Maris was born in a suburban Dutch town in 1971. Her parents, who worked in geophysics and administration, cheered on her artistic abilities from a young age, but encouraged her to pursue her education in Economics. Maris earned her degree in Macro Economics from the Rijksuniversiteit Groningen in 1995. Embarking on a thriving career in medical technology and life sciences, she globetrotted as a senior executive, breaking cultural barriers and managing diverse teams. Acquiring Turkish nationality through marriage, she spent seven transformative years in Istanbul and for several decades she placed her artistic aspirations on a parallel track to her journey in business. From being the first female and foreign plant manager in the US Midwest to leading biopharmaceutical ventures in the Middle East and overseeing a significant orthopedic devices business in Asia, Maris' journey was a kaleidoscope of experiences. These exploits broadened her global outlook, exposing her to art across continents and offering insights into the challenges and opportunities faced by women in various...