Sometimes, the path to a dream career isn’t linear. For Brendy Batenburg, a passion for international development and sustainability eventually led her to a life as a digital nomad, working remotely from exotic locations around the world. In this interview, Brendy shares the story of her career transformation, from her roots in project consulting to finding freedom in freelance work, and how following her intuition changed everything.
The Road to a Career in Sustainability
Brendy’s career began with a strong academic foundation. She studied International Development Studies at Wageningen University, where her interest in global issues and different cultures first took shape. During her studies, Brendy discovered a love for blogging and social media, especially LinkedIn, and began helping her fellow students optimize their profiles and build their networks. It wasn’t long before she started offering LinkedIn training alongside her studies, and by 2016, she had already stepped into the world of networking and social media.
After completing her Bachelor’s, Brendy pursued a Master’s in Sustainable Development at Utrecht University. The relationship between people and nature fascinated her, and she wanted to contribute to solving sustainability challenges. Upon graduating, she worked as a Junior Project Consultant in sustainable housing, collaborating with municipalities and housing corporations. The work was rewarding, and the colleagues were great—but something was missing.
The Turning Point: Japan
Brendy’s career took an unexpected turn when she moved to Japan with her partner. They both shared a love for the country, and after finishing her Master’s, Brendy joined him there. But after a few months, her partner’s job as an English teacher became physically unsustainable, and they found themselves in a tough spot. With only a small amount of savings and a string of job rejections, Brendy faced the harsh reality that their time in Japan was limited. They moved to Tokyo, hoping for a breakthrough, but eventually, they had to return to the Netherlands.
It was a heart-wrenching decision, especially since Brendy had just begun to get a taste of the adventure she had dreamed of for so long. Once back in the Netherlands, she took up a job as a project consultant and set her sights on saving money and climbing the career ladder in the hopes of returning abroad. However, after a year of hard work, promotions, and little free time, Brendy realized that the corporate grind wasn’t fulfilling her. She felt disconnected from her true passions and longed for a different way of living.
Discovering the Digital Nomad Lifestyle
The turning point came in 2018 when Brendy stumbled upon content online about the digital nomad lifestyle. She saw YouTubers and bloggers sharing how they worked remotely while traveling the world. It was a game-changer. The idea of working online from anywhere, all while exploring new places, felt like the perfect fit.
Inspired, Brendy decided to approach her manager at the time with a bold proposal: what if she could continue working remotely? She explained that much of her job involved writing reports and project proposals, tasks that could easily be done online. After some preparation and with a bit of nervousness, Brendy pitched her idea, and her manager agreed to give her a trial run working remotely from Singapore.
However, things didn’t go as planned. While in Singapore, Brendy was “ghosted” by her client, and once she returned, she was let go from the project. That experience was the catalyst she needed. It became clear that her dream of living and working remotely wouldn’t work with a traditional job or a government organization.
Taking the Leap: From Employee to Entrepreneur
The most difficult part of Brendy’s transition was leaving her stable job behind and embracing the uncertainty of freelancing. She made the decision to build her own business and find her own clients. But once she made the leap, things started to fall into place. She began offering LinkedIn training more seriously, helping corporate teams and student organizations improve their online presence. She also took on marketing work, leveraging her previous experience to diversify her skillset.
Over time, Brendy started working part-time for a company in Facebook advertising, using it as an opportunity to learn and gradually build her business. By 2020, she was working fully for herself, and by 2021, she was living the remote work dream.
The Joys of Remote Work and the Freedom to Choose
Now that she’s fully embraced the digital nomad lifestyle, Brendy finds immense satisfaction in choosing clients who align with her values and strengths. Working for herself has not only given her the freedom to choose her clients, but it has also provided the flexibility to work from anywhere. Brendy has spent the past few years working remotely from destinations like the Maldives, Sri Lanka, and Bali, with occasional visits to the Netherlands.
“Being able to choose what clients I work with and doing what I’m really good at—while enjoying the lifestyle I always dreamed of—is incredibly fulfilling,” says Brendy. “It’s a perfect balance of professional and personal satisfaction.”
Advice for Anyone Considering a Career Change
When asked what advice she would give to others contemplating a career switch, Brendy’s answer is simple: trust your intuition. “Your gut instinct is already telling you what you really want. Listen to it. It’s totally worth it,” she says. “When I saw others living the dream life I wanted, it felt so right for me. I just knew I had to go for it.”
Find Brendy Online
If you want to learn more about Brendy or connect with her for LinkedIn coaching, you can find her on LinkedIn or on Instagram at @happylinkedintrainer.
