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Spargle meets Délia McNair-Lauret
Career Coach | Ex-Netflix, Google, Nike
Podcast: ‘Diary of a CEO’ with Mr. Beast
Book: ‘The Alchemist’ by Paulo Coelho
“I’ve always made career decisions based on my three P’s: People, Projects and Pay.”
What is your current role?
After years in leadership roles at companies like Netflix, Google, and most recently Nike, I decided it was time to make a U-turn. Funnily enough, it was at Nike where our path first crossed, when Spargle placed me on Nike’s Tech Innovation Team. Now, after a solid run in the corporate world, I’m focusing fully on building my career coaching business and have been diving into a postgraduate in career coaching. Turns out, this is thé perfect mix: meaningful conversations, curiosity about what drives people, and using my own experience to help others figure out their next step.
What’s your background?
I studied International Hospitality Management in Leeuwarden, a solid foundation in leadership with a strong focus on being guest-oriented and thinking ahead. During my internship, I started questioning if hierarchical environments were right for me. Around that time, my then partner was studying at an arts academy, and his creative world opened my eyes. After graduating, I took a leap of faith. Thanks to some connections, I landed a job in advertising. I had no technical skills, just curiosity and the eagerness to learn. Later in Amsterdam, my career moved from agency to corporate. I’vealways made career decisions based on my three P’s: People, Projects and Pay (also in that order).
Were you able to make the switch from agency to corporate when moving to Amsterdam, without losing track of your three P’s (People, Projects, Pay)?
Yes, definitely. I moved from agency to corporate, then from marketing to innovation at Netflix and Google, not because of a master plan, but simply by following my curiosity and keeping those three P’s in mind. Along the way, I found that each step built on the last, and that skills are indeed transferable. Working in hospitality teaches you to be client-focused, which helped me in my advertising account management role. In that role, I worked on innovative campaigns, which made me realize that innovation isn’t just about great ideas, it’s about getting people excited, aligning stakeholders, and securing funding. These skills helped me with my leadership roles.
“Netflix’s strong company values, like ‘freedom and responsibility’ and ‘context not control’, resonated with me. They weren’t just words on a paper, we truly lived them.”
How did you start your own coaching business?
Throughout my career, one thing often led to another, but the common thread has always been people. I’ve always loved working with others on their growth and development. After 17 years in advertising and corporate roles, a major reorganization cost me my job. A tough moment, but also a turning point. Do I stay on the same path, or shall I take a different path? I chose the latter, and started my own career coaching business. Which feels like the right choice to this day.
Coaching is everywhere these days, what makes your approach different?
I’m glad you bring this up. To be honest, I had my own reservations about coaching, I saw it as something people did after corporate life. That shifted when I spoke to a coach myself. She introduced me to a postgraduate program and helped me find the courage to explore this path. I’ve always been fascinated by HR, talent, and personal development, but didn’t see it as a real option until then. What makes me different is the mix of my experience at top-tier companies, my academic foundation in coaching, and well, me. Every coach has their own unique approach. Mine is about listening, reflecting in an honest way, and helping people move forward in a way that feels true to them.
How did Netflix’s company culture shape your approach to coaching and collaboration?
I learned a great deal at Netflix. The strong company values, like ‘freedom and responsibility’ and ‘context not control’, resonated with me. They weren’t just words on a paper, we truly lived them. Both in conversations and our way of working. For example, we were given immense autonomy, but that also came with a lot of responsibility. You had to act in the company’s best interest and spend money as if it were your own. That level of unconditional trust is deeply motivating to me and aligns with the way I like to work and collaborate. What also stood out to me is how self-aware the company was. As Netflix grew, it stayed true to its core values, but wasn’t afraid to adapt them when necessary. That showed me that strong cultures aren’t static. They evolve.
And what did you take away from your time at Google and Nike?
Combined with Netflix, these three companies share one common trait: a strong focus on culture and values, something I truly admire. At Google, it was all about the user: “Focus on the user, and all else will follow.” I’ve adopted this approach in my coaching, fully focusing on the person in front of me, trusting that by understanding who they are, I can guide them in the right direction. As for Nike, they taught me that if you have a body, you’re an athlete. It’s not about elite performance, but about making movement a daily habit, no matter how big or small. Taking even a tiny step forward each week is enough. And often, it is as simple as their slogan: just do it. I know it’s easier said than done, but why fear mistakes or why would you NOT do it? You’ll always find your way back, and life would be boring without a few bumps along the way.
“Making a decision is not a life sentence and if you make a choice you regret you can always change and or turn back.”
What does your career coaching focus on?
My ultimate goal is to empower others and help them stand tall. I’ve always been passionate and ambitious, and now, as a coach, I help people uncover and pursue their own passions. It’s incredible how simple tools and exercises can boost someone’s confidence in a meaningful way. We’re often afraid to make decisions. Sometimes that fear is valid, but more often it stems from limiting beliefs or the stories we tell ourselves. It’s good to be aware of the fact that ‘no decision’ is also a decision. Making a decision is not a life sentence and if you make a choice you regret you can always change and or turn back.
What are some challenges you’re facing in your current role?
There are two main challenges in coaching. The first is finding the balance between coaching and advising. I have to ask facilitating questions so clients find their own answers as opposed to putting ideas into their heads. The second is being a clear mirror for your clients. That means understanding your own strengths, passions, and blind spots. Through continuous training and reflection, I keep polishing that mirror, bit by bit.
How do you maintain a good work-life balance?
Because my work is so fulfilling, it rarely feels like work at all. As a self-employed career coach, I have the freedom to set my own schedule, which is a real luxury. Family is a top priority for me, and I want to be present for dinners and meaningful moments. That sometimes means working evenings or weekends, but I can make up for it by picking up my son from school or being there for special occasions. Having control over my time makes it much easier to maintain a healthy work-life balance. That level of autonomy was harder to find when I was employed. I mostly worked in international environments, often with US West Coast teams, which meant meetings from 4 to 9 p.m. and regularly missing dinnertime. Add frequent travel and 50–70 hour workweeks, and a healthy balance was hard to come by. I don’t look back on it negatively, I don’t shy away from working hard, but I gradually realized it wasn’t a healthy long-term path for me.
“Nike taught me that if you have a body, you’re an athlete. It’s not about elite performance, but about making movement a daily habit, no matter how big or small.”
What is your motto in life, or a quote you really like?
“Your future self will thank you.” It reminds me that doing something difficult or uncomfortable now will pay off later. I also really resonate with Nike’s “Just do it.” To succeed in any area, you have to ‘just’ take action. You have to build up the courage, put in the effort, and learn by doing.
Do you have a book or a podcast or a documentary?
My favorite book is “The Alchemist” by Paulo Coelho. It’s all about pursuing your dreams, discovering your true destiny, but also how it talks about the idea of when you truly commit to what you want, the universe conspires to help you along the way.
As for a podcast, I recently listened to Diary of a CEO with Mr. Beast, the world’s biggest YouTuber. His mindset and drive to grow his business are impressive. What really stands out, though, is his honesty about the sacrifices he’s had to make, and still makes, to achieve and maintain his success. It’s a great reminder that change, whether it’s a career shift or another big decision, always involves sacrifices. Be it in comfort, time, or finances. But the reward from making that move often outweighs the cost of staying where you are.
