New Year New Community Manager

Eva on entrepeneurship

I would describe myself as a creator, designer, maker, (aspiring) writer and connector, rather than an entrepreneur. Since my creative and free-spirited soul just doesn’t want to be shoved in the same box as a as a strict businesswoman. That said; being an entrepreneur is more than the challenges of having your own business to run. There are all types of entrepreneurial behaviours like being open minded for new possibilities, experimenting regardless the outcome, discovering collaborations, jumping into the unknow, knowing when to ask for advice, and so on.

Many more people might feel drawn to those entrepreneurial traits, business owner or not. But in my case, with a small scale freelance practice, I just have to balance those traits with staying true to my own authenticity, all whiles doing my acquisition and filing my taxes.

The path to community manager

I’ve been walking the halls of the faculty of Architecture for quite some time now, but throughout different roles. First as a student, then as a guest lecturer and starting entrepreneur, next as a teacher, and now as the new community manager of the BK-Launch.

I guess Shakespeare was right; we are merely players, and one plays many parts.

I’ve always had a love for the theatre, and storytelling in general. I find it simply amazing how a story can create a world in which the onlooker becomes the embodiment of that story. Whether it’s a theatrical play, a dance, a book, a painting or movie. It’s all worldbuilding art that creates atmospheres in which the observer can envision themselves too. Even when that world is unrealistic or fantastical.

Come to think of it, I didn’t choose to study architecture because I’ve had this lifelong dream to become an architect. Even though architecture and the build environment is worldbuilding at its purest. It was the general feeling I got while I emerged myself in the atmosphere of the faculty. I could see myself walking those colourful halls, envision the models I would make. Even without fully understanding why, or what studying architecture would mean for my future career. It just felt right. So, I jumped in open minded, convinced that the future would enfold into something wonderful. Treating my studies as one big experiment from which I would enjoy the process, and learn from either which outcome.

Here we are, over a decade later, still using the same guiding values in my personal and professional life. And I wouldn’t change them for the world.

They have taught me how to design and build my own tiny home, gave me confidence to start-up a design and build practice for small scale projects, encourage me to always search for the story within, brought me a community to live in and now a community to work with.

I’m looking forward to get to know our community of young entrepreneurs in the build environment and support them in their entrepreneurial stories.