Rixt Herklots
Rixt Herklots strives to create a world of equal opportunity for everyone with The Next Women, her network for female founders and investors.
Working during the time of coronavirus is no easy task, but with her team of five, she powers through in order to help as many people as possible.
Read on to learn more about Rixt, her business wins, and how she got to where she is today.
Hustle Amsterdam (HA): Where are you from? And what brings you to Amsterdam?
Rixt Herklots (RH): I’m originally from Breda. I’ve lived in Utrecht for over 10 years, and work has brought me to Amsterdam.
HA: Tell me about your business? What is your mission?
RH: The Next Women is the network for female founders and investors. Our mission is to create a world of equal opportunity.
HA: How are you handling our new “normal” due to the coronavirus outbreak? What impact has it had on your business? How has the transition to working remotely been for you? Are you being strict with a routine or taking it day-by-day?
RH: Man, the new normal has been a strange experience. My day-to-day is usually very different depending on the day. I meet with a lot of people; members, potential members, partners, mentors, etc. and that’s where I get my energy. It’s a great combo with just the organizational side of the business; emails, invoices, content, etc. But now that first part of my job has decreased immensely and I have to say that I find the walls sometimes creeping up on me a little. Next to that, our company is a business service for founders, but not a primary one (although I disagree with that), so we’ve seen a steep decline in new members right when the crisis hit.
HA: Why The Next Women? What brought you to community management and women empowerment?
RH: Funnily enough, being that The Next Women is a network organization, I got hired through an old college friend. I just started my first job after receiving my Master’s and was not all that happy about it. It wasn’t what I wanted to do, but after applying for jobs for nearly 10 months, I decided to lower my expectations and started a job as a recruiter. After four months, I got a call from my friend that they were looking to hire someone at The Next Women and that he believed I would be a great fit. So, I took my chance.
HA: What is the current state of The Next Women? Do you have six and 12-month goals for your business?
RH: Yes we do, although COVID-19 is disrupting them slightly at the moment. Our goal was to grow our community and to organize our Summit again this year. Both are uncertain at this time.
HA: What kind of obstacles do you face in your company? How do you handle them?
RH: We’re a small but dedicated team. One of our biggest obstacles is wanting to help everyone and not keeping enough focus on our goals. The mission (equal opportunity for everyone) makes it possible to work on a lot of different projects, so it’s key to determine the outlines and keep our focus.
HA: What has been your most successful moment so far? And how do you celebrate your wins?
RH: One of the greatest moments so far (and there are plenty to choose from) was the successful pilot of Fempower your Growth we had last year. This program, which is a collaboration with: Better Future, Rabobank, ING, ABN Amro, and FMO, is designed to bridge the gap between female founders and bankers. For the pilot, we brought together 30 entrepreneurs and 30 financial professionals. At the closing ceremony, we had the honour of welcoming Her Majesty Queen Maxima, which was the cherry on top. One of the major lessons I still need to learn is to take these moments and celebrate them. For myself and with my team. Most of the time, I’ve already moved on to the next milestone.
HA: How have you accomplished what you have? Did you go to business school? Did you wing it? Fake it till you make it? Get really lucky?
RH: It’s a combination of luck, perseverance, and tenacity. I often get the question if I’ve attended business school; the truth is, I didn’t, but I’ve emerged myself in this ecosystem and learned the lingo (and what it means, of course).
HA: Did you fundraise for your business? If so, tell me about your experience.
RH: No, we’re currently fully self-funded.
HA: How big is your team? And where are your team members located?
RH: We have a team of five at the moment. Everyone’s based in Amsterdam.
HA: Do you have a favorite motivational quote?
RH: “If you want to go fast, go alone. If you want to go far, go together.”
“It’s ok to ask for help. (REALLY!)”
HA: What 3 tips would you give to aspiring entrepreneurs? What do you wish you had known before you started?
RH:
1. It’s ok to ask for help. (REALLY!)
2. Celebrate the little successes along the way.
3. Take time to breath, take a step back, clear your head, and start again. You don’t need to work 100 hours a week.
HA: How would you describe your working style?
RH: Organized chaos.
HA: When you’re not working on The Next Women — where can we find you?
RH: In the gym, out to dinner, or at my favorite bar.
HA: How do you find work-life balance while being an entrepreneur?
RH: Still figuring that one out. It’s an ongoing process. Some weeks are better than others.
HA: What is your passion?
RH: Travelling, especially to Central and South America. When I get out of a plane in that part of the world I feel free.
HA: What inspires you most about Amsterdam? Do you have any favorite spots to work or hangout?
RH: I think the history in Amsterdam is amazing. The old canals, the gorgeous houses. But I’m not a big Amsterdam fan per se. Great spots are “Wilde Westen” and “Droog.”
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