Meet Gaby Lieuw, whose career journey began in corporate HR and evolved into a leadership role at Microsoft in the Netherlands. After several successful years at Microsoft, she made a life-changing decision to return to the Caribbean, where she grew up, after experiencing what she calls the entrepreneurial “click”—a crystal-clear vision of the impact she wanted to make in her community and the business she wanted to build.
She packed her bags, moved to Curaçao, and launched her own business. Her transition from human resource management to event management felt like a natural evolution—from strategic management to creating meaningful experiences as an entrepreneur. In this episode, Gaby shares how she collaborated with local entrepreneurs to design unique travel and lifestyle experiences for her clients, while building partnerships that celebrated and promoted the island through authentic local businesses.
Everything was thriving until COVID-19 changed everything. On a small island heavily dependent on tourism, imports, and external resources, Gaby witnessed the devastating ripple effects on the local economy and business community. Faced with this new reality, she made the difficult decision to return to the Netherlands and re-enter the corporate world, this time pursuing one of her greatest passions: brand building and storytelling. Today, she works as a corporate marketing leader for a global lifestyle brand.
Gaby’s career path is a powerful example of how embracing change with confidence and purpose can lead to unexpected opportunities. She makes career transitions look seamless because of her unwavering belief in the value she brings and the impact she can make wherever she goes.
This inspiring conversation is for both mid-career professionals navigating change and emerging professionals shaping their own career paths. Gaby’s story is a reminder to pursue your ambitions, trust your instincts, and believe wholeheartedly in your dreams.
