Place of residence: Hoofddorp, The Netherlands

Position: Double master’s degree student in Robotics and Space Engineering.

Please describe a day in your life:

On a typical day, I get up around 7 am, and after a big breakfast, I bike to the library to work on my master’s thesis project for ESA. At 11:30 am, it’s time for swimming! I love swimming daily during my lunch break as it helps me stay focused. After that, I continued working until the library closed at 5 pm. My evenings are usually filled with sports, such as athletics, climbing, or other activities. Otherwise, I have dinner with friends, work for a start-up, or plan activities and trips abroad. I’m all over the place and never get bored!

How many projects are you currently working on? Please describe them:

I spend most of my time working on my master’s thesis with the European Space Agency. The concept I’m demonstrating is called ‘Tip and Cue’ for remote sensing. Besides my master’s thesis, I work at a start-up called Foil Power, where we develop a new technology to generate energy using pressure differences in airfoils. In addition, I recently wrote a children’s book called Met Mama naar Mars (With Mom to Mars) to inspire children to explore technology.

In your opinion, who is the most influential person/company in the world of technology these days?

The most influential person may be Elon Musk. Besides making space accessible and creating global connectivity, his work in autonomous driving and Neuralink are developments to watch closely in the next decade.

If you could pick one app/product/project existing now that you wish you were involved in, what would it be?

There are so many! The Starship booster catch is a project I’d love to work on. I’m motivated by doing something that people once thought was impossible. I’m also super excited about the Artemis program. My main interests are Lunar Gateway, Canadarm3, and JAXA’s pressurized rover. Otherwise, I would love the chance to be involved in research in Antarctica, space debris clean-up, or human spaceflight operations.

How do you see technology evolving in the next ten years?

I expect autonomy to increase, and I believe AI will change the way we work, learn, and live. I think humans will become more dependent on technology, not only as a resource for creating knowledge and communicating but also in healthcare and enhancing our bodies through wearable devices. This will accelerate the pace of our lives, which could have both beneficial and challenging aspects.

What would you like the industry to look like in ten years?

I hope that energy use will be sustainable in ten years, new diseases will be treatable, space debris will be mitigated, and there will be enough food for all people in the world. I also hope that everyone will be accepted in their work and life.

What are the three characteristics you have that make you successful in tech?

First, curiosity. I believe everyone knows something I don’t, which encourages me to approach people, learn new things, and take on new challenges. Second is creativity. It allows me to find innovative solutions to difficult problems and envision future steps that don’t yet exist. Lastly, teamwork. Successful tech projects rely on diverse ideas, skills, and shared responsibilities. One of my favourite quotes reflects this: “Alone, you can climb a mountain, but only together can we reach the Moon.”

What is the most challenging thing you had to deal with during your career?

The most challenging thing for me was constantly starting over after repeated setbacks beyond my control. To overcome this, I found it helpful to break things down into small, achievable steps and remind myself that everything, both joy and adversity, is temporary. This perspective made me optimistic and grateful for the small things and helps me to face challenges and difficult moments with greater confidence.

What is your greatest achievement up until today?

At the age of 17, I developed an artificial eye enabling blind people to see again. It uses a camera to record the environment, which is then converted into electric pulses and sent to the brain. For this work, the Royal Netherlands Academy of Arts and Sciences (KNAW) awarded me the national first prize.

What is your next goal?

My next goal is to contribute to a space mission after graduation. I have thought about developing robots to assist astronauts or clean up space debris at ESA, operating the ISS as a flight controller, or going back to Andøya Space in the Arctic Circle, where I did my internship this year, where Europe’s first launch port is located.

What tips do you have for people wanting to start in the tech world?

Stay curious and always be on the lookout for new knowledge. Talk to people, study the principles, put in the time, be patient, and keep going when problems seem out of reach. Make your work feel like a hobby, and don’t be afraid to take a step back. Also, take the opportunities that come your way and create the ones you wish to have.

If you could say something to your younger self, what would it be?

Keep being yourself and follow your own path. Don’t worry about those who won’t be part of your future. Be proud of where you are right now, and enjoy every step along the way.

Which famous person would you like to have dinner with and why?

If I could pick anyone in history, I’d love to share a table with Steve Jobs, Albert Einstein, and Stephen Hawking. We would brainstorm new ideas, and I’d be eager to learn from their vision and mindset while also getting to know the person behind their genius.

Where would you like to travel next?

If I could choose, I’d go to space!

Do you have a person who influences or motivates you?

My biggest inspiration comes from the people directly around me who follow unique paths, like starting a business, going on analogue missions, doing military training, scuba diving, taking flying lessons, climbing mountains, running marathons, or pursuing their dreams despite obstacles and opinions. Because I know them, I can relate to them, giving me the vision that I can do it, too.

What did you dream of creating/inventing/doing as a child?

As a child, I dreamed of becoming an astronaut, inventing a time travel and teleportation machine, attending Hogwarts, competing in the Olympic Games, solving the mystery of black holes, and winning a Nobel Prize for it, along with many other things!

What advice do you give young girls who want similar careers?

Follow your interests, and don’t doubt yourself; just go out and do. The most direct path is to start an engineering degree and continue learning with passion and dedication. Don’t feel the need to prove anything to anyone. Share your drive with others, and being unique and true to yourself will take you far in life.