For Renske, learning has always been about making sense of complexity. A Dutch philosopher and advisor, she works at the intersection of ethics, integrity and governance, drawing on a career that spans fine arts, perfumery, teaching and academic research. “My career has been a pretty wild series of turns,” she reflects, “all unified by a central question: how do individuals and institutions construct meaning, make ethical decisions, and navigate complexity?”
Renske is currently completing two Certificates in Philosophy, following earlier study with University of Cambridge Professional and Continuing Education (PACE), including Advanced Diplomas in Research in Research Theory and Practice. Returning to study as an adult allowed her to deepen her thinking. “After years as a practitioner, I had gained a wealth of ‘tacit’ experiential knowledge, but I always felt there were a lot of things I was not fully grasping,” she explains. “Going through adult education allowed me to go from intuiting to articulating.”
What began as a search for academic credibility became something more. “I started my journey looking for a sense of academic credibility, building skills to move into academic and advisory roles,” she says. “In hindsight, I feel I found something much deeper: language and tools to help me fulfil a deep intellectual hunger, and to better understand not just the world, but myself.”
Renske first joined PACE during the pandemic. “It was revolutionary to be able to experience this top-level education from the comfort of my locked-down home.” Continuing her studies offered the flexibility she needed: “It provides a way to engage with world-class faculty and a demanding curriculum on a schedule that fits around my parenting, professional practice and projects.”
A particularly meaningful moment came when Renske recognised her professional instincts within academic philosophy. “Realising how my professional experience in ‘reading the room’ was a direct, practical form of phenomenological inquiry discussed in philosophy seminars” was transformative. With support from her supervisors, she says, “I was not crazy for picking up on these things… as a team we were able to turn it into meaningful contributions to philosophy.”
Reflecting on the impact of her studies, Renske is clear: “The Cambridge studies provided the foundational rigour that directly enabled my pivot into philosophy, ethics and advisory work.” Her confidence has grown too. “It has given me the confidence to sit at the table with senior leaders and institutions, not just as a practitioner, but as a thinker with disciplined analytical tools.” Looking back, her journey now feels coherent. “I no longer see a fragmented journey, but questions that keep returning and with that, shape who I am.”
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