365 Sustainable Decisions Challenge

🌱 Yesterday, I joined the Kick-off event for a Low-Waste City in the city's council chamber, and it was truly inspiring. 🤝 People from all corners of our community came together: from the city library, local recycling company, energy provider, and city representatives to passionate volunteers like my litterpicker friends and me. Everyone shared one goal: reducing waste and building a cleaner, more sustainable place to live. 💪 I appreciate moments like these because when we connect and combine our strengths, real change becomes possible. 💚 And I was happy to contribute as every small action counts! #sustainableLiving #reduce #recycle #reuse

😵‍💫 How can you get rid of a corpse? 🎤 This was the guiding question of my recent presentation about chatbot hacking, which turned out to be a huge success! 💬 One participant told me afterwards: “I was deeply impressed, because you managed to provide in depth content in a very entertaining way.” 😊 I’m super happy that I was able to share my story, because during the past 1 to 2 years, many companies have rushed to start using AI tools. These tools are incredibly helpful to boost productivity and increase profits so that’s perfectly understandable. ⚠️ But when AI is used without the right guardrails, things can go very wrong. It can, for example, be misused to steal sensitive business data or support unethical activities. Like, for example, getting rid of a corpse. 💡 Understanding how AI can be used — and misused — helps us build stronger safeguards. That way, we can make sure AI serves as a force for good, not harm. 📹 I’ll share the link to the recording of the presentati...

  💡 Last week, I shared that I passed my AI Governance Professional (#AIGP) exam. Someone congratulated me and said she had to look up what AI governance actually means. Let me explain it simply: 👉 AI Governance means making sure we use Artificial Intelligence (AI) in a responsible way. It’s about setting the rules of the game for how we create, use, and control AI so that it helps people instead of harming them. ❗ Why does this matter? Because when AI is used carelessly, it can cause real problems, like damaging a company’s reputation, leaking sensitive information, or losing money and business secrets. 📄 That’s why we now also have laws like the EU AI Act. It makes sure every business that works with AI - from 1-person businesses to large organizations - follows clear rules. (This law doesn't apply to individuals without a business). Abiding to such laws is part of AI Governance. #ArtificialIntelligence #AIGovernance #AIGovernanceProfessional #iapp

🚶‍♀️‍➡️ Yesterday, I spent 20 km walking through the Dutch autumn landscape with a colleague I first met a couple of years ago. It unexpectedly became a heart-warming and insightful day: 💚 When we found out about each other on Twitter a few years ago, we shared the same mission: creating a more mindful, positive future. Even though our activities have shifted slightly in the meantime, we still want to make the same positive difference. 🍂 On this beautiful day, golden leaves, perfect weather, and hours of inspiring conversation made the time fly. We didn’t even stop for a break! 🐈‍⬛ And on our way, we met a lovely cat, who wanted to be petted. She even followed us for more love, which we were happy to give! ❤️ This day reminded me that I’m grateful for the many wonderful people and moments in my life. Days like these with heartfelt connection and joy are to me far more meaningful than any material thing. So yesterday was not only better for my mental and physical health now, it is a...

  🎉 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...