News: Leontine 'Woman of the Year'!
March 2011, Zaltbommel (click here for the Dutch version)
‘More than honoured’, Leontine van Hooft, when she hears she has been nominated for this prestigious title. Last Saturday, during a nice ceremony they announced the results of this election, which is organized yearly as part of International Women’s Day. From now on Leontine may present herself as ‘Woman of the Year Bommelerwaard 2011’.
As part of International Women’s Day the International Women’s centre Bommelerwaard (a region in the Netherlands) organises ‘Woman of the Year Bommelerwaard’, for the 5th time in a row. ‘Woman and Entrepreneurship’ is this year’s theme and Leontine van Hooft, CEO GreenDreamCompany, is proud to be chosen as ‘The entrepreneurial woman of Bommelerwaard 2011’.
Leontine is organisation anthropologist and specialised in organisation development and managing diversity. She strives for sustainable development in Africa by setting up her own business GreenDreamCompany, together with her partner Leon van Rijckevorsel. Besides that she is board member of the NABC (Netherlands-African Business Council).
She implicates this award not only on her, but also on GreenDreamCompany. ‘It is a reward for the whole team, a recognition for what we stand for and how we approach things’, says Leontine. GreenDreamCompany, focused on tourism area development and specialised in natural and cultural heritage, has the following core values: People, Planet, Profit and Pleasure. Responsible entrepreneurship is the key and sustainable tourism the way for GreenDreamCompany to achieve its goals in upcoming markets in Africa as well as areas in Europe. Within the tourism sector many women are involved, among others because of its accessibility. Because of this those women have the chance to develop themselves, build up a career and face a bright future. On top of that, tourism shows the positive side of a country.
GreenDreamCompany is also referred to as a new way of entrepreneurship; it is not a NGO, but also not purely business like. Leontine calls it ‘doing business between heaven and earth’, an answer to the current dilemma’s of the development sector and businesses. GreenDreamCompany stands for sustainability, and but does not sees it as a trend that must be followed: ‘it is within our genes, it is natural, just like our integrity’, as said by Leontine. Diversity is another important theme within the organisation. The strength of diversity cannot only be found in their projects but also within their own company. Many cultures are represented and the different backgrounds and insights fortify the organization.
All this has made the jury to decide that Leontine needs to become woman entrepreneur of the year 2011. Very proud and with her eyes fixed on the future, she continues her work with a big smile. Follow her and GreenDreamCompany with all their upcoming activities on;
This year she will represent her new title and woman entrepreneurship during lectures, workshops and other events. Contact us if you are interested in a reading of Leontine.