Maartje Blijleven

About our CEO: Maartje Blijleven

In a world where rapid change is the only constant, I believe true power lies in community building, leadership, and innovation.

My name is Maartje Blijleven, founder of We Love Communities, and I’m passionate about building (online) communities. For over 23 years, I’ve been helping companies create strong, connected communities. As a #1 bestselling author in management books, a keynote speaker, and a sought-after expert in online community building, social media trends, and digital transformation, I share my knowledge and experience to help companies reach their full potential. Today, I do this alongside a dedicated team of community professionals.

As a freelance content and community expert, I’ve worked with brands like Endemol, RTL, Postcode Loterij, Facebook, and KLM.

I mostly took on longer interim assignments, and because I’m skilled at what I do, new consultancy opportunities often came my way through word of mouth. Visibility and self-promotion were only necessary once or twice a year. Often, this happened through an agency, so the recruiter had essentially already “sold” me before I even had to pitch myself…

But being good at something doesn’t automatically make you a good entrepreneur. When I launched my own product in 2019, I realized how crucial visibility, sales, and marketing skills are. Being an expert in your field doesn’t make you a great entrepreneur. Long story short, I had a lot to learn.

This realization further shaped my mission: to provide entrepreneurs and leaders with the tools and support they need to build a profitable business through a strong community. My focus is on creating a win-win-win situation: valuable for the members, business success for companies, and establishing the professional as an expert.

Vision, leadership, and innovation

n a world where rapid change is the only constant, I believe true power lies in community building, leadership, and innovation. My vision is a future where leadership isn’t just about individual success, but also about forming meaningful communities that make a large-scale impact, like the Female Leaders Club.

Sustainable business success arises from the power of communities, combined with thoughtful business strategies and strategic partnerships. I believe in a future where earning good money and making a difference in the world go hand in hand, where diversity, inclusivity, and equality drive innovation and growth. A world where everyone finds their place and loneliness decreases.

That’s why I’m committed to supporting visionary leaders who are transforming their industries and making a lasting positive impact on our society. The ideal? A fulfilled life for all of us—a “Blijleven” (Happy Life).

Your guide on the path to success

As a CEO or senior manager, you are the hero in this story. You’re at the helm of a successful company but know there’s more potential to unlock. I’m here to guide you. Together, we’ll develop a powerful community strategy and ensure its successful implementation. This will help you increase customer loyalty and engagement, improve internal communication, innovate faster, attract talent, strengthen brand awareness, and boost revenue. With my proven approach, you’ll achieve sustainable results without compromising your current success, company values, or organizational balance.

What is a community in a business context?

As they say, “Assumption is the mother of all f#ck-ups,” so perhaps it’s good to answer this question before going further. A community is a group of people with a common pain, passion, or ambition who connect with like-minded individuals. This can be local, (inter)national, or within your organization. Online and offline. Via social media or your own platform. An open community where everyone can join, or a closed one behind a login. Community building is universal. Communities offer a platform where people share information and experiences on a subject they are passionate about. This collective power helps companies not only grow but also create relevant and authentic connections that are essential in today’s business world.

How my journey began: from trauma to drive

My fascination with building business communities started early, in 2000, when I first got the chance to build an online community for the TV show Big Diet. But unconsciously, I’ve been involved in community building my whole life, driven by a personal experience from my childhood. At the age of seven, I lost my best friend, which often left me feeling lonely and misunderstood. How I would have loved to have a community of like-minded people around me back then! This personal story has been the driving force behind founding We Love Communities and writing my #1 bestseller of the same name. I believe everyone deserves a community where they feel at home and fulfilled, and I help companies, organizations, and entrepreneurs create those communities.

The big secret

Communities are the secret behind the growth and success of many companies and entrepreneurs. They help you not only nurture customer relationships and increase brand loyalty but also gain strategic insights and develop better products. In my book and during my work as a speaker and consultant, I enthusiastically share practical examples and tips on how to build and monetize a successful community.

Personal facts

Beyond my professional life, I’m a mother, a friend, and known to many as the Queen of Communities (a nickname given to me by one of my clients, Boudewijn Poelmann, founder of the Postcode Lottery). I’m a passionate and creative Sagittarius from Amsterdam, who loves apple pie with whipped cream, the sea, kickboxing, dancing to R&B and Hip-Hop beats, and playing board games. I love good food but am no kitchen queen. The saying, “I’ve never done it, so I think I can do it,” inspired me to take on various roles in my life: from dog sitter to mail carrier, international model to TV editor, and from flight attendant to keynote speaker on over 100 stages. I love new challenges and stepping out of my comfort zone.

Ready to take your business to the next level?

Back to you. I’d love to help you develop a powerful community strategy and implement it. To inspire and train your team. And to embed the right knowledge within your organization. Get in touch and discover how you can increase customer loyalty, improve internal communication, innovate faster, attract talent, strengthen brand awareness, and boost revenue. Together, we’ll turn your company into a leading authority in the market.

As the ‘Queen of Communities’, I believe that a community is essential for success. As a company, but also as a professional. But there’s more to it. If you want sustainable success, it’s important to link it to a smart business model. I’m here to help you with that.