I'm Tien, I'm from Australia and I've been lucky enough to have been in the Netherlands for five years, almost six. In my day to day life I'm working in a marketing agency and I've also been working with some really interesting and ambitious business entrepreneurs. Building their business going from start up to scale up
Why did you decide to join After5 ?
I worked a lot with a lot of men. So a lot of the time I have really few women that I get to interact and meet in my profession. And they are usually more advanced in their life than I am. Finding the right women which I have interest or connection with is also more complicated, I do not want to just go drinking or eating, not that i do not enjoy that, I do but it’s just more enriching to have someone I can just call and ask them to hang out to see that gallery or go to an antique. I think all those activities can be done with a man but it’s just not the same experience or bonding, I feel like I have to entertain them while all I want is just to enjoy my time with someone alike.
That is why After5 really stood out for me with it highlighting connections among ambitious women.
How did you feel at A Table?
That was a nerving experience for me, i did not know if i had to be on time, what to wear, what if I end up doing all the talking, what happen if we have an awkward silence… and I kinda went there with the same way i will conduct a meeting with an agenda and possible topic. Luckily it went really smoothly, it was enjoyable, just really diverse, chatty with so many conversations. We also bonded over how difficult it can be to meet people and why they joined After5.
You mentioned that you are at a stage of your life where you are prioritizing your career, do you think that impacts your connection with like minded women?
Yes and no. Within my own network, I meet a lot of women through their partners however they already have their own direction. So if i want to talk business, ask for advice then the conversion will switch to their partners. But I want to talk to more women about those, I believe there are so many of us who would appreciate helping each other, and making a difference together doing something for one another.
So i like dating women, as in meeting friends not in a romantic way, to be with someone who is interesting and connected, driving them forward and supporting each other is quite difficult to meet them. Of course I want to talk about the best cafe and what are you wearing and I think only female friendships can have that wide range of topics that can be talked about.
What is a good friendship for you?
I have friends that I have since I was three years old and sometimes we have weeks going without talking, and it never feels like the conversation has ever ended in our life. To me that is a sign of a good friendship with my girl friends, the feeling that they are always there for you, its not that you need to not constantly invest in it while knowing you always value each other. You can pick it up, not as in you neglect the relationship but more of a mutual understanding of maturity too.
My favorite is when you send random things that remind me of you’ not as a gift but like oh i saw that tree while walking and it reminded me of you.
