My story: The 'Why' Behind the Playbook

The woman in this photo? That's me, Ivy. And yes, I'm intentionally keeping my back to you. There's a simple, strategic reason for it. The photo you might have seen on the homepage is from my early twenties—full of hopeful energy. This is me now, in my mid-forties, after years of fieldwork in the trenches of modern dating. I still split my time between the chaos of Rome, the ambition of London, and the charm of my Amsterdam home. I continue to move within the exclusive circles I write about. Maintaining this degree of privacy isn't about being mysterious; it's about integrity. It allows me to be your trusted source on the inside, giving you the most brutally honest, unfiltered advice without compromising my work or the people I observe.

From Luxury Styling to a Deeper Calling:

My Mission

My story started right here in Amsterdam. Born to an American mom and a Dutch dad, I built a career in a world that sells dreams: luxury, tailor-made travel. I joined a boutique agency, curating unforgettable experiences for a global clientele. This is where I discovered the magic of personal styling—helping clients unlock the kind of confidence that doesn't just walk into a room... it owns it.

And here’s the part no one talks about. When you spend hours in designer boutiques with a successful woman, helping her find an outfit that makes her feel powerful, the conversation goes deeper than fashion. You become her strategic advisor. I've heard more heartfelt truths and intimate confessions in fitting rooms than most therapists hear in a year.

And through those conversations, I saw the paradox. Here were these brilliant, ambitious women—CEOs, artists, entrepreneurs—who could conquer the world, but felt utterly powerless in their dating lives. They were tired of the endless swiping, the superficial dates, the feeling that they had to choose between their success and finding a real connection.

I saw myself in their stories. I saw the same patterns of frustration I had experienced. And I realized the advice we were all being given was fundamentally broken.

That was my "why."

I knew we didn't need more hopeful platitudes. We needed a smarter strategy. We needed a real, actionable playbook. That's why I went back to the drawing board, recruited my friends, and launched a full-blown operation to decode the system. My work isn't just about dating; it's about giving smart women the tools to reclaim their power in every area of their lives. It started with a book, but it's become my life's mission.

So, I Wrote the Playbook

I Wish I'd Had.

My mission needed a system. A real, actionable playbook forged in the trenches of modern dating. So I used Amsterdam as my laboratory. Along with my friends, I spent months testing everything—the apps, the venues, the conversation strategies—and failed a lot so that you don't have to.

The Amsterdam Advantage is the result. It’s not just advice; it’s a field-tested framework to stop being a tourist in your own love life and start playing with a plan. It's the guide that transforms you from the one being chosen to the one who chooses.

Ready to get your strategic advantage?

Your First Move Starts Here

This is your official invitation to the Inner Circle. Start with my free 'The Amsterdam Starter Kit'—the essential intel you need to start dating smarter, right now.

Inside Your Free Kit, You'll Discover:

• 💡 The 5 Mistakes Smart Women Make When Dating in Amsterdam (and how to avoid them).

• ✅ The Pre-Flight Checklist: 3 powerful tweaks to make to your dating profile before you land.

• ☕ Ivy's Insider Tip: My personal favorite café for a first date that guarantees a great conversation.