International Women’s Day: A Story of Courage, Resilience, Strength and Hope

As we celebrate International Women's Day, it's a time to honor the resilience, courage, and achievements of women who continue to break barriers and inspire change. This year, the Women in Leadership Podcast brings us an incredibly powerful episode, “IWD 2025: A Story of Courage, Resilience, Strength, and Hope,” featuring the remarkable Anneke Van Vliet.

From the outside, Anneke life seemed picture-perfect—thriving businesses, a loving family, and homes in two countries. But behind the scenes, she was facing a personal and professional storm, navigating the emotional and psychological toll of a life she never expected to unravel. In this heartfelt conversation, Anneke shares her journey of overcoming adversity, shedding light on the red flags she once overlooked, and offering profound wisdom for women who may find themselves in similar situations.

This episode dives deep into the importance of recognizing emotional and psychological abuse, the power of setting firm boundaries, and the path to healing through faith, self-discovery, and strong support networks. Anneke's story is a testament to the resilience of the human spirit and a reminder that no woman is ever alone in her struggles.

If you need inspiration, validation, or just a reminder that resilience can lead to new beginnings, don’t miss this episode. Listen now and celebrate the power of women who rise, no matter the circumstances.

Here are the key takeaways:

Recognizing Red Flags: Anneke shares insightful red flags from her past relationship that many might overlook, emphasizing the importance of trusting your instincts and being aware of unhealthy dynamics.
Setting Boundaries: Establishing firm boundaries is crucial. It not only helps in maintaining self-respect but also reveals the true nature of those around you. Boundaries can drive positive change in relationships or reveal deeper issues.
Building Support Systems: Anneke highlights the power of surrounding yourself with the right people who understand your journey. Whether it's through counseling or friends who keep your best interest at heart, having support is invaluable.

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Jump straight to these golden nuggets:

07:00 Family Dynamics and Healing Journey

09:51 Managing Emotions in Relationships

11:45 Balancing Effort and Personal Needs

17:34 Beyond Sensitivity: Seeking Common Ground

21:37 Faith and Career Transition

35:24 Creative Marketing Through Restaurants & Instagram

36:29 Branding Through Low-Stimulation Activities

42:36 Book Promotion and Copyright Strategy

44:53 Evolving Partnerships with Restaurants

48:58 Networking Strategy for Children's Pajama Brand

54:45 Embracing Collaborations for Women Entrepreneurs

57:27 Collaborative Growth Through Mutual Respect

KEY TOPICS:

Topic: Anneke Van Vliet's Background and Challenges

Anneke's initial success and family life
Sudden end of Anneke's marriage and its impact
Coping with running businesses and personal challenges

Topic: Red Flags in Anneke's Relationship

Fast-paced relationship and lack of boundaries
Examples of critical behavior and lack of support
Manipulative actions and control over finances
Isolation from friends and family
Emotional manipulation and absence of humor

Topic: Progression and Escalation of Abuse

Deterioration of the relationship post-children
Impact of emotional and psychological abuse
Insidious nature of the behaviors

Topic: Advice for Women in Similar Situations

Acknowledgment of abuse and difficulty in recognizing it
Importance of setting and maintaining firm boundaries
Seeking professional support and counseling
Building a supportive network

Topic: Anneke's Healing and Moving Forward

Stepping back from traditional support structures
Personal therapy and self-reflection
Learning about healthy relationship dynamics
Mark, her current husband’s supportive role in healing

HIGHLIGHTED QUOTES:

“And then one day, he said to me, oh, so what did you do on the weekend? And I'm like, that's a really weird question.”
— Anneke Van Vliet [00:06:09 → 00:06:15]

“And I found myself making more and more excuses, and that's another red flag. When you're making excuses for their behavior and the way that they treat you, which is substandard to what you should be expecting in a loving relationship, they're the main ones that I discovered in my relationship.”
— Anneke Van Vliet [00:11:08 → 00:11:30]

“Truth doesn't change, and certainly the important parts of a true story don't change.”
— Anneke Van Vliet [00:13:15 → 00:13:20]

“I told my story. And she contacted me seven years later. And she goes, when you told me your story, I had no point of reference, but now I realize that's what I was going through.”
— Anneke Van Vliet [00:21:37 → 00:21:47]

“And knowing that those boundaries will be pushed and pushed and pushed in the hope that you are going to give a little like you did before, you need to stand firm and you need to stand strong. And it will drive them absolutely batty because they're not used to that.”
— Anneke Van Vliet [00:23:00 → 00:23:15]

“Get people around you who understand what you're going through, who understand that it's gonna get really, really tough, and also find a counselor for you, not for your marriage because these people are very good at sucking in counselors. They're very good at portraying themselves to be amazing and you being the problem because you're always angry.”
— Anneke Van Vliet [00:25:26 → 00:25:51]

“Women don't want to admit to that. Even if you are in the most horrible marriage, you don't want to admit or let let people think that you're being abused because you still have this loyalty to this person.”
— Anneke Van Vliet [00:28:34 → 00:28:48]

“So finding what normal was was a big part of healing in understanding that not everybody is gonna treat you the way that my first husband treated me.”
— Anneke Van Vliet [00:33:35 → 00:33:46]

“Mark would make a comment, and I would just shut down for three days because it had triggered something. And I'm like, okay. Well, why is this a trigger? How do I process this?”
— Anneke Van Vliet [00:34:04 → 00:34:15]

“He couldn't understand all of what I'd gone through, but he could understand that I'd gone through some pretty big stuff. And he was just so patient, and that was another big tick, big, big tick that he didn't brush it off and say, well, you need to get on with it and move on and all that sort of stuff. It's like, okay. Take all the time you need. I'm here when you need me to be.”
— Anneke Van Vliet [00:35:12 → 00:35:32]

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To staying ambitious,

Annemarie