Our story started once upon a sailing boat..

Our Journey to Empowerment

Hey there! We're Tessa & Lotte, sisters and best friends who founded Novigate to help women achieve their fullest potential. Our passion for sailing, personal growth, and empowering others brought us here, and we can't wait to share our journey with you.

Our Roots: Our love for sailing began when we were just kids, exploring the waters of the Netherlands on a boat built by our granddad. That sense of freedom and adventure stayed with us, and as teenagers, we fell in love with the Greek Ionian Islands, where we’ve sailed for over 15 years.

The Birth of Novigate: Inspired by our sailing adventures and our desire to guide women to live confidently, we created the Sail into Empowerment retreat. Imagine taking a break, connect with like-minded women, and transform your life on a luxurious yacht in Greece. Sounds pretty good right?

Our Mission: We also realized the need for ongoing support, which led to our personalized 1:1 empowerment coaching. Whether you're looking to overcome specific challenges, achieve work-life balance, or find your true passions, our mission is to help you rewrite your story and find real success and fulfillment in both your life and career.

A movement dedicated to women’s empowerment and leading a happy, fulfilled life.

We founded Novigate because we believe that a world with more empowered women is a better place. Feeling empowered leads to better wellbeing, happiness, confidence, and a fulfilling life. Empowered women inspire those around them, uplifting each other and creating a ripple effect of positive change.

It’s time for women to live authentically and turn their dreams into reality. Let’s courageously create a world inspired by empowered women, cheering each other on every step of the way.

Dreaming big? Absolutely. And we are beyond ready!

Our Key Values:

Adventure and Freedom: Embrace life’s adventures and the liberating feeling of exploring new horizons, both literally and metaphorically.
Empowerment: Empower yourself and others by building self-belief and confidence.
Connection: Create deep, meaningful connections with like-minded women who support and uplift each other.
Joy and Fun: Find joy in the journey of personal growth and have fun along the way.
Authenticity: Live authentically, embracing who you truly are and aligning your actions with your values.

Meet Lotte: Your Empathetic Guide and Creative Soul

Hi!! I'm Lotte, 30, and for as long as I can remember, I’ve had great ambition for my career. However, my health situation and low self-esteem held me back for years. After graduating with a master’s degree in Global Health, I knew this was just the beginning. I was committed to continuous learning and self-development—essential when you have BIG dreams. But I often felt stuck and realized that my self-image was holding me back. I frequently wondered if an ambitious career or starting a business was possible for me given my complex health situation.

Everything changed when I sought help from coaches and mentors. I completely transformed my self-image, and now I live confidently and joyfully. With this new mindset, it was only a matter of time before my sister and I started our business, empowering other fempreneurs and ambitious career women on their journeys. New doors open once you start believing in yourself, and I’ve made it my mission to help other women experience the same.

I’d like to share one of my favourite quotes from Confucius: “It doesn’t matter how slowly you go, as long as you do not stop”. This quote guided me through my journey, reminding me that everyone has their own unique path.

Bachelor of Science in Health- & Life Sciences, VU University Amsterdam
Master of Science in Global Health, UM Maastricht University
Summer School in Global Mental Health, ISGlobal Barcelona
Certified Life Coach program, Mindvalley (Program is EQA accredited (international quality mark) by ICF, EMCC & NOBCO)
Dancehall
Elephant
The Alchemist, Paulo Coehlo

Tessa: Your Empowerment Coach and Adventurous Spirit

Hi, I'm Tessa, a 33-year-old empowerment coach with a boundless passion for adventure and personal growth. After soaring through the skies as a commercial airline pilot for nine years, I realized I was ready for a new journey. Despite a successful career, I felt stuck and yearned for something more fulfilling. Through personal development and self-discovery, I transformed my life, embracing my strengths and achieve new heights.

Now, I bring that same adventurous spirit to my work as an empowerment coach, guiding women to rewrite their stories and live their best lives. Whether you’re striving for career advancement, seeking work-life balance, or aiming to rediscover your passions, my mission is to help you find your path, break through limitations, and achieve unshakeable confidence.

I believe that anything is possible when we align with our true selves and own our strengths. Let's embark on this empowering journey together and turn your dreams into realities.

- Bachelor degree in Aeronautical Engineering, Amsterdam University of Applied Sciences
- Commercial Airline Pilot License, Dutch Flight Academy
- Certified Life Coach program, Mindvalley (Program is EQA accredited (international quality mark) by ICF, EMCC & NOBCO)
Afrobeats
Wolf
Think and grow rich, Napolean Hill

sign with text that supports women mission

We are on a bold quest to rewrite the narrative, cheering on women to chase their dreams!

We are on a mission to empower at least 1 million women worldwide to improve work/life balance, get more confident, and live a happier more fulfilled life. Because we believe that when you are true to yourself and own your strength, there is no limit to what you can achieve and do. Dreams? They will come true. Obstacles? You will break right through them.

The world is your stage, ready for what you've got. Join us in taking charge and make your goals happen. Together, let's create a ripple effect of empowerment, proving that when one woman shines, she paves the way for all women.

We dream of building a community where women keep leveling up, supporting each other every step of the way

Our dream is to be the go-to premier platform for women looking to level-up their mindset, making personal growth an adventure! Empowering women are beacons of inspiration for other women. Through our platform, coaching, and retreats, we're all about growing self-awareness, empowerment, and connect women with each other, making their lives richer, enhancing their well-being, and helping them chase their wildest dreams.