Paula de Keijzer 🌸's Linkedin Analytics

The most powerful antidepressant I’ve seen doesn’t come in a pill - it comes from giving your time I've been reflecting on the latest World Happiness Report and its findings on how social connections impact our wellbeing. The data confirms something I've witnessed throughout my life - people who give their time to others often find unexpected joy themselves. This hits home for me personally. My parent spent 25 years volunteering at a local elderly care facility, something that started as a simple way to give back but became a cornerstone of their identity. They'd brew coffee, organize card games, and most importantly, provide companionship to residents who often had few visitors. What struck me was how energized they'd be after these visits. Even on days when they were tired or facing their own challenges, connecting with others seemed to refuel their spirit. The report highlights this phenomenon - prosocial behavior creates a positive feedback loop that enhances wellbeing for everyone involved. In an interesting twist of fate, they eventually moved into this same facility years later. The relationships they'd built as a volunteer created a ready-made community for them when they needed it most. The staff and residents didn't see them as just another new resident, but as a friend returning home. The report emphasizes that in our increasingly isolated society, meaningful social connections are perhaps our most valuable currency for happiness. As professionals, we often focus on career achievements and financial goals, but the data suggests we might be underinvesting in what truly drives wellbeing. Has anyone else discovered unexpected benefits from volunteering or community service? I'd love to hear your experiences. #CommunityService #Wellbeing #WorkLifeBalance #Volunteering #MeaningfulConnections

How are you? Three words. Asked countless times daily. Rarely answered honestly. Especially in leadership roles. But what if this routine question could become a genuine connection point? The depth of our professional relationships determines: → How effectively we navigate conflict → How quickly we can build alignment → How safely we can share difficult feedback → How authentically we can collaborate on complex challenges Yet we rush past real connection in the name of efficiency. Try this experiment this week: → When someone asks "How are you?" → Pause for 3 seconds before answering. → Then share one genuine current reality - professional or personal. → Nothing overwhelming, just something real. → I'm actually feeling energized about this new initiative. → I'm a bit stretched between competing priorities right now. → I'm good - just came from my daughter's school event and going back to work mode. Then notice what happens to the quality of the conversation that follows. Real connection doesn't require hours of deep conversation. It just requires moments of genuine presence. How might your leadership impact change if you invested in slightly deeper connection in everyday interactions?

Thrilled to see Hotel X Toronto earn WITT Certification! Having visited this stunning property during my time in Toronto, I can personally attest to the exceptional Athletic Centre with its incredible waterfront views. Their genuine commitment to wellness truly enhances the guest experience. Well-deserved recognition for a property that gets wellness right! 🌿

I'm thrilled to announce that I've joined WITT Certified in a fractional role as VP of Global Hotel Certification, combining my corporate experience with my lifelong passion for wellness and hospitality. Sometimes you meet somebody with whom you click right away - which Robin Ruiz and I did immediately. I'm honored to be helping her bring this incredible project to global success. WITT Certified provides the gold standard in wellness travel accreditation, bridging the gap between wanderlust and wellness. Our certification gives travelers confidence that a property genuinely prioritizes their mental, emotional, and physical well-being across our five core pillars. To my network - I'd love to connect with hospitality professionals interested in elevating their wellness offerings through certification. If you're with a hotel, resort, or retreat focused on authentic wellness experiences, let's talk! And if you're a wellness traveler looking for verified destinations that align with your values, stay tuned for our growing collection of certified properties. Are you working with a property that might benefit from WITT Certification? Know someone who should be part of this movement? I'd appreciate your introductions and would be delighted to share how we're transforming the wellness travel landscape. Together, we're redefining how travelers experience wellness worldwide. Let's create meaningful journeys that leave positive footprints on both travelers and destinations. #WellnessTourism #Hospitality #Certification #CareerMove #Wellness #Travel #Sustainability

What a privilege to share my 30-year leadership journey with the bright minds at Hotel Management School Maastricht last week! Discussing authentic leadership with these future hospitality professionals reminded me why I love this industry. Their curiosity and engagement as we explored my five leadership takeaways was truly energizing. "A door has opened for me regarding cultural awareness within business," shared student Maxim Wijnands. And as Lilly Klümpen noted, "I really enjoyed learning about the resilience toolkit because it's especially important to have something that brings you back to yourself when starting that journey on our own." To these students preparing for global internships: your authenticity is your greatest strength. The resilience toolkit we discussed is something I wish I'd had when starting my own career! Thank you to Jacqueline van der Meijden for this opportunity to connect during International Women's Week. The future of hospitality leadership looks incredibly bright! #AuthenticLeadership #HospitalityEducation #WomenInLeadership

That email you answered at 11pm last night? It's not dedication. It's a boundary failure. And it's costing you more than just sleep. Let me ask you something uncomfortable: When was the last time you were FULLY present? Not half-listening in a meeting while thinking about another project. Not physically at dinner but mentally reviewing tomorrow's presentation. Truly, completely present in one moment? If you can't remember, you're not alone. But this divided attention isn't making you more productive. It's making you less effective EVERYWHERE. The most successful leaders I work with aren't "always on." They're intentionally OFF when it matters. They understand: → A boundary isn't about saying "no" to work → It's about saying "yes" to presence → It's about bringing your full brilliance to each domain → It's about quality over quantity in every interaction Small shifts that make a profound difference: → Close your laptop at 7pm without exceptions → Turn off notifications during family dinner → Take an actual lunch break away from your desk → Block "thinking time" in your calendar and defend it fiercely Your boundaries aren't selfish. They're strategic. They don't diminish your commitment. They magnify your impact. What's one boundary you need to establish this week?