Influencer Aissa Henriquez

Interview July 2019

Aissa, could you share with us some information of your family life?
I believe we choose the family we need and in my case I was blessed with growing up with parents who had my wellbeing, my education and intellectual development at heart. Wisely, especially my father, was very keen on stimulating critical thought and awareness of responsibility and free will. An important person was my grandmother, who was very loving and caring to me. I have one brother and we differ eight years in age. As his older sister, I used to have the tendency to be a bit of a mom to him to. At least in my mind. Nowadays, he is an accomplished and passionate professional and most importantly a devoted father and a sweet brother. I could not be prouder.

Could you share with us some of your educational background and past professional experiences as we know that you are an entrepreneur?
I studied a combination of Marketing, Economics and Languages. Later on I also did the local legal assistant course and various trainings and courses in primarily the financial services and banking sector. I have had many business titles and worked in many different fields. I don’t see myself as an entrepreneur per sé.

We have understood that you have worked as a consultant, senior account manager at a bank, you have worked in different committees to support these committees like StIP, National Dialogue, CMC, you worked for a short stint in the SGR-group, you are translator,you are active in the LIONS service club and what else?
A very long time ago I used to co-own an office furniture and office supplies business and a supermarket with a small wholesale company in food and non-food items. This was abroad. Nowadays, my translation work has led to requests to teach language skills at local companies. Even though I am not a certified teacher, I do enjoy this very much and I have been honored with good reviews by my trainees. Beside all these activities, I am also a certified BTB Feng Shui Consultant and a Certified Live Coach and Workshop Leader (both personal and corporate) under license of the Louise Hay philosophy. I have trained with Robert Holden (Coach Camp) and as Future Search Facilitator under Sandra Janoff. I am in the process of training with the Proctor Gallagher Institute (online) on some of their programs.

Our journeys have crossed over many years now since 2003 and on when you were supporting StIP the foundation in charge in those days with privatization and governance of government entities. Our paths crossed from time to time during all these years and we became interested in interviewing you, as you are a very multifaceted person that through your specific strengths you are influencing different sectors in our society. What is your BIG WHY or driving motivation to be whom you are right now?
Being of service and an instrument of Love and as such contributing in leaving the world behind in a better shape than when I arrived.

What are the challenges that you are dealing with? And how are you dealing with these different challenges you confront?
I am trying to find ways to create awareness of the need to lead with heart and mind. I have learned to talk and communicate with, and to be willing to really listen to others.

Do you use your inner voice to evaluate when dilemma’s show up? How does that work for you?
I am not sure what you refer to as my inner voice. I will answer like this: By now, I have enough knowledge and experience to know that when challenges or dilemmas appear in life, they do because you are ready for them, and they basically are invitations to grow in areas where you need it. That being said, they are not always fun and often times uncomfortable or painful. I have trained myself to say thank you. Thank you challenge for being here, thank you for trusting I have the strength and wisdom to face you and come out better at the other end. And then I ask to please reveal the lesson. Now this sounds easy but can be quite messy: tears, laughter, fear, anger they all come and visit. The point is to keep going (not keep busy) but stay with the process, try to be as aware as possible and listen to your heart and mind (meditation and chocolate help!).

How are you trying also to keep up with your personal knowledge and skills levels?
By reading and as soon as I have the opportunity to travel and train with programs I consider important and interesting and most importantly nourishing for my heart and mind.

What are your strengths?
My sense of humor and ability to become very practical when facing major challenges.

Do you have hobbies or interests that you are also passionate about?
Reading, traveling, my rotties. Lately I am feeling the need to be more creative, so I am considering writing, dancing and maybe even some handicrafts.

If you as Aissa would meet a stranger in the bus (let say in Holland or the US) and they would ask you to introduce yourself what would you answer?
Human being, work in progress.

How would you describe Aissa in one word or one sentence?
Love, Laughter, Service, Connecting hearts and minds

Whom are the persons that have inspired you the most in your career?
Locally, I am afraid I don’t have people who I have been really inspired by. Currently, I am following our Minister of Public Health. I like that she is a force to be reckoned with, always well-prepared and that she has the courage that is often lacking in our local leadership to take decisions and actually get things done.

Were they always positive role models, or were there also negative role models that you didn’t want to identify with?
I have been blessed with a number of bosses from hell and some very human bosses. Often times, I did not identify with the people in charge of leading me.

What are some of the challenges, lessons learned, that you have encountered in your life when you ultimately discovered your talents and strengths? What was a defining moment in your life?
Challenges: heartbreak, some serious family issues, death of relatives. Defining moment: death of my grandmother and death of my mother.

Where do you want to be 15 to 20 years from now with your career?
Published author, international facilitator leading with heart and mind.

What would you want your Loved Ones, family, friends and others to say about you let’s say 20 years from now?
That to them, I am a source of Love, Support and that they can laugh and learn a lot with me and from me.

What makes you stay optimistic about the future of Curaçao?
The fact that everything we need is already here and within us and that all we need is to learn to see / look at things through different eyes. We can do this and there are many loving and caring people on the island. All we need to do is connect and align. This is our home.

Is there anything else that you would like to add?
Thank you for the opportunity.

For more information about Aissa Henriquez go to: www.healyourlifeworkshops.com/teacher/aissa-henriquez

Aissa Henriquez as a Certified Live Coach and Workshop Leader (both personal and corporate) under license of the Louise Hay philosophy, coach of the Robert Holden Coach Camp, a Future Search Facilitator under Sandra Janoff, is primed to and is actually bringing this knowledge and experience to the next level in Curaçao. In doing this, she is helping others to uncover themselves and also helping to re-invent our country, daring others to dream a different life. Her diversity makes her unique in so many ways, as she is gifted in leading from the heart and mind. A multifaceted person, that through her specific strengths is influencing different sectors in our society, mostly low-key. We deeply love and respect her and definitely consider her one of the 250 Influencers in our society representing the business sector.