Influencer Tirzah Libert
Interview 2023
Could you share with us some information about your family life?
It’s amazing how my paternal and maternal grandparents were born on the same Caribbean islands of St. Kitts & Nevis and Anegade (BVI). In turn, they immigrated to Santo Domingo, DR where they lived, worked and got married, resulting in the birth of both parents in the DR as well. Later on, my paternal grandparents immigrated to Aruba, where my father was raised in San Nicolas aka Chocolate City. As fate would have it, my parent’s paths crossed, and seven siblings, including myself, were born in Aruba, except for my youngest brother who was born in Curaçao.
I am the fifth child and second daughter of the Libert tribe. My birthdate is December 17, 1957.
Presently I’m unmarried, mother of Bellandonna R. Pierre and François H. Pierre. Proud grandmother of two grandchildren by my daughter and her partner.
Could you share something about your educational background and your experience?
After secondary education MAVO-4, I did evening classes in MAO while working in the daytime. I did not go to study abroad, as I wanted to start earning my own money as soon as possible. Coming from a large family with so many mouths to feed, our parents like many others, were not able to hand out pocket change. After my administrative studies, I enrolled at Schoevers to become a certified executive secretary.
From there on, I rolled into the publishing business during my marriage to my former husband, Nelson M. Pierre. After a time-out from publishing, I went back to work as a management assistant and office manager at several companies in Curaçao as well as in The Netherlands.
We know you to be a community leader and author of two books now. Can you tell us more about how this all started?
How much time do I have? I’ll do my utmost to give you the story in a nutshell and spare you the details which can be read in my autobiography ‘Go Ahead, You’re Home‘. It was the year 2000. The commotion around the change of the New Year and entering a new millennium with all its discomfort and disruption had ceased. In that same year on August 12th, 2000 my children and I immigrated to the Netherlands in pursuit of a better future. Handing over our passports to the immigration officer, he responded: “Loopt u door, u bent thuis.”
As I’m typing this sentence, I could feel the emotions all over again, as it was on that early Sunday morning of August 13th, 2000 when we landed at Schiphol airport. Fast-forward to 15 years later, this became the title of my debut publication translated into English: ‘Go Ahead, You’re Home’.
What is your BIG WHY or driving motivation to be who you are right now?
My BIG WHY is WHY NOT? My personal belief and conviction are that we as human beings did not scratch the surface of our godly potential residing in each and every one of us and what we are capable of if we set our minds to do so. I was raised in the Christian faith, so there the foundation was laid. That said, I am not the type of person to lay back and wait for an angel to descend and touch the waters. A favorite biblical quote is: Faith without works is DEAD! A Tirzah Libert motivational quote is “I am motivated by Faith not paralyzed by fear”.
What are your plans for the coming years and when do you consider that you have been successful in your personal and business/professional life, let us say 5 years from now?
My plans for the coming years are to continue doing, what I’m doing, day by day, step by step until the vision for my community project Swaen Village has been accomplished. I already consider myself successful in attempting what might seem impossible to some. I do not believe that having monetary wealth is the only success factor. Mental, physical, and most of all spiritual wealth are equivalent to success. Love and the lack of money are equally the roots of all evil.
What are the challenges that you are dealing with? And how are you dealing with these different challenges you confront?
The challenges I’m facing serve as a reminder to encourage myself and persevere, despite the circumstances. I’ve come too far to go back now.
Do you use your inner voice to evaluate when dilemmas show up? How does that work for you?
Definitely! Listening to my inner voice is trusting my GUT, which inspired another quote: GUT: God Ushers Trust.
How are you trying also to keep up with your knowledge and skill levels?
I keep myself up to speed by reading, listening, and learning. During the lockdown in 2021, I enrolled in an online course on Emotional Intelligence in Decision Making. Another certificate in the pocket.
What are your strengths?
I’m quite outspoken, persuasive, meticulous, and demanding. In the midst of trial and error, I attained a PHD in Persistence Humility, and Determination.
Do you have hobbies or interests that you are also passionate about?
Yes, I do have hobbies and interests I’m passionate about, though some might be on the back burner. I enjoy taking long walks and swimming, which I incorporate into my daily rituals, so needless to visit the gym. In the past, I did some gardening and cooking. Organizing family events is also something I enjoy doing.
If you as Tirzah would meet a stranger on the bus (let’s say in New York or Bogota Columbia) and they would ask you to introduce yourself, what would you answer?
My name is Tirzah Libert, I’m not the easiest person to deal with, nor do I speak foolishness or tell lies.
How would you describe Tirzah in one word or one sentence?
Breaking barriers: Inspire, Create, Empower Motivate.
Who are the persons that have inspired you the most in your career?
My late parents and paternal grandparents. My former husband and several other individuals.
What is a trait that is still a work in progress?
Practicing patience.
What was a defining moment in your life?
I’ve had several: when I got married, the birth to my children was. Organizing a classical concert paying homage to my parents in general and my father in particular.
What would you want your Loved Ones, family, friends, and others to say about you let’s say 20 years from now?
Not 20 years from now, as I might or might no longer be around. Today, I would like them to say: she is one hard nut to crack!
What makes you stay optimistic about the future of Curaçao as we are in the middle of a worldwide pandemic, and recession, and in the middle of growing environmental challenges because of the global warming consequences?
Challenges have always existed and thank God and goodness, they will always remain. My faith, trust, and hope are in the Divine Creator, who gives me strength. Another Tirzah Libert inspirational quote: ‘Struggles are Stepping Stones to Strength and Success’.
Is there anything else that you would like to add?
You can rise above every misery in your life. Thanks to you for the opportunity.
More info and connect
Website: https://tirzahlibert.com
Twitter: twitter.com/tirzahlib
LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/tirzah-libert-13b10168/
Personal Facebook: tirzah.libert
Facebook Community Project: Fundashon Swaen i Bisendario
One of the 250 Influencers
Tirzah Libert is a mother of two, author, visionary, community leader, life long learner that recently improved her emotional mastery by earning another certificate, this one in Emotional Intelligence in Decision Making. Her ability to break barriers while at the same time Inspire, Creating, Empower Motivate others, makes her unique in working towards achieving her personal and community goals as a community leader. As she considers challenges to have always existed and thank God and goodness, they will always remain, she is best described by two of her life mottos:
- My faith, trust, and hope are in the Divine Creator, who gives me strength.
- Struggles are stepping Stones to Strength and Success.
Being quite outspoken, persuasive, strong, meticulous, and a demanding person has made her as she describes it attain a “PHD in Persistence Humility and Determination”. Owning all the traits needed to achieve her vision for her community project the Swaen Village.
For all these reasons, we consider Tirzah Libert as one of the 250 Influencers of Curaçao, representing the Cultural and Barrio-sector.
Look at the list of the Influencers we have interviewed or reported on, up to now.