Valery Super studied International and European law but found genuine passion in sustainable fashion and managing the first full eco lodge (Emboocamp) in Kenya. This is her story.
Valery earned a Master of Laws at the university of Antwerp and - after a brief period at Capetown University - completed her education with an advanced Master of Laws in International and European Law at VUB.
In spite of the various interesting internships she completed and the challenging positions she held in international organisations, she took a bold step towards independence by starting a fashion label and opening a lodge in the Maasai Mara, Kenya.
A girl from the ‘Kempen’ region
Valery describes herself as a law professional with a heart for the environment and wildlife preservation, in fact, for any causes worth fighting for. She found her true calling once she was exposed to the professional circumstances in The Hague and the international programs of the United Nations and European Union in East Africa, for which she had the opportunity to work. Looking back now, her professors at VUB had an undeniable impact on her choices, even if it were just in terms of mindset.
“When I started my studies, I had no idea what I wanted to do with my life, with my career. But my experiences in Capetown and Brussels, combined with internships and projects for international organisations shaped my beliefs and ambitions.
It’s not that I was introduced to those institutions. In some cases, you just have to seize the opportunity. Also, the professors at VUB were all very well versed in the reality of international organisations and they were a tremendous help when submitting internship applications. Once you know how these things work, it’s really quite straightforward. Even for a young student with no significant connections to that world. My family lives in a town to the south of Antwerp. I am convinced that a lot of what you achieve in life has to do with seeing and grabbing opportunities.”
Careers and passions
Although the succession of high profile jobs and projects all pointed to a rewarding international legal career or even a role in international politics, events sometimes take an unexpected turn, pointing in an entirely different direction. To Valerie Valery this is not a stop within her career path, instead it’s allowing her to apply her talents in a different setting away from an office and with a direct and visible impact on communities. She has found a meaningful way of pursuing her career in any direction she feels necessary.
“Some people might see the switch from international law to business as a strange one. I do not have regrets about any steps in my life. My Master in Brussels really developed my interest in international law. More precisely, children’s rights, refugee statutes and criminal law in an international context. I got the opportunity to do an internship at the Belgian Embassy in Singapore, followed by an assignment at the Belgian Permanent Representation to the United Nations in New York. One thing led to another and my work at the International Criminal Court led to a job for the UN in Nairobi. I have to admit that I fell in love with Kenya. And that’s that. From there on, another opportunity was shaped in my head and together with my husband (Loic Amado) and local partners, we ventured out on this new project.
I sense that my work makes a difference. The projects that I lead have a positive impact on the communities and ecosystems I work with, I also feel that my work is not as abstract now as it used to be when I was involved in policy-making.”
Sustainable Clothing, Tourism and the environment
“During my stay in Kenya, I created my own fashion and jewelry label, Moto Moto, based on local fabrics and design. My label grew rather quickly and I really enjoyed doing that.
The Moto Moto team produces locally, in Kenya and in Somalia, and we sell in Europe and the UK. That was a first step towards a business orientation and away from the legal work.
I felt that I was getting frustrated by the lack of impact in previous roles. Or at least by not seeing an immediate impact. I get way more satisfaction and pleasure out of what I am doing right now and the impact it hads, both on the long and the short term. During one of our trips in Kenya, my husband Loic and I started pondering, about the apparent paradox that tourism in beautiful regions of the national parks in Kenya also resulted in a lot of pollution and disturbance of wildlife. So we wanted to do things differently.”
With the help of William Partois Ole Santian - a Maasai experienced in the tourism business - the couple started exploring the possibilities of a 100% ecofriendly and sustainable form of tourism. Together they created a lodge, shaping the whole project in the most sustainable way possible, with solar energy, a closed loop waste water system, a full fleet of electric safari vehicles they are now about to embark on their second year of operations.
“Things are looking rather good here at Emboo River. Even considering the setback of the Covid pandemic. Locals are finding the way to our lodge, as well as international travelers. We’re hoping that this part of the business will pick up in the months to come. It’s all very exciting to see hard work paying off.”
Valery’s tips and tricks
“Life is really quite simple if you’re willing to invest in it. I’d say that at every stage in your life you have to try to get the maximum out of it. Close contact with mentors and professionals is beneficial to your personal development and to your career. In that sense, the studies at VUB was a perfect opportunity to create my own network because professors and students were actively involved in that microcosmos of international law and politics.
I am definitely convinced that it is worth following your passion and your interest. You have to shape your life, nobody else is going to do it for you. Sometimes you take a risk, sometimes you make a mistake, but that’s okay. It’s all part of growing.“
Making the world a better place
Valery is clearly happy about the choices she has made.
“My professional life has given me everything I expected. My interest in humanitarian aid, in children’s rights and ecology were the basis. Now I get to build and shape a more responsible lifestyle for fashion and tourism, with an impact on local economy. With hindsight, I think that my period at VUB has also helped me to think independently. We were encouraged to take initiative and work towards your dreams. The result is that you can stand behind your convictions and develop your life in a way that makes sense to you and to you only. I don’t know what the future holds for me , but I am thankful for the opportunities that crossed my path and the way I integrated them into my life. “
Want to study an advanced Master of Laws in International and European Law, just like Valery ? Discover the study program. Want to know more about Valery? Check her out on Instagram or connect on LinkedIn.