What others say
Reviews
It was one of the best decisions of my life to start working with Esther.
Over time, I've gone from feeling uncertain to empowered, strong, motivated, and excited for the future.
As a woman pursuing a career in sports, I wanted a mentor who not only understood my challenges but had walked this path herself. Esther was one of the very few women openly supporting and guiding other women in sports—and that’s exactly what drew me to her.
Working with Esther brought me strength and confidence; I dare to show and speak up more bravely, take more risks, challenge myself and I look at things from a different perspective. I am kinder to myself and dare to pursue opportunities that I thought I wasn’t ready for. Besides being more vocal and confident at work, I also feel more confident in my private life.
Since working with Esther, I’ve challenged myself to solo travel, having completed my most recent trip to Brazil. It was one of the most rewarding and best experiences of my life.
If you're a woman in sports with leadership ambitions, I can’t recommend working with Esther enough.
Over time, I've gone from feeling uncertain to empowered, strong, motivated, and excited for the future.
As a woman pursuing a career in sports, I wanted a mentor who not only understood my challenges but had walked this path herself. Esther was one of the very few women openly supporting and guiding other women in sports—and that’s exactly what drew me to her.
Working with Esther brought me strength and confidence; I dare to show and speak up more bravely, take more risks, challenge myself and I look at things from a different perspective. I am kinder to myself and dare to pursue opportunities that I thought I wasn’t ready for. Besides being more vocal and confident at work, I also feel more confident in my private life.
Since working with Esther, I’ve challenged myself to solo travel, having completed my most recent trip to Brazil. It was one of the most rewarding and best experiences of my life.
If you're a woman in sports with leadership ambitions, I can’t recommend working with Esther enough.
Jenny Perez
Working with Esther is highly recommended, as she creates a safe environment where you can be vulnerable. This is a prerequisite for growth for me. Esther's strength is that she draws from her own life experiences and empathises well with others' situations. What I appreciate about interacting with Esther is that she listens and reflects. The SUCCESS method is well-suited for working on personal development across various aspects, and its specific themes allow for customisation when you gain an insight you want to work on more. There's plenty of room to express your needs.
Jill Eekhart
Words can not describe the impact that you have had on me. I am getting emotional while writing this review. You are a very genuine, caring and critical coach. You can truly feel my struggle, pain and challenges and therefore you give the perfect advice at the right moment. You are a very good listener and show a lot of empathy.
When I did not take action, you always know how to mirror me and how to ignite my fire. Moreover, you want me to win big time and therefore you also say all the painful stuff to make sure I keep moving forward. You have a no-nonsense approach with a clear aim to enlighten all my qualities to make sure I reach my goals. It is an absolute pleasure to work with you and I would recommend you to everyone who would like to achieve their goals.
When I did not take action, you always know how to mirror me and how to ignite my fire. Moreover, you want me to win big time and therefore you also say all the painful stuff to make sure I keep moving forward. You have a no-nonsense approach with a clear aim to enlighten all my qualities to make sure I reach my goals. It is an absolute pleasure to work with you and I would recommend you to everyone who would like to achieve their goals.
O.
I am really glad I took the Connecting with Confidence AND Personal Branding Masterclasses by Esther as they offered valuable insights on the importance of being curious and bold, but also provided practical advice on how to gain confidence, and most importantly, highlighted the necessity to take long-term, consistent action! The biggest takeaway for me, though, was about no longer hindering your own progress by making up wrong or absurd assumptions, and about getting rid of fears and the need of perfectionism, which all negatively impact the mindset and prevent you from succeeding.
Thank you, Esther!
Luisa Giacomini
I can highly recommend the Connecting with Confidence and Personal Branding and to anyone who wishes to work in the world of sports or wants to learn and get inspired by Esther. The content was well structured, there were great exercises and loads of questions. My main learnings were to take action, be consistent and just get out there. 10/10 for me!
S.
Esther is the Queen of Networking. Ask her for a contact at FIFA, UEFA, the IOC, NOC*NSF or even Tomorrowland – and chances are she knows exactly who to call.
Roelien Piron
Founder Mind5 Training
The SUCCESS programme is a true investment in yourself, especially if you're a woman working in the sports/events industry.
Esther has walked the same path, and she can propel your professional career into a higher gear. Esther shows you what you need to work on; she's clear, practical, and with a variety of exercises (ranging from down-to-earth to sometimes even a bit spiritual), you discover your areas for improvement and receive a nice confirmation of what you're good at.
Esther has walked the same path, and she can propel your professional career into a higher gear. Esther shows you what you need to work on; she's clear, practical, and with a variety of exercises (ranging from down-to-earth to sometimes even a bit spiritual), you discover your areas for improvement and receive a nice confirmation of what you're good at.
Eva Wiggelendam
In our coaching sessions, Esther managed to get my motivation up to speed again. Before starting the coaching programme with Esther, I had a wish, but saw a huge mountain, which needed overcoming. I knew what I needed to do, but would not find the motivation to start. I did not know where to start.
First of all Esther asked me to speak about my wish. She asked a lot of questions, which made me see my project as well as the challenges and possibilities from a different angle. By writing down certain steps the project "became alive". At the same time, the "mountain" was broken down into little pieces and therefore seems more feasible to be overcome. Of course the usual self doubts came accross - and actually still do. But Esther taught me how to live with them, how to be aware of what is going on and gave me simple tips of how "bumps" can be overcome.The coaching is ideal for someone, who actually knows what to do, but needs a boost of motivation and self confidence along the way.
Antonetta Santagata
Esther was one of the UEFA Assist Experts for the Football for Women Programme in India. Collaborating with Esther was seamless, thanks to her profound understanding of women in sports. Her extensive experience provided invaluable insights, highlighting the universal challenges and triumphs faced by women in sports, regardless of their country.
Esther’s approachable nature and ongoing support have been a tremendous asset to everyone she mentors. She is a wonderful person to work with, and I wholeheartedly wish her all the best in her future endeavors.
Hem Kaur Sidhu
Head of Women's Football,
All India Football Federation
All India Football Federation
Super interesting and enthusiastic workshop! It was great to dive deeper into the topic of online visibility and to receive practical tips to work with afterwards.
M.
Working with Esther during the UEFA Assist Programme was a turning point in my life. Besides the leadership skills I learned, she gave me the confidence to believe in myself.
Before I didn’t believe I could succeed as a woman coaching men’s teams. People told me, "You’re just a woman, you won’t make it." But Esther made me believe I could lead — as a coach, and as a woman. Today, my teams have become national champions in all youth categories in Madagascar and I’ve been recognised as one of the successful women in sport in my country.
Without Esther, I wouldn’t have become the person I am today. I wanted to give up many times — but she was there to support me. Esther inspired me not only with her words, but with her energy, her honesty, and the way she believed in each of us. She told me: “Go and pass it on.” That’s exactly what I’m doing now. I also work with girls who have had tough lives — many are single mothers or survivors of violence — and through football, I help them find strength again. Whatever the challenges, I keep going — because I want to follow Esther’s example. She is the most inspiring woman I’ve ever met. I will never forget this training. It gave me the courage to lead, to speak up, and to shine. Esther had a deep impact on me and now I do my best to pass that on to others, just like she once did for me.
Before I didn’t believe I could succeed as a woman coaching men’s teams. People told me, "You’re just a woman, you won’t make it." But Esther made me believe I could lead — as a coach, and as a woman. Today, my teams have become national champions in all youth categories in Madagascar and I’ve been recognised as one of the successful women in sport in my country.
Without Esther, I wouldn’t have become the person I am today. I wanted to give up many times — but she was there to support me. Esther inspired me not only with her words, but with her energy, her honesty, and the way she believed in each of us. She told me: “Go and pass it on.” That’s exactly what I’m doing now. I also work with girls who have had tough lives — many are single mothers or survivors of violence — and through football, I help them find strength again. Whatever the challenges, I keep going — because I want to follow Esther’s example. She is the most inspiring woman I’ve ever met. I will never forget this training. It gave me the courage to lead, to speak up, and to shine. Esther had a deep impact on me and now I do my best to pass that on to others, just like she once did for me.
Jeanne Esther
Football coach, Madagascar
Esther is a powerful and strategic mentor who helps female leaders show up with clarity, authority and presence in industries where women are still underrepresented.
She draws on years of experience at the top of the international sports world, where she has firmly earned her place as a respected leader.
Her vision – consistently reflected in her writing – is sharp, thoughtful and thought-provoking.
The way she shares her insights – with professionalism, clarity and natural authority – makes her not only inspiring, but a role model for today’s and tomorrow’s generation of female leaders.
Michael van Praag
Former President of the Royal Netherlands Football Association (KNVB), Chairman of Ajax, UEFA Executive Committee member
I recently had the privilege of attending two masterclasses with Esther Huijsmans on connecting with confidence and personal branding, and it was an incredible experience. Esther shared valuable insights and practical tips from her experiences in numerous events such as FIFA World Cups, Olympic Games, and UEFA competitions, making her an inspiration to women out there, especially in the sports industry.
Two of my biggest takeaways from these sessions were to take action and keep trying, even if I fail. These insights will help me achieve even greater success. Esther's masterclass was truly informative, engaging, and inspiring. I feel grateful for the opportunity to learn from such an accomplished professional. Thank you so much, Esther, for sharing your knowledge and expertise with us!
Preethy Janarthanan
Esther is a fantastic coach. She radiates a very positive vibe. With a wealth of experience, she knows how to help you find the right paths; to motivate you to persevere, even when things get tough, and above all, to listen and ask the right questions, leading you to many insights. I've greatly benefited from my journey with her and would definitely recommend such a programme.
Annemarijn Cohen Tervaert
I was part of Kick-ES masterclass and Esther taught us participants about mastering confidence and personal branding. For me, that was the best investment I did in 2023 so far. I’ve learned how to work better with myself and recognize my strengths and weaknesses and working through them which was very important for me. I’ve got a clearer picture of myself because I had the opportunity to learn and interact with an amazing woman that KNOWS what she speaks about. Thank you Esther for reminding me to KICK A$$ and how valuable I am. Your work inspired me on a very personal level and professional level. You succeeded with inspiring me (which is hard) 😉 So you probably inspire thousands if not millions of women around the world. I truly recommend this master class, for everyone who is looking to have a big return on their investment.
Amani Ali
Esther is an inspiring leader in the sports industry, event management and someone who empowers others to become better.
I recently participated in Esther's Masterclasses Connecting with Confidence and Personal Branding.
The content of her Masterclasses was full of inspiration and knowledge. Some of my learnings: build a top of mind strategy, invest in others and applied knowledge is power. Looking forward to start implementing it.
I totally recommend her Masterclasses for those looking to advance in their careers.
A.
Below, you find a selection of spontaneous reactions and references I have received through various channels: