Esther Vergeer

About Esther Vergeer

Esther Vergeer has held the number one position in the world rankings in wheelchair tennis continuously since 1998. She has also been unbeaten in singles since January 2003. Vergeer is a seven-time Paralympic champion in tennis, was voted disabled athlete of the year five times, and won the Laureus World Sports Awards in 2002 and 2008. On January 14, 2013, Esther Vergeer was appointed the first honorary citizen of Woerden by acting mayor Jan Waaijer. On February 12, 2013, Vergeer announced that she would retire from tennis after a brilliant career.

Esther Vergeer holds various ambassadorial roles and encourages sports participation among young people with disabilities through the Esther Vergeer Foundation. She is also a member of the Athletes’ Committee of NOC*NSF and director of wheelchair tennis for the ABNAmro tournament in Rotterdam.

Achieving success is one thing. Staying successful is a whole different story. That is the story of wheelchair tennis player Esther Vergeer. The first question that arises is: how do you do that? Where do you find the motivation to remain successful for so long? Do you focus on sharpening your strengths or overcoming your weaknesses? Do you respond to the competition or seek continuity from your own strength? Through these and other questions, Esther Vergeer draws a connection between her personal life, her successes, and the field of businesses, organizations, and their employees.

Dreams & obstacles always go hand in hand in the eyes of Esther Vergeer. No success without a dream, no success without obstacles. The pain a child feels from yet another fall on their bottom ensures that the next time they stay on their feet. Obstacles thus lead to growth. Before my spinal cord injury, I was not particularly athletic. It is questionable whether I would have reached this level otherwise. I have done something positive with my disability, Vergeer clarifies. She talks about big and small goals, visible and unexpected hurdles, and how they have shaped her path. How can setbacks help achieve success? What new goals do you formulate once your dream has been realized?

Using the 7Ds (dreams, obstacles, goals, pressure, drive, daring, and doing), Vergeer shares her own experiences, growth, the path to success, and the motivation to stay at the top. Interactivity arises by asking the audience about their dreams & obstacles. Vergeer tries to connect individual obstacles of the audience members to solutions she has found in practice.

When the opponent is in a favorable position, it is crucial to win the game at all costs. Often, you rely on your best shot. But if you want to become a champion, you must work on developing your entire arsenal. Improve your strong shots, make your weaker shots acceptable. Losing a game, a set, or a tournament is acceptable if you show up at the moments when gold is being awarded. And what do you do when the top of the hill comes into view? How do you keep yourself strong and sharp – physically and mentally? What steps do you take to stay one step ahead of your competition?

Esther Vergeer uses her impressive tennis and professional career as a basis for comparing the opportunities and threats faced by businesses and organizations. The core is that she has always been able to improve, innovate, and reinvent herself. By reflecting, putting things into perspective, looking back, and looking forward. Leading the way sometimes starts with just taking a moment to pause.

Sustainability has everything to do with being mindful of resources, the environment, and people. Sustainability in relationships is a topic that holds personal significance for Esther Vergeer. Achieving success, and especially maintaining it, was not possible for her without trust and loyalty.

Sustainable leadership is about choosing, building, nurturing, and valuing relationships. As a trailblazer in her sport and a pioneer in the business side of her sport, Vergeer has carefully built a network of people. Enthusiastic volunteers and dedicated professionals. Different personalities with different capabilities. What inspiration can you find in the way Esther Vergeer has established a fruitful network? What have been the ingredients for her in successfully setting up and managing her network?