Chatilla van Grinsven

Biography

In 2006 she debuted as a young star for the National Basketball Team of the Netherlands. In 2008 she signed her athletic-scholarship in the United States to play for Colorado State University, while studying BA Speech Communication. In 2011, van Grinsven transferred to Saint Joseph’s University to play for the Hawks in Philadelphia, where she had to sit out the 2011-2012 season due to NCAA transfer rules which allowed her to only have one more year to play on the collegiate level. During her last and only year remaining to play in college, she promised her coach to help lead the team in winning a championship. The following year she led the team in scoring and rebounding, broke the conference rounding records and won the NCAA A-10 Championship and led the team to the NCAA Tournament appearance for the first time in 10 years. She has accumulated numerous honors throughout her season such as the A-10 First Team All Conference, A-10 All Championship Team, Big-5 Player of the Year, won multiple times the Player of the Week Award in the league during her playing time, scoring her 1000th career point, while winning the NCAA Woman of the Year the A-10 Conference.

Living in Philadelphia, van Grinsven finished her BA degree in International Business with a focus on Economics. She became an active member of the “Heart of a Hawk” service program, where she dedicated her free time to the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia while also serving food to the homeless people in Philly with the help of several local non-profit-organizations. Van Grinsven later was awarded the Roosevelt Hunter Community Service Award for her consistent and dedicated help in the community. Later, Van Grinsven was nominated as the NCAA Woman of the Year Award in the United States; awarding her distinctive performance in the class-room, on the basketball court, and her service in the community. 

Fueled by her passion for personal growth and a commitment to sharing the invaluable lessons she gained throughout her athletic career, Chatilla embarked on a journey as a keynote speaker. Her goal is to inspire others to harness their unique talents and strengths, empowering them to reach their full potential. Today, she is a highly respected and sought-after keynote speaker, captivating audiences across the globe, from corporate environments to educational institutions, with her powerful and motivational stories. Her program, SUPERHERO UNLOCKED, is specifically designed to assist individuals, teams, and organizations in unlocking their full potential and discovering the inherent strengths within themselves. Leveraging her extensive experiences and insights, Chatilla empowers participants to recognize and embrace their unique capabilities, navigate challenges, and pursue excellence. 

Her goal for everyone is to unlock their full potential, to unlock their Superhero!