Transformation of a Diva

Transformation of a diva

I met Kim Cramer, my (proud) co-founder of BR-ND, back in 2005. From day one she made an impression.

Fresh from university, armed with scientific thinking and a serious amount of empathy, she filled a gap in my professional reality I didn’t even know I had.

Together we grew what we now call emotive thinking in branding, which eventually became the backbone of our services. And while I’m the type who keeps pushing the “transform!” button, it was Kim who kept us honest.

Critical in analysis. Loyal in friendship. Committed to changing the world of branding in a blissful way.

Then she transformed for real

Over the last year Kim went through the most significant transformation of all: she gave birth to new life. A boy named Kai.

One moment we crossed the finish line of the Amsterdam Marathon at the end of 2012. The next, her belly started to grow. Talk about a plot twist.

And yes, I saw the gradual shifts in mood too. Motherhood is a permanent emotional upgrade. I don’t know any life event that can rewrite your inner world without also bringing a suitcase full of anxiety, worry, regret, ambivalence, and “am I doing this right?”

It’s not a bug. It’s the nature of the beast.

Meanwhile, I ran the show (and it ran me)

The last couple of months Kim has been on maternity leave. Which meant I had to run the operation alone.

After years of intense daily cooperation, that took some adjusting. Mostly because it made one thing painfully clear: Kim does a lot.

I was brutally confronted with my own operational shortcomings. I missed her presence in the office, her energetic steps, the way she frantically types, and the creative spark she brings without even trying.

Suddenly I had to deal with project planning and financial follow-ups. Apparently, those do not complete themselves by sheer force of purpose.

And more than anything, I missed my business partner.

The question everyone asked

People asked me about the future.

Will Kim be back? Can she combine raising a tiny human with our purpose of making brands more human? Where will her focus be?

I thought about it and concluded: things can only change for the better.

Motherhood tends to trigger a new kind of strength. Think of female endurance athletes who come back even stronger after pregnancy. Some seem to outrun reality itself.

Childbirth is the ultimate creative performance. It kicks survival instincts into a higher gear. It tests compassion and perseverance in the most direct way imaginable.

So will Kim transform from a diva into a lioness?

For some, a question.

For me, a yes.

On a personal note: Kim, I can’t wait to have you back later this month. I’m grateful to have you as an empathic, competitive friend and business partner.

And I also want to thank Celeste Miller, Daan Koene, Annelies Engel, Olivier van Veen, Michiel van Beek, Karin de Mos, Kim van der Brugge, Daphne Depassé, and all other 23plusone friends for your friendship and support over the last couple of months.

Amsterdam, 5 August 2013

Alexander Koene

Co-founder, BR-ND