Our founder, mission and team

Who we are

The journey to Fearless:

a note from our founder, Mérida

After 7.5 years as an innovation and concept designer, I left the corporate world to build Project Fearless. On paper, it was an odd (and definitely fearless!) leap to make… but I’ve realised my wiring for human-centric design shaped the switch.

Building for people, with people, and creating empowering solutions is what gives me energy. 

It’s what I loved about working as an adaptive snowboard coach for kids and adults with disabilities. It’s what later drew me to concept design — and also made me realise the impact I could make in the corporate design world wasn’t enough for me. And it’s what drives me now, shaping and growing Project Fearless to welcome the climate scientists, creatives, kickboxers, skateboarders and entrepreneurs of the future.

Plugging the gaps currently left by society, we want to be the place where girls and kids realise they can be anything they want; where the next generation of teammates and leaders find their voice, their way. 

We create an empowering, supportive atmosphere, giving kids space to build resilience and self-confidence, learn to celebrate each other’s falls and wins, and meet accessible role models. 

Igniting adventurous and aware humans who know they can tackle whatever life throws at them, and define success however they choose.


Welcome to Project Fearless!

Hugs & high fives,
Mérida

fearless futures

Giving girls* the space, time and tools to figure out who they are — not who they’re expected to be.

We’re creating what parents wish they’d had growing up, and want for their kids now: a place where they can step inside, shed who they “should be”, and figure out who they are instead.

Where they can explore out of their comfort zones and play without the pressure of perfection: moving, building, getting messy and making new friends!

Operations

  • Mérida Miller

    Project Fearless founder - CEO & Program Development

    merida@projectfearless.org

    LinkedIn

  • Sara van Loon

    Operations Manager

    sara@projectfearless.org

    LinkedIn

  • Vanessa Guinadi

    Partnerships & Funding Manager

    vanessa@projectfearless.org

    LinkedIn

  • Elizabeth Evans-Kiikka

    Lead Coaches Coordinator

    elizabeth@projectfearless.org

    LinkedIn

  • Sophie Wodzikova

    Rotterdam Operations Coordinator

    LinkedIn

  • Nalan Akyurek

    HR Recruitment, Volunteer

    LinkedIn

  • Susan van der Meulen

    HR Manager, Volunteer

    LinkedIn

  • Irum Javed

    Impact Analyst, Volunteer

    LinkedIn

  • Chloe Raymond

    Events, Volunteer

    LinkedIn

  • Eva Vilachá

    Sales, Volunteer

  • Emma Argüelles

    Operations, Volunteer

Creative & communications

  • Aarathy Balasingam

    Motion Graphics & Video Creator, Volunteer

  • We are looking for...

    a Social Media Manager, Volunteer

    Apply here

  • Iris de Bruin

    Lead Designer

    LinkedIn

  • Pablo Chiapetta

    Motion Graphic Designer, Volunteer

    LinkedIn

  • Ayanna Colden

    Marketing Specialist & Vertrouwenscontactpersoon, Volunteer

  • Kirstie Crail

    Copywriter and Editor, Volunteer

    LinkedIn

  • Hannah Hansen

    Social Media, Volunteer

    LinkedIn

  • Abi Malins

    Lead Copywriter

    LinkedIn

  • We are looking for...

    a Website Editor/ Controler, Volunteer

    Apply Here

  • Luca van Opstal

    Dutch Copywriter, Volunteer

    LinkedIn

Supervisory board & advisors

  • Nick Clayton

    Supervisory board, Treasurer

  • Anja Jäger

    Supervisory board, Secretary

    LinkedIn

  • Soraya Ramdin

    Supervisory board, Chair

  • Kim Statie

    Supervisory board, Operations Strategy & Bestuurder Sociale Veiligheid

    LinkedIn

  • Margaret Price

    Advisory, Legal

Our amazing Coaches

Our Coaches bring Project Fearless to life out there, and we’re ever grateful to them all. They’re accessible role models for the kids who join our courses, showing them that people like them can thrive in leadership positions — and still be fun, be empathetic and, yes, make mistakes sometimes! It’s important that our Coaches represent the kids and neighbourhoods we work with, to make these role model relationships as strong as possible. 

Ready to join our Coaching crew? Scroll down and click the “Explore roles” button.

JOIN US

Want to be part of this Fearless team?

…and help change girls’ lives in Amsterdam, Rotterdam and beyond? Check out our open roles and apply today!