I admit it, my company name is a little unusual: OpenRabbit Coaching.
But it’s memorable. People tend to remember that it’s “something Rabbit,” even if they don’t quite recall the full name. They often ask me why I chose it, so I thought I’d share the story with you.
Life in Tokyo
My children were all born in Taiwan, and when my son was three and my twin daughters were one, we moved to Tokyo. It was a welcome move. Tokyo is clean, organised, and full of facilities for mothers with young children. You can take a toddler to any public toilet and trust it will be spotless.
But let’s get back to the topic.
I raised my children bilingually: Dutch with me, and English with everyone else. As a result, their Dutch wasn’t perfect, but we managed.
A Family Joke is Born
When my current husband came into our lives, the girls were four years old and my son was six. One lazy Sunday morning, we were all chatting together on the bed when one of my daughters offered to open the curtains. She was speaking Dutch, but instead of saying gordijnen (curtains), she said konijnen (rabbits). Just a few letters’ difference, a very similar sound but a completely different meaning.
We laughed, explained the mix-up to my husband (who doesn’t speak Dutch), and from that day onwards, “opening the rabbits” became a little family joke whenever we opened the curtains.
Choosing a Company Name
Fast forward a few years: I was setting up my company and struggling to find a name that didn’t sound completely boring. I complained to my husband, who suggested I just pick something. It didn’t even need to be directly related to what I did, in his opinion.
And then it hit me: OpenRabbit.
The more I thought about it, the more it made sense. As a coach and EFT practitioner, I help my clients ‘open their curtains’ to see life from a new, fresh perspective. Perfect!
The Logo Story
Feeling happy with the name, I started sketching ideas for a logo: rabbits opening curtains. But there’s one thing I’m definitely not good at; drawing. I quickly gave up.
That weekend, my Japanese mother-in-law came to visit. She’s no longer with us, but she was a lovely and very charming lady. She had accepted me and my children into her family unconditionally. Not something every Japanese parent of that generation would have done, especially for a Western woman with children. But she and my father-in-law had lived abroad for several years, including in the UK, and she had a wonderfully open mind.
She was also a very talented painter and calligrapher. Like many women of her generation, she was modest and often unheard and unseen. But her artwork was beautiful! I asked her if she could draw a rabbit opening curtains for me. She sat down, and within five minutes, she produced a little sketch and then apologised for it not being very good. Her modesty was endless.
Of course, I loved it immediately.
From Sketch to Logo
I showed the drawing to my friend Rob, who was helping me with IT matters and also happened to be a designer. He suggested incorporating the drawing in the style of a hanko, a Japanese seal that acts as a personal signature.
It felt perfect: a way to honour my time in Japan and bring that cultural connection into my logo.
What OpenRabbit Means to Me
Every time I look at my logo, it reminds me of the unique and meaningful experiences I had while living and working in Japan. It represents so much to me:
- Family, through the little slip of language by my daughter and the beautiful drawing by my mother-in-law.
- The blending of cultures, Dutch, English, and Japanese, both in language and in symbolism.
- Trust and growth, as I help my clients ‘open their curtains’ and step into life with greater joy and fulfilment.
OpenRabbit is more than just a name. It’s a story of love, laughter, family, and fresh beginnings for my clients
Wendela Elsen is an ICF certified coach and EFT practitioner. She helps professional women navigate draining life challenges to restore joy and fulfilment in work, family and social life. You can read more about her work on her website here.
Book a free 30-minute ‘Regain Balance’ call here.
©Wendela Elsen, 2025, All rights reserved.