Meet Rick Schols, Co-Liv Ambassador for the Netherlands

How do you currently define yourself, and what drives you?

I’m the Co-founder of Sowebuild and Head of marketing and Product, with a background in interior architecture and design. Sowebuild helps building thriving communities for places where people live, work and play. We offer services in community strategy, management and technology implementation with our suite of products and partners.

What makes you passionate about coliving, and why are you actively promoting the coliving scene?

I’m passionate about community and technology, and the potential of both to build thriving places where people love to live, work and play.

What are your visions and thoughts on the future of coliving for the year to come?

Coliving and coworking will become a hybrid solution for the real estate industry - driving sustainability, local business, experience, and flexible solutions empowered by community and connected via technology.

You joined Co-Liv as Ambassador for the Netherlands — which opportunities do you want to create for the country you represent, the organization, its members, and the coliving industry?

I want to create more awareness around the importance of community management and strategy to build places where people feel more included and better connected. Also to create a platform for the Dutch real estate industry, connecting government, educational institues, real estate professionals from architects to project developers and property managers.

How did you get into coliving?

In 2018, I moved to an Aikido community in Montreux, Switzerland as an uchi deshi (live-in student) to rebalance my life and connect to myself and my potential through aikido, yoga and meditation. I helped foster community by co-organising events, teaching (kids) aikido classes, facilitating meditation sessions and joining yoga classes. It was here where I felt the value and importance of community and what it means to listen to people and help them become better versions of themselves. After getting my black belt in Switzerland, I moved to Kyoto, Japan (2020) to pursue this journey and I now live in Istanbul, Turkey. Aikido and community helped me to regain my confidence in who I am and build a system of values and culture that I want to pursue to create places where people feel they are part of something bigger.

Thank you for being part of this movement! How can people reach out, and what can you mostly help them with?

People can reach out to me about topics centered around fostering community and driving this with the help of strategy, management and implementing technology.

https://www.linkedin.com/in/rick-schols/
r.schols@sowebuild.com

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With lots of co-love,

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The Co-Liv Team

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