Cultivating Change: Veronika Brantová’s Path to Purpose and Sustainability

Veronika Brantová, a Class of 2009 graduate and former ISP Scholarship student, has dedicated her life and career to regenerative leadership, sustainable development, and meaningful transformation in education. Based in the Netherlands, where she’s lived for the past 15 years, Veronika continues to explore the role of nature, identity, and connection in shaping how we lead and live.

 

In this Q&A, she reflects on her time at ISP, how receiving a scholarship changed her path, and what advice she would give to her younger self.

Where in the world are you and what are you doing?

I have been living in the Netherlands for the past 15 years – I’ve lived in Maastricht, Rotterdam and currently reside in Gouda, which is located between Rotterdam and The Hague. I am a mother of two children, a passionate gardener growing my own food, and I continue my life journey with a love for learning.

I have dedicated my career to ‘making the change I wish to see’ — moving from public sector consulting to regenerative development and leadership in higher education. Currently, I serve as an advisor and researcher at The Hague University of Applied Sciences. As advisor, my role is to guide and facilitate the transition of the organisation toward being an active contributor to a sustainable and just world. I advise on how to re-shape curricula to meaningfully integrate education for sustainable development and prepare future learners to become meaningful contributors to the many socio-economic transitions the world is facing. On the operations side, I support the transition of the organisation to become climate neutral and contribute to biodiversity through our campuses.

Since last year, I have followed my urge to learn — through research. As a researcher in the field of regenerative leadership, I focus on what qualities humans need to develop to be meaningful contributors to life on Earth. Stewards of systems transitions. Right now, I’m preparing a PhD proposal in human–nature relations and how transformative learning experiences in nature can shape leadership identity, especially within the context of higher education and professional practice.

Starting next year, I’ll be teaching in the Master’s programme in Sustainability Transitions. I’m really looking forward to it. The course will integrate a regenerative way of thinking, because we believe that sustainability is no longer the paradigm that serves the collective to transition. We need to reconnect with ourselves, with our communities, with nature, and with the land we live on. Teaching from this premise just makes my heart sing.

If you could go back and give advice to your high school self, what would that be?

My advice would be: get to know yourself AND how you can be of service. Ask yourself, “What is my way to contribute to this time on Earth?”

For a very long time I was looking at how I could save the world and sought external motivations. I’ve learned that it’s about loving the world and caring for it in our best capacity. Discovering the capacity each individual has — taking time for that discovery — that’s something I didn’t pay attention to for a long time. Instead, I spent way too long trying to ‘make a career’, working hard to meet others’ standards or worrying about what others thought about me.

It took me a long time to learn that what matters is getting to know myself, becoming part of a meaningful community, and healing any parts of myself or my past that might hold me back from realising my own potential to contribute and serve.

Is there a particular teacher, staff member, or classmate who has had a lasting impact on you?

I loved my maths classes, and although I don’t remember my teacher’s name anymore (she was there in my last half year), she was such a busy bee and incredibly sharp. I was quite good at maths and also in the humanities. I received an award for math – from this teacher specifically. That made me really proud, as she was a person I admired.

I also loved our English teacher. Again, I can’t recall his name, but I remember him so fondly. He led us on a trip to St. Petersburg for a Model United Nations, and I can still hear him passionately discussing Dostoevsky. He had a deep love for literature and wisdom, and he encouraged us to think for ourselves.

The most impactful person at ISP for me was Caitlyn Schultz (note: I’m not sure if this is the correct spelling of her name), our counsellor. She truly helped me take my next steps. Without her, I wouldn’t have ended up in the Netherlands or at the University College Maastricht, which was one of the best steps in my life. Every time I think about ISP, she’s the person I hold most dear.

Oh, and I also loved Spanish class — mostly because the teacher was very funny about perfecting the “RRR” sound!

 

Was there something at ISP that stimulated your interest in your current field or future career plans?

ISP taught me to be independent. Winning a scholarship meant moving away from my family and living on my own. I also supported myself by teaching English. That experience helped me become self-reliant.

It wasn’t necessarily the academic knowledge from ISP, but rather the environment — it was safe, and it allowed me to be myself. I never really fit into any particular group, but I felt like I could be my authentic self.

How has the scholarship program shaped your experience at ISP and influenced your outlook on life?

Getting that scholarship was a huge moment for me. I’m extremely proud and grateful for it. I applied because I wanted to study in English and be part of an international environment. That desire pushed me forward.

From that, I learned that if you really believe in something, you should go for it. I was determined, even wishful, about getting the scholarship, and I made it happen. So my takeaway is: pursue what feels right and true to you.

At the same time, having the scholarship made me feel different, both at ISP and among Czech peers. I don’t even remember who else received one. I often felt excluded, although this could’ve also been self-imposed.

What is a skill or mindset from ISP that has helped you the most in your professional or personal life?

Definitely openness, curiosity, and a welcoming attitude toward others. At ISP, I met people whose lives were shaped by such a wide variety of global experiences. That exposure has been incredibly powerful for me.

Living with Purpose

Veronika’s story is one of transformation, resilience, and rooted optimism. Her time at ISP, made possible through the school’s Scholarship Programme, provided not only academic opportunity, but also the confidence, independence, and global outlook that continue to guide her work and life.