Krista Bongers

I have always been an outdoorsy person. As a child, I loved playing in the street with friends or heading out into nature on my own to invent stories. Nature has remained a constant source of inspiration for me. I love hiking—through the mountains, in the snow, or wading across rivers. In the evenings, I prefer to pitch my tent out in the wild and eat under a starry sky—whether I’m with my partner, my children, our dog, or simply on my own. What began as play and storytelling evolved into a way of perceiving the world.

Nature inspires me to think in terms of systems: nothing exists in isolation. In my role as a leader in the healthcare sector, this perspective helps me look beyond individual issues to consider the underlying relationships, patterns, and their impact on the whole. I see how diversity strengthens a system and how change unfolds in cycles rather than along a straight line. I apply these insights daily in my work—currently as a director in elderly care.

In 2025, I completed a year-long program on “natural leadership”. This experience not only deepened my own desire to take responsibility as a leader but also fueled my
passion for inspiring others to do the same. That is why I enthusiastically draw upon my experiences when guiding “leadership trails.” At FNL, nature, hiking, and leadership come together for me. Along the way, I invite participants to pause and reflect on the insights that nature can offer—believing that the combination of movement, mindful attention, and reflection is key to this process.