Two worlds coming together

That changed when she became involved with Stichting Blootnodig, where alongside her work at PwC she contributes to positive sex education and healthy sexual development for young people across the Netherlands.

“Now two worlds are coming together that are important to me,” she says. “That’s exactly what makes this project so special.”

Pro bono assignment

When the foundation started looking for a more stable revenue model, Chanel submitted the request to PwC’s Community Program. This turned Blootnodig into a pro bono project (ed. an unpaid project for the public good). Chanel herself joined the project as a consultant, together with colleagues Hannah Vear and Donovan Lewis.

Chanel, Hannah and Donovan work in PwC’s Experience Consulting team. In their day-to-day work, they design processes and (digital) products with the end user at the center, at the intersection of people, design and technology. They brought that perspective to Blootnodig.

The power of the PwC network

“The request for a third source of income is one we hear more often from foundations,” Hannah explains. “It’s a broad question. In the initial conversations, we were able to sharpen the focus quickly: new income through corporate partners, and through students as a new target group.”

For Donovan, the project immediately felt different from his usual assignments.
“Normally we work for large organizations, with hierarchies and fixed processes. Blootnodig is small. That leaves room to think more creatively and innovatively.”

Hannah agrees and notices that creativity reflected in the pace of the project. “We were able to speak with many student associations quickly and explore potential solutions. That created a broadly supported understanding.”

Chanel adds, “What’s great is that through PwC’s network we can also help small organizations. There’s almost always a way into the board of, for example, an educational institution.”

Impact you can see immediately

What made the project special for all three of them was the visible impact.

Chanel explains, “We developed, among other things, a sales deck that Blootnodig can use to approach corporate partners. Shortly after delivery, we heard that the first new partner had already joined.”

Donovan remembers that moment clearly. “Normally you see the impact of your work much later. Or not at all. Here, we felt it immediately. The client’s gratitude made it extra special.”

For Chanel, that impact goes even further. “With stable financing, Blootnodig can hire more trainers and develop new training programs. That means we can reach more young people with knowledge about sexuality, boundaries and pleasure. That makes the work tangible.”

Growing as a professional and as a person

The project didn’t just mean something for the foundation, but also for themselves.

Donovan noticed how much he had learned over the past few years.
“We’re often brought in at difficult moments for clients. Then you’re mainly focused on solving problems and moving forward. Through this project and the enthusiastic response from the client, I realized how many steps I’ve already taken — as a consultant and as a person. I’m proud of that.”

Hannah recognizes that feeling. “In projects like this, you work independently and sometimes at a higher level than you’re used to. That’s exciting, but above all very educational. And it’s an experience you can take with you to other clients as well.”

For Chanel, something else became clear. “Consultancy and positive sex education may seem like two different worlds. This project showed that they can actually come together very well. That gave direction to what I really want.”

Donovan nods. “Sometimes your work-self and who you are privately merge. That creates space to continue developing yourself. This project is a great example of that.”

Room to find your own direction

When Chanel started at PwC, she didn’t yet know where her destination would be.
“I never imagined that so many different projects would come my way. That allows me now to choose work that aligns with my social interests, such as women’s rights and emancipation. It may be a niche, but those assignments do exist. Even within a large organization like PwC.”

Hannah sees that as the organization’s strength. “There are an incredible number of possibilities here. Whether you choose commercial assignments or socially relevant projects — there’s always something new to discover that aligns with what you find important. This story shows that clearly.”