them, in order to get them moving and keep them moving. I prefer to do this in the calm and space of nature.
My personal journey
My own personal journey clearly took shape in 2009. It was during a study trip in India that on my way to the hotel I stumbled upon a little boy sleeping in the streets. Besides the shock that this situation gave me, this incident felt so confronting and above all unfair. How can we live in a world where inequality is so great? This realization made me decide to follow the master's degree in International Development Studies. This to gain a better understanding of how we can bridge this global gap between wealth and poverty. Until about three years ago, this topic ran like a thread through my life. For ten years I was looking for how I could make a positive contribution to more well-being in countries where poverty is so distressing.
FrieslandCampina
This started at FrieslandCampina, where I was able to work as a Corporate Management Trainee after completing my studies. My wish to work for this multinational had everything to do with the fact that they run factories in developing countries. In this way they create many jobs in countries where poverty prevails. And that's exactly what I believe in. By creating decent jobs, residents get their own income that they can live dignified lives. With India still fresh in my mind, I had a higher aspiration: I wanted to contribute something to the world. Something bigger than my egoistic desires. However, due to the Western mentality of making a career, I temporarily lost sight of my goal and therefore also the connection with myself.
Agriterra in Myanmar
During a training I realized that I wanted to go back to my earlier pursuits and I decided to quit my job and travel to Myanmar with my wife Christien. Initially to be inspired by this Buddhist country. Once I resigned, a colleague approached me and told me that Agriterra, an organization that helps cooperatives in developing countries, would open an office in Myanmar and whether that would be something for me? It was. For almost two years I experienced one of the best times of my life by being able to be of full significance to others. The choice to return to the Netherlands was made when my wife was pregnant with our first child.
An emotional rollercoaster
Once back in the Netherlands, we ended up in an emotional rollercoaster when our son Noah was born silently. Noah's death was raw, full of sadness and extremely painful, but his passing made me realize how important it is not to run from difficult moments. From every sadness – no matter how intense – you get riches, love and lessons. This underlined my feeling of wanting to do something right. Doing something for someone else that is of value. Even in a prosperous country like the Netherlands. That's why I started training to become a coach. Because I want to interact with others much more. From development and growth to life's difficulties. After all, some situations arise in a way that is beyond your control. However, you always have a say in how you relate to a matter or situation. How you deal with it. That to me is the essence of coaching.”
De IJsselcoach
I have been a certified coach since 2020. I have developed and supervised professional development processes at Agriterra in collaboration with LTO Academy, Faculty of Skills, Better Future and various consultants. To be of even greater significance, I stopped working at Agriterra at the end of 2021 and I now dedicate my time as De IJsselcoach. As De IJsselcoach I am a member of the largest Dutch professional organization for professional coaches (NOBCO) and I support the work of Natuurmonumenten.
Education and Diplomas
2020
Post-University of Applied Sciences Coach Training (ITIP, diploma, 315 hours)
CPION certified
2011
MSc International Development Studies
Utrecht University
2011
MSc International Business & Management
University of Groningen
2009
BSc Business Administration
University of Groningen