MBO Connected

Mentoring

2025

MBO Connected, an initiative of the Gemeente Amsterdam (City of Amsterdam), supports MBO students in New-West by closing the gap between education and professional practice. Through their Connect2Pro programme they pair students with professionals who can share knowledge, offer guidance, and build confidence. As part of this initiative, I mentored one student, offering practical insight while nurturing ambition and self-belief.

Mentoring

Connect2Pro provides a platform for students to learn directly from professionals. By bridging theory and practice, MBO Connected empowers students to step into their future with confidence.

  • Connect2Pro was created to ease the step from education into the workplace. By pairing students with professionals, MBO Connected offers MBO students access to networks, expert guidance, and insight into the realities of professional life.

  • The mentee’s original request focused on improving her skills in customer contact. As we worked together, this evolved into a broader need: guidance and perspective on building her own creative agency.

  • Our sessions centred on uncovering her ‘why’. I encouraged her to explore her strengths, recognise what others value in her, and connect these insights to her entrepreneurial ambition. At the same time, I introduced her to the fundamentals of strategy and guided her in applying them directly to her case—building a blueprint to anchor future decisions. Reviewing her work along the way, I saw her thinking sharpen and her confidence grow. In just two months, she evolved from a somewhat unsure, execution-driven student into a young professional with direction and vision. An absolute joy to witness and a true pleasure to guide.

How it landed

  • "Cindy is a warm and dedicated professional who brings out the best in people. With a natural ability to coach, empower & inspire, she helps young people build on their talents."


    Hansje Gravesteyn
    Project lead MBO | Gemeente Amsterdam

  • “Having Cindy as my mentor was a wonderful and inspiring experience. Her guidance, creativity, and ability to see the bigger picture helped me grow personally & professionally.”


    Romelle Perea
    MBO student | MBO Connected

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