365 Sustainable Decisions Challenge

  🎉 After another week diving deep into the world of AI governance, I’m thrilled to share that I’ve passed my exam and am now officially a Certified AI Governance Professional! 👩‍🎓 I decided to take this certification because I’ve seen how quickly companies and individuals are adopting AI to keep up with the trend or avoid “falling behind.” That enthusiasm is great, but without proper safeguards, it can also lead to serious risks, such as: ⚠️ - Reputational harm, when AI-generated misinformation reaches customers 💲 - Financial losses, when confidential business data is accidentally exposed ⚖️ - Discrimination, when biased AI systems make unfair decisions 💡 AI governance is about how we can make sure AI is used responsibly. Responsible AI isn’t about slowing innovation, it’s about making sure technology serves people and society safely and fairly. 🌍 I’m very happy to now use this knowledge to help build a safer, more ethical future for all!

😀 Life is good on a bike: 👟 Yesterday, I wanted to return a pair of sports shoes that turned out to be too small. The shop was about 20 km (12.5 miles) away. At first, I thought about driving, but this felt like wasting a beautiful day. 🚴‍♂️ So, I hopped on my bike. The ride was pure joy: golden autumn colors, fresh air, and exercise. One of my cycling companions wasn’t feeling great at first, but soon their mood completely lifted. That’s the magic of cycling: it just makes you feel good. 🚘 And the best part? On both the way there and back, I passed long lines of cars stuck in traffic. I couldn’t help but smile. The slower way was definitely the better way! 😀 Life is good on a bike!

  📖 After a day of studying for my upcoming AI Governance Professional exam on Friday, I glanced out the window and was happily surprised! 🙂 There it was: a cheerful smiley made of raked grass and autumn leaves, glowing in the evening light. 🍁 I know who made this “corn” circle, so it isn’t proof of aliens. But it does show that taking action sparks creativity: the idea came up while raking the leaves. 🗺️ This is how I work too: I start projects even without a complete roadmap. Along the way, I learn, adapt, and often discover new inspiration that changes my course. 🛣️ So, when I’m unsure which direction to take, I don’t wait at the crossroad. I try the route I feel is best. If it doesn’t lead the right way, I go back and choose another. It may sound inefficient, but it’s often far more productive than waiting. 🍀 Doing the AI Governance Professional certification is a perfect example of this approach. Please wish me luck! 😊

  🚲 I really enjoyed my 30-minute cycling trip today: fresh air, good for mind and body, and better for the environment than driving a car. Here in the Netherlands, we say: there’s no bad weather, only bad clothing.

  🌱 Today, during a workshop, I created something truly fascinating: a self-contained ecosystem. It’s a miniature world that holds everything life needs to thrive, without ever needing a drop of added water. 🌿 Watching this tiny ecosystem come to life reminds me how perfectly balanced nature can be when we simply let it work as it was designed to. Every plant, droplet, animal, and bit of soil plays its part in this delicate harmony. ✨ This little ecosystem is also a powerful reminder of how fragile balance can be. When we disturb it too much, the whole system begins to collapse; a lesson we can see reflected in nature all around us. 💚 That is why I do every day as much as I can to protect the ecosystem everywhere around us as we live in it!

After a few incredibly busy months, I decided to pause today. I spent some of the day with wonderful people and some of the day crocheting this cute little crab. It made a big positive difference to me: Whether it's for example crocheting or spending time in nature, taking time to rest helps my mind to slow down. It is to me an important act of self-care, which helps me stay inspired and ready to make a positive difference in the world. 🌿 🦀

The last two months turned out to be a bit too busy, but all worked out extremely well, so I'm excited that I have managed to pass the exam for CompTIA Cybersecurity Analyst! To me, it is not only a confirmation of my knowledge. It also shows my passion for making our world a safer place through my mission Unhackable! Now, I will enjoy a fun weekend, to recharge and continue this mission next week!

💪 Wow, today’s litter picking event turned into a full-body workout! 🚲 This time, most of what we found had been washed into the riverbed and trapped behind branches. The water level was low. Pulling up three bicycles, a large iron grid, and plenty of other debris was no small effort, because the hill up to the street was steep! 🌬️ I’ve never been out of breath from litter picking before, but today I definitely was. And honestly? Totally worth it. 💦 Let’s keep our waterways clean!

🫶 Wow, I still feel super fulfilled from yesterday’s initiative, one that will make a positive difference for decades to come! 🌍 I joined Planet Wild’s project to help restore a peatland in Belgium. These peatlands are around 5,000 years old, but parts of them were drained to make room for farmland. That meant many unique species lost their homes, and one of nature’s most powerful carbon stores was weakened. Peatlands actually store more carbon than forests, so restoring them is a big step towards balancing CO₂ emissions. 🌿 So there we were, boots on and shovels in hand, ready to help bring this special ecosystem back to life. Our task was to close drainage canals that had been dug to dry the land. By keeping the water in, the area can slowly become wet again and nature can start to heal itself. 💚 For me, being part of something like this is incredibly valuable. It’s one thing to write about restoration, but what actually makes the difference is making these changes in the phys...

💡 Last week, I managed to get the audience at the United Nations to look up from their laptops with a surprising twist in my presentation: 🌅 I began by sharing that I woke up that morning asking myself, "Why am I here?" It's a simple question, but the answer can make all the difference. For me, the answer was: "Because I want to." 🔥 This reflects intrinsic motivation - the drive that comes from within - rather than extrinsic motivation, which depends on rewards or penalties. To illustrate how we can spark this inner drive, I shared my litterpicking initiative, something I’m deeply passionate about. ✨ After the talk, many people came up to say they felt inspired. Moments like these show me that the most positive waves are created when we do and share what we truly care about. 👉 Here you can watch the recording (audio and slides in English): https://youtu.be/q7Wa8cO1ook

Book suggestion 👇 : Consequences and solutions regarding climate change, pollution and biodiversity loss that are not or hardly discussed in the media. Explained in an easy-to-understand way. Including ideas for individuals and companies to make a positive difference.

🌿 Yesterday, I co-organized an incredible litterpicking city tour! 🤝 Together with the Kompetenzzentrum für Nachhaltige Entwicklung (Competence Center for Sustainable Development) of the University of Tübingen, we organized this event during the German Sustainable Action Days to raise awareness about healthy, eco-friendly food and reducing litter. Along the way, we visited shops promoting sustainability, for example a zero-packaging store and a bakery selling “day-old” bread to prevent food waste. 🧹 Between stops, the group of 19 picked up every bit of litter, including over 3,500 cigarette butts. This prevents more than 175,000 liters of water from being poisoned (that’s enough for 70,000 people to drink for a day!) as one cigarette butt can poison 50 Liters. ✨ Even though I already do as much as I can to live sustainably, this event inspired me to do even more: especially further reducing packaging and cutting food waste. 💚 By the end of the day, I went to sleep feeling deep...

✨ Recently, I offered an act of kindness and never expected where it would lead: 🎤 I met Marion Masholder at a conference for speakers, during a session on how AI can support podcast creation. She asked about something she wasn’t familiar with, and I was happy to share my experience to get her started. What started as a quick chat soon turned into a wonderful conversation. 💻 To my honor, this led to an invitation to her podcast, where I shared insights into my work: defending against cyberattacks and implementing proactive security measures. It was wonderful to dive into these topics and connect with such an inspiring host. 🤝 Also, she introduced me to her equally kind husband, who has already inspired and connected me with others. Who knows where this will lead! 🌱 This experience reminds me once again: small acts of kindness go a long way! #actofKindness #kindnessMatters #makeadifference  

  🥾 These boots are about to go on an adventure and I’m excited that I’ll be wearing them! 🌍 For over half a year, I’ve been supporting Planet Wild, an initiative that brings back endangered species, cleans up our oceans from plastic, and rewilds entire forests to give them back to nature. 🌿 Now, for their 35th mission, they’re heading to Belgium to restore peatlands, which are incredible ecosystems shaped since the Ice Age. Peatlands store more carbon than forests and once hosted unique species, but centuries of draining them for farmland have left them in need of our help. 💪 That’s why Planet Wild has invited their community to volunteer in person. I’ll be joining them, shovel in hand, alongside fellow members to spend a few hours getting our hands dirty for nature. 💚 I’m really looking forward to this! ♻️ And the another good thing: Instead of buying new boots, a neighbor kindly lent me these. A simple act of sharing that saves money and reduces waste.

  ✨ Today reminded me why I love teaching: my participants in the course on #cybersecurity, #GDPR, and the EU AI Act left informed and perfectly happy! And this made me happy for a special reason: 💡 Earlier this year, I had a very different experience: in a year-long course for MindRefined GmbH, the dynamic with part of the group didn’t work well, and after trying a few things, another trainer took over with my agreement. I learned a lot from this and it made me even more grateful that today everything clicked again, just as it usually does. 📚 Today's session with MindRefined GmbH for the Bundesagentur für Arbeit was full of practical exercises and engaging content, including: ✅ Digital threats in public institutions: We explored the most common attack patterns like phishing and social engineering, and how to protect yourself and your organisation effectively even without deep technical knowledge. ✅ GDPR Update 2025: A concise overview of the most important new developments ...

  🌟 I'm looking forward to speaking at another exciting event: The Sustainable Energy Week at the United Nations in Geneva, Switzerland. I'll give this year's theme a surprising twist: 🎤 This year’s theme is just transition for building resilient energy systems. In my talk, I will focus on something deeply human at the heart of this transition: intrinsic motivation. By understanding and activating the inner drivers that inspire people to take action, we can speed up the adoption of environmentally friendly behaviors and create lasting positive change. 🔗 It’s a great opportunity to share my knowledge and experience with policymakers and other stakeholders from around the world and shape the path toward a sustainable energy future together: 🌍 A just and sustainable energy future depends not only on policies and technologies but also on people, on all of us. 🙏 With many thanks to Dr Alina Mia Udall, Sudha Setty (She/Her), Stefan M. Buettner and Igor Litvinyuk who h...

🌍 Today is World Cleanup Day, so of course, me and my litterpicking friends were out and active again! 🚬 This time we filled one full bag of trash and collected more than 500 cigarette butts. Since we started about 2,5 years ago, we have filled nearly 400 bags of waste and over 147,000 cigarette butts, all trash removed from nature. 💚 And encouraging is that more than 600 people have personally thanked us, and countless others have started conversations about caring for our environment. 📈 The initiative is even spreading to other cities! This shows again that small actions inspire big change. 🙏 Thank you to everyone who takes part in keeping our world clean – whether you pick up a piece of litter, reduce waste, or encourage others to care. Together, we make a difference!

  ✨ On Sunday, I came home from a wonderful conference for speakers and found a beautiful surprise waiting for me: 📚 I thought that the package at my door were the study books I had ordered. But when I opened it, I was greeted by something even more exciting… the German translation of my book, A Guide to a Healthier Planet 2! 🌍 This successor volume expands on the first book with new chapters designed to inspire action for a healthier planet. Its focus is on bridging the gap between important scientific insights about #climateChange, #pollution, and #biodiversity loss, and everyday people who want to take meaningful action. 💚 Even though this is my eighth book, holding a new one in my hands still feels incredibly special. And what makes me happiest of all is knowing that it will support many people in creating positive change for our planet!

  ✨ On Saturday, I repeated my listening experiment. Last time, the response was so beautiful that I felt like doing it again. And once more, it turned into something very special. 😊 As I sat there, simply offering presence and an open ear, a young woman walked by, suddenly laughing loudly while on the phone. A little later she approached me and shared that, just minutes before, she had been wondering what it would be like to sit down somewhere and just listen to people. And there I was, doing exactly that! What a coincidence! 💬 Then there was a lady who didn’t want to sit down because she preferred a conversation. Yet as we started talking, she ended up telling me her story. When she left, she said it felt good because I wasn't judging. 🌱 These small encounters reminded me how powerful it can be to simply listen. No fixing, no judging, just being there. 🌟 I will definitely do this again in the future. Who knows what happens next time.

  💡 Ich habe eine einmalige Gelegenheit für diejenigen, die sich für Digitale Transformation, #Cybersicherheit und KI interessieren! 📅 Am Freitag 17.10. gibt es in Böblingen (bei Stuttgart) ein großes Event mit einer #nxtDigital & #AI Stage. 🎤 Hier werden verschiedene Sprecher:innen über den neuesten Stand der digitalen Transformation, und Tools und Strategien sprechen, die für Unternehmen wichtig sind, sich zukunftssicher aufzustellen und die Wettbewerbsfähigkeit zu steigern. Auch gibt es ausführlich die Gelegenheit, zu netzwerken. 🎟️ Normalerweise kostet ein Ticket €197, da ich aber einer der Sprecher:innen bin, kann ich ein paar Tickets kostenlos anbieten. Ich werde z.B. live zeigen, wie Cyberangriffe aussehen können und man sich schützen kann. 👉 Falls du Interesse hast mehr zu erfahren oder dabei sein möchtest, gib mir gerne Bescheid.