Kristin Unger is a corporate communications professional, an advocate for female empowerment, and the new City Director of Female Ventures Delft/The Hague. But she’s also a coffee enthusiast, dog-owner, vegan, sunset-chaser, adventurous traveler, and a firm believer that a good laugh can’t solve all problems, but it can definitely make them easier to bear. Her journey from navigating personal and professional challenges to stepping into leadership proves that growth isn’t always linear (or glamorous), but it’s always possible.
Tell us a little about yourself – what are one or two things that define the person you are today?
Resilience and authenticity are at the core of who I am. Life has not been kind to me: I grew up with an alcoholic mother, lost my father to cancer at 19, and watched my younger brother fight leukemia as a toddler, when I was only about 5-6 years old. These experiences shaped me in ways I didn’t fully understand at the time.
In my early career, I struggled with low self-esteem and found myself stuck in an environment that created a lot of conflict and drained me. Some colleagues viewed me as a threat, excluded me from meetings, or dismissed my input. Feedback often felt like personal frustration rather than constructive criticism. I kept waking up to a life I was deeply unhappy with. I was overeating to compensate. I did not want to leave the house or meet friends because of social anxiety. And, before I knew it, I had become a person I didn’t recognize anymore – I had lost the connection with myself. When the opportunity came to move from Germany to the Netherlands, I was obviously scared. Mostly of the food, because (let’s be honest) the Dutch are more passionate about deep-frying than about seasoning (laughs). But I recognized it as an opportunity for change. I left the country I was born in, as well as the job that was holding me back. I reduced my work hours and made time to reflect, check-in with myself, and slowly rebuild this connection.
Resilience and authenticity are at the core of who I am.
Leaving my marriage of ten years and a relationship of 18 years – and losing my family-in-law in the process – was one of the hardest things I have ever done. Overnight, I found myself alone in an almost empty life. Over time, I learned to listen to my intuition. It was a difficult yet empowering decision that led me to rebuild my life on my own terms. I made small adjustments, one step at a time. And I found allies willing to support and grow with me along the way. I kept reminding myself that creating this new life was necessary for me to become who I envisioned myself to be. I also didn’t mind the frequent trips to IKEA (laughs). And I am forever grateful for the people who stuck with me, as well as those I found along the way, who supported me through these changes in my life.
Over the past eight years I slowly but steadily transformed into the person I know I am. Today, I am proud of the life I’ve created, and I hope my journey can inspire others to trust themselves and take bold steps toward change.
What inspired you to join Female Ventures, and how has the experience shaped your personal and professional growth?
Life has its own way, you know. It doesn’t always give you what you want, but certainly has a way of giving you what you need – even if you don’t realize it yet. After moving to a new city, I slowly started to leave the house more and meet people. I am a big foodie, so I joined some meet-ups where we would meet for brunch, dinner, or just drinks. I made new friends there, and, two years ago, one of them – a friend of Jay’s – told me about Female Ventures and their summer networking drinks at the Social Hub in Delft. You can genuinely say that the “power of Jay” brought me to Female Ventures (laughs).
Life doesn’t always give you what you want, but certainly has a way of giving you what you need – even if you don’t realize it yet.
I showed up thinking I’d just meet some cool women, maybe grab a glass of wine … Next thing I know, I’m running marketing and writing this blog (laughs). I initially joined Female Ventures as a community member, looking for inspiration and connection. I quickly realized that Female Ventures was more than a networking platform, it was a space where women genuinely support each other. That inspired me to step up as a volunteer to support their marketing. Wanting to be part of the team and being a communications professional – this was the perfect opportunity for me to get involved.
Taking on more responsibility, creating new marketing initiatives – like this very blog, our monthly newsletter, etc. – and working closely with an incredible team of women helped me develop skills I never knew I had. Now, as City Director, I want to continue fostering that same environment of growth and encouragement for other women.
What has been the biggest challenge in your career/life so far? How did you navigate it?
As I said before, my life has been a difficult journey. My experiences early in life, but also during my first job, left me with self-doubt and a lot of it. I learned that what I wanted did not matter, what I felt was not important, what I had to say would be ignored. I felt out of control, without power over my own life and with no idea how to change that. This feeling of being stuck in a situation that didn’t serve me made me question my life choices, my abilities, my very personality.
Small moments added up, like conversations with my manager, encouraging feedback, job coaching, Brene Brown’s Daring Greatly, personality assessments like MBTI (I typed as INFJ) that helped me understand myself better. These weren’t grand revelations, but tiny shifts that made me realize I could change things, even if just in small ways. Slowly, my mindset shifted to the positives. The people who supported me – like my former manager Hannes – who wanted to see me grow and thrive, and the things I was in control of. Learning to trust myself again both personally and professionally was a long process. I sought therapy, surrounded myself with supportive people, and slowly rebuilt my confidence. I’m grateful for the incredible people – friends, colleagues, team members, and mentors – who supported me through these transitions. Now, I make it a point to create spaces where others feel seen, valued, and empowered to make their own choices.
What is your proudest professional (or personal) achievement, and what made it possible?
On a personal level, my proudest achievement is the life I’ve built for myself after starting over. I’m happier and more fulfilled now than I ever thought possible. I am part of a wonderful community. I’m in a happy, supportive relationship. I have a cat and a dog to create some chaos in my life (laughs). I am the authentic, kind, honest person I’ve always wanted to be.
Professionally, there have been some highlights as well. Being part of the teams that organised the first fully digital Annual Press Conference of a DAX 30 company – and won an award for it – building the communications of a works council in one of Germany’s largest companies from the ground up, or even now shaping thought leadership programmes and supporting the transition to a corporate structure. I am proud of the work that I do, but even more proud of the people I am working with. Without their support, dedication, professionalism, and collaboration none of this would be possible.
I never saw myself as a leader, but through my experiences with the amazing team and wonderful community, I’ve realized that leadership isn’t about having all the answers. It’s about bringing people together and creating opportunities for growth.
Stepping into the role of City Director for Female Ventures is a huge milestone for me. I never saw myself as a leader, but through my experiences with the amazing team and wonderful community, I’ve realized that leadership isn’t about having all the answers. It’s about bringing people together and creating opportunities for growth. Being able to follow Velina’s [Velina Veleva, previous City Director of Female Ventures Delft/The Hague ed.] footsteps certainly makes the transition easier for me. She assembled a wonderful team of volunteers and laid a strong foundation for me to build upon.
You’ve just stepped into the role of City Director while also managing a demanding job. How do you approach work-life balance?
For me, balance is about setting priorities. While my mind is very powerful and constantly pushes me to take on more tasks, do more things, and basically never stop, my body is very good at showing me my boundaries. It’s like, ‘Oh, you thought you could power through? Here’s a migraine and some dizziness to rethink that choice.’ (laughs) I developed a slight tinnitus that comes with vestibular migraines in my right ear. That is a strong reminder that health needs to be my utmost priority.
Setting boundaries, delegating when necessary, and knowing when to take a step back are key. Female Ventures is a team effort, and I trust my team to contribute and collaborate. I also make time for self-care, whether that’s going for a walk with my dog or to get some ice cream and coffee (laughs), or simply having a quiet evening watching the sunset. Taking care of myself allows me to show up fully in all areas of my life. In the end, my goal is to lead a joyful life. The cornerstones of which are mindfulness, setting healthy boundaries, and continued growth – all while being my true, authentic self without compromise.
What excites you most about being City Director? What are your goals for Female Ventures Delft/The Hague this year?
What excites me most is the opportunity to create impact. Female Ventures is a transformative space for me and I want to make sure it continues to be that for other women. As I have only just stepped into this role, I will take my time to explore the opportunities and tailor it to fit me. I am proud of what the team around Velina has built over the past years, and I wish to continue this effort.
My main goals for this year include continuing to create spaces where women can learn, grow, and walk away with actionable insights. If you’re inspired to join our community and contribute to this journey, please follow this link and let us know!
What advice would you give to other professional women who want to make a change?
Start small. You don’t need to change the entire system overnight. Look at the goal you want to achieve and be intentional about the changes you make. And – most importantly – don’t be afraid to step into your true self. The journey is not easy, but once you start, there is no turning back. Surround yourself with people who support you and let go of the things and people that no longer serve you. Be authentic, be intentional – life is short, put yourself first, do what brings you joy!
In a professional environment, even simple actions like mentoring another woman, amplifying voices in meetings, or advocating for inclusive policies can make a difference. Speak up when you see biases and don’t be afraid to take up space. Silence only maintains the status quo. Most importantly, support each other. When women uplift other women, we create environments where we all thrive.
When women uplift other women, we create environments where we all thrive. Support each other – because together, we rise.
If you could leave Female Ventures members with one key takeaway, what would it be?
You have more power than you think. Your story is still being written and you are in control of shaping your next chapter. Don’t wait for the perfect moment to take action. Whether it’s joining a community, speaking up, or taking a leap in your career … just start. The right people and opportunities will follow. If all else fails, coffee and a good support system can work wonders. And most importantly, support each other – because together, we rise.
You have more power than you think. Your story is still being written and you are in control of shaping your next chapter.
Thank you, Kristin, for sharing your incredible journey and insights with us.
Connect with Kristin on LinkedIn or at one of our next events.