Düsseldorf, North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany
As a leader I love working together with people. As a retail expert I want to create the best experience for people. In over 30 years in the retail industry, I have been running big operations across Europe. To set a business for future success - especially in the retail industry – it needs to quickly adapt to the ever-changing market and to customer needs. Thus, in the operations and in the everyday, I believe in simple, agile processes. But no process works without a strong team. Having collaborated with people from many different specialties, cultures and walks of life, I have seen the huge impact of a diverse mindset. I myself like to bring new perspectives to the table and challenge the status quo. Most of the time my simplest questions reveal the most complex challenges. I believe that asking and listening are the foundation of a strategic transformation process that people really want to join, that really creates an impact. As CEO of C&A Europe and in + 20 years at IKEA I lead the transformation of iconic companies to modernize and sustainably grow them. With this experience I am today advising companies as a member of the supervisory boards of BrewDog, Nederlandse Spoorwegen and Frankfurt School of Finance. As a leader, as a mum and as a colleague I follow a simple principle in life: Being clear is being kind. I believe in clear, empathetic, respectful communication to create an environment where people feel empowered to become their best selves. Only based on trustful relationships we can grow as individuals, as a team and as a company. I really want my teams to believe in the power they have. Also on LinkedIn I want to inspire you to believe in yourselves, to have confidence. And I want to spread that message especially to all women in business. I am an advocate for women in leadership positions and an ally for those who want to become leaders. And I am working towards a future in which leadership is never a question of gender, but solely about talent and delivering results.
Member of sustainability committee
Also member of Risk and Audit Committee and Chair of Renomco