At our first in-person Yardi RISE event in Amsterdam, and our first RISE with ALLIES, we had the privilege of hosting a fireside chat with Elke Snijder, CFO of NSI, who shared her candid and inspiring journey as a leader, mother, former athlete and advocate for work-life balance.
Snijder spoke openly about work-life balance in leadership and how she has navigated career growth while raising a family, including the realities of making it work. One of her key messages: You can’t do it all – so pay for help where you can and let go of the guilt. From hiring cleaners, nannies, and gardeners, to setting clear priorities, she emphasised that balance is possible when you invest in support and stop striving for perfection in every area.
Other highlights from Elke’s story for a better work-life balance in leadership:
- Both she and her partner worked full-time, utilising flexible arrangements (e.g. four long days instead of five) to lessen childcare needs.
- She described how she let go of guilt about not joining every school activity, focusing instead on what mattered most to her and her family.
- Elke shared her experience as a woman in male-dominated industries, such as real estate and private equity, calling for more solidarity among women rather than unnecessary competition.
- On leadership, she urged people to capitalise on their strengths and not waste energy trying to excel at everything. “Be clear about what you’re not good at – and delegate that well.”
- She spoke about the power of flexibility – working where and when it suits, as long as responsibilities are met.
We also explored these themes in our roundtable discussion, where participants reflected on letting go of societal pressures, challenging gender stereotypes, and lowering the bar in areas where perfectionism can be exhausting.
The event wrapped up with the Wheel of Life self-assessment. This gave everyone a chance to reflect on how balanced their life feels across areas, including career, family, health and personal growth. A quick quiz reminded us that:
- The 25–35 age group is most at risk of workplace mental health challenges.
- Only 35% of women are encouraged to pursue leadership roles.
The RISE event in Amsterdam was a valuable reminder that balance looks different for everyone, and what matters is finding what works for you, setting boundaries, and focusing on what brings fulfilment.
Want to learn more about Yardi RISE? Check out our previous posts or follow the hashtag #RiseWithYardi on socials.