About us
Yvonne van der Pol is the woman behind Luz azul training, consulting & coaching. “It is my passion to train and coach people who want to enhance their intercultural craftsmanship. In my opinion, working internationally is a craft, where one is continuously faced with the question ‘how do I work most effectively in this specific context?’”
Experience in international development
From an early age I was deeply interested in complex developmental issues in the world and wished to support development processes. This is why I chose to study sociology with a specialization in non-western societies. In the first 10 years of my career I worked with great commitment and pleasure for different organizations in the field of development cooperation. Like many others I learned by doing and learned from experience, as a Dutch woman living in the United States and Costa Rica, and by working with organizations in Europe, Latin America and Africa and travelling in many countries.
Closer to personal development
Gradually I found that my interest was focusing on individuals and personal development. I founded Luz azul training, consulting & coaching in 2003. Since then I have had great pleasure in training and coaching thousands of professionals from countries in five continents to enhance their intercultural effectiveness.
Enhancing better understanding between people
The mission that I formulated over 20 years ago is still my leitmotiv: enhancing better understanding between people. In order to become interculturally effective I support professionals in connecting to people with other cultural backgrounds, in performing in an international work environment, in managing uncertainty and especially in enjoying intercultural encounters.
Lifelong learning
As a trainer, coach and consultant I continually focus on other people’s learning processes, but I also like to learn wherever and whenever I can. In 2013 I completed the learning trajectory ‘Online Learning and Facilitation’. I am a SIETAR (Society for Intercultural Education, Training and Research) member and participate in international congresses. From 2019 to 2022 I served as a member of the Board of Directors of both Sietar Europa and Sietar Netherlands partly as president. I have been licensed in the assessment tool the Intercultural Readiness Check© since 2007. Together with Joseph Shaules of Japan Intercultural Institute I co-developed the international Masterclass Brain, Mind and Culture and co-founded the Deep Culture Podcasts, exploring the psychology and neuroscience behind intercultural understanding. In 2017 I published my book Reflections on Intercultural Craftsmanship in both Dutch and English.
Ethics and Privacy
Intercultural and diversity training or coaching can be sensitive. Therefore I work according to the Code of Ethics of Sietar Nederland. Of course I also work according to the General Data Protection Regulation. Read my Privacy regulation here.
