Masterclass with a Challenge – Hospitality & Soft Skills in Event Management Neushoorn – Leeuwarden |
Wednesday, September 24th, 2025
After the successful collaboration between MentorProgramma Friesland and Firda last academic year, we were excited to return – this time with a Masterclass for Event Management students at Neushoorn. And as always, we brought a little twist. This wasn’t just a session to sit and listen – it was a chance to explore, reflect, and be challenged.
We opened the day with an icebreaker: “What does hospitality mean for your event management education?”
Students dove right in – sharing thoughtful answers that showed their growing understanding of what it means to create meaningful, human-centered experiences in their field.
We came together with the new role-model to the students. This time with Boaz Roelevink – musician, storyteller, and the new friend of MPF – who invited students to go even deeper.
He challenged them to think about empathy, freedom, and personal growth and being authentic in both life and work:
“When you’re in a group of 10 and you all look out for each other, it’s not just you helping others – it’s 9 people also looking out for you. That’s the beauty of empathy.”
“A form of freedom is being able to look yourself in the mirror and choose to grow. Because if you stop developing, you get stuck.” With his guitar in the background and heartfelt words, Boaz created a safe space for reflection and expression. But this wasn’t passive – it was active learning. Throughout the session, we challenged students to:
• Reflect on their communication and mindset under pressure
• Think about how they want to grow – and who inspires that journey
• Explore how their own attitude shapes teamwork and atmosphere
But that’s not all MPF interns, coming from different cultures and backgrounds, added another layer to the conversation – encouraging students to think through different perspectives and definitions of hospitality.
Student takeaways were powerful: the importance of curiosity, continuous growth, and the courage to step into the unknown. Many expressed how meaningful the session was – and yes, Boaz was definitely requested for a return appearance!
We also shared our MPF values:
• Empathy as the foundation of hospitality
• Mentoring as a soft skill
• Self-presentation as an invitation And the best part?
This atmosphere of openness and curiosity sparked three new mentees to join our program – and inspired plans for a follow-up excursion with this wonderful class.
This was more than a masterclass. It was a day of challenges, conversations, and connection. A big thank you to the students for their energy, to Boaz for your music and message, and to Firda for continuing this beautiful collaboration.
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