Shaping a resilient digital future through partnerships, shared knowledge, and a commitment to progress.
ROLE MODELS
Exploring the career paths of incredible female leaders in digital technology.
THE SYMPHONY OF AI
Unpacking the complex and systemic nature of building responsible and ethical AI.
Special feature
En route to digital leadership with the RightBrains Digital Leadership Programme.
Explore a world of opportunity, connection and content to supercharge your digital career!
Renske Melchers-Vermolen is fired up to create awareness about IT’s hidden carbon footprint. She shares her recommendations for greener tech solutions. Fuel your career with these handy resources.
United we stand
The digital sector is evolving rapidly, bringing new opportunities – and new responsibilities. From addressing the AI skills gap in Europe to embedding sustainable IT practices, the decisions we make now will shape the future for generations to come.
Initiatives like RightBrains and this year’s edition of the DIGIDIVA Magazine play an important role in shaping that future. Not only by highlighting female role models and male allies in digital technology, but by uniting us around a shared ambition: a truly diverse and connection-centred digital world. And we can only realise this shared ambition when we create awareness, foster dialogue, and give insight into the wide range of talent, ideas, and career paths that are moving our industry forward.
“Women bring perspectives that are essential to understanding today’s fast-evolving consumer landscape.”
I’m proud to support RightBrains and DIGIDIVA’s unique blend of purpose, innovation, education and connection in the mission to bridge the gender gap in digital technology. I support the 2025 theme of United, and their intention to fuel momentum through collaboration. It’s through efforts like these that the industry can tackle challenges together, amplify efforts, and build a stronger, far-reaching movement.
To those reading this magazine who are building careers in digital technology: be curious, keep learning, and take pride in your contribution in whatever form it takes. Never forget that women bring perspectives that are essential to understanding today’s fast-evolving consumer landscape, and solving tomorrow’s most complex challenges.
Our society as a whole needs thinkers, builders, collaborators, and connectors. Let us commit, as an industry, to creating a future where digital transformation is powered by collaboration, and one where unity drives progress. And where every woman in tech feels valued, supported, and unstoppable. The path ahead is complex – but through partnerships, shared knowledge, and a commitment to progress, we can shape a digital future that benefits us all.
Micky Adriaansens
Former Minister of Economic Affairs and Climate Policy, and Chair of the Board of Nyenrode Business University
“Women, including the less vocal introverts, should consider how to be a more powerful collective force to create more spaces at the boardroom tables. Let’s believe and embrace the fact that we belong.”
Andrea Kraus Chief Revenue Officer at the Eurofiber Group
CEO, Microsoft Netherlands Winner of the RightBrains Digital Leadership & Diversity Award 2024
Former
Anke den Ouden
Exploring uncharted territory
Marloes Zwinkels-Breedijk is the Managing Director Europe at AND Digital, a fast-growing technology consultancy firm. She is a globetrotter and loves navigating the intricacies of managing future-proof change. She takes us along on her journey and shares some of the key findings of AND’s Rewards & Resilience: The Dual Experience of Women in Tech report. She asks: Why is a healthy work-life balance the exception for women?
An early adopter by nature, Marloes is drawn to complexity and innovation, and this Rotterdam native has extensive experience as a leader in digital transformations in
different industries over the last twenty years. Her impressive career timeline includes tenures in retail, entertainment and consulting. During her time at a well-known Dutch retailer, she helped to enable the strategic shift to online marketing during a time when e-commerce was a rising discipline; all whilst completing her MBA. Later, at a live entertainment company, she drove the initiative to build a digital commerce strategy supporting direct-to-consumer sales. She joined AND Digital in 2024 following a few years in the consulting industry, where she advised C-suite executives on digital strategies for various clients, including large brands and retailers. Although she liked working on the strategy side, she missed adding value
as a decision-maker where she could lead and execute – her professional forte. The golden thread throughout her career has been her love of navigating uncharted territory and being energised by learning, growth, and transformation.
Going the distance
Marloes has always been an early adopter with a natural affinity for complexity. She thrives on projects where scattered puzzle pieces must come together through collaboration, and she finds energy in navigating the changes that lead a team toward the bigger picture. Marloes’s AND title, which highlights the unique contributions of each person and reinforces a people-first, inclusive company culture, is that of Explorer. These titles are used to emphasise that employees are valued for more than just their role; and her colleagues have come to know her as an energetic explorer in her personal and professional journey. This persona is also literal –she has travelled to roughly seventy countries! Marloes has always been ambitious, and finds herself at home in an equally aspirational team. “AND Digital has the ambitious goal of helping to close the world’s digital skills gap. Software and data are at the heart of everything, and it should create environments where people can thrive and contribute their best,” Marloes explains. “Technology used to be a business enabler, but now it’s at the very heart of operations. Since tech evolves so quickly, it’s a common occurrence in the market that it outpaces the capabilities of companies. At AND, we equip our people and our clients with the skills they need to make a remarkable impact through technology,” she adds.
Exploring dual experiences
the poignant findings for both countries was that the sector loses many women on the journey to leadership. Marloes feels that despite the perception that the Netherlands is often considered a progressive country, there is still much work to be done to secure more women in tech leadership positions. “Too often, the sector approaches this as a kind of mathematical problem… as if we just need the right equation and everything will solve itself.” Marloes does, however, see positive shifts in the market. “Artificial Intelligence, for example, is changing the way we define and engage with technology. AI is not just a mathematical or programming challenge – it represents a shift toward solving problems in a more human-centric way, making it more accessible, especially to women.”
Digital transformation needs human design
“Software and data are at the heart of everything, and it should create environments where people can thrive and contribute their best."
Another finding of the report with personal significance to Marloes, is the fact that there is a considerable gap between job satisfaction and selfperceived success amongst women.
AND just released the Rewards & Resilience: The Dual Experience of Women in Tech report in both the UK and the Netherlands. The research aimed to unpack the experiences, challenges and opportunities women face in their roles as tech leaders. One of
“In the Dutch research, 85% of female tech leaders say they enjoy their work, but only 69% view themselves as a successful leader.” That contrast (high satisfaction but lower self-assessed success) is very telling. I think it reflects a broader Dutch tendency toward modesty, and for women especially, it can mean underestimating one’s own value, even when performance is strong.” She also has personal experience with the findings of questions related to work-life balance. “Nearly 70% of respondents in the Dutch report say their company supports it, but over half still feel that personal responsibilities, like caregiving, impact their careers negatively. I’ve experienced this myself, though I’m fortunate to have a partner who shares responsibilities flexibly. Still, this shouldn’t be the exception. We need to shift the focus of digital transformation. Not just adopting new technology, but designing systems and workplaces that truly empower people. That’s where tech can really become inclusive,” she concludes.
Indirade Wilde
Head of Data Centres, Infra & Cloud at VodafoneZiggo
Diana Geels-de Koos
Head of Performance Coaching at VodafoneZiggo
En route to digital leadership
Expanding your horizons
Tomorrow’s digital leaders are today’s digital learners! The RightBrains Digital Leadership Programme (DLP) offers an intensive, invaluable educational experience for women with digital leadership ambitions. Now in its 11th year, we sat down with some alumni from recent years from within the same companies to explore how it unlocked new ways of thinking that added value en route to digital leadership…and beyond.
What has the RightBrains DLP meant to you?
Diana: When I started the DLP, I had already worked for many years in the industry. I immediately felt that its point of view was more integrated and it gave me a wider lens to view aspects like unconscious bias and cybersecurity. It made me more aware about the impact you can make as a leader in the broader organisation, which resonated with my growth plan and mission to add the most value I possibly can for my organisation and team. Participating in the DLP was a great example of VodafoneZiggo’s commitment to innovation, collaboration, and leadership development, and I was happy to be a part of that!
Indira: I originally studied law and my leadership roles preceded my technology roles. So although I had experience in leadership trainings like coaching and conflict resolution, I think there comes a time when every leader challenges themselves by asking questions around how you can broaden your vision or craft a strategy that really resonates. At the time I completed the DLP, I was working in technology operations and I was responsible for the cloud and virtualisation team, after which I made a move into IT. I feel that the DLP was one of the things that eventually supported me in my promotion to Head of Data Centres, Infra & Cloud. I think the programme is a great tool for companies to help employees realise their professional ambitions.
In what ways did an educational experience like the DLP unlock new tools or thinking in your everyday job?
Diana: The module around AI inspired me to see the potential as an organisation, and I think I’m better positioned to spot opportunities and solve challenges. VodafoneZiggo actively embraces cross-sector insights to drive innovation through partnerships with organisations outside telecom and the integration of broader market learnings into our strategy – and on a personal level, I was reminded of the value of this. It was great to connect with women from other sectors to compare notes and
experiences beyond my colleagues in Telco.
Indira: VodafoneZiggo has a long-standing focus on cybersecurity as a core part of our business strategy, and we have implemented organisation-wide initiatives to holistically address risks and ensure secure digital solutions across operations. The DLP actually tuned me in to these efforts more intensely and increased the depth of my knowledge in cybersecurity. It created an urgency in me to consider risk from a broader, more strategic perspective. I still reference my learnings in meetings, and the fact that certain take-aways stay top of mind is a testament to how evergreen the course content is, despite technology changing so quickly.
What is your message to other women with digital leadership ambitions?
Diana: I would advise others to slow down before they are ready to take the next step to accelerate. You have to take time to reflect and realise what you learned, elaborate on your options and then really commit to taking a step forward in terms of leadership. A practical example is the DLP training days, which meant stepping out of the everyday work hustle to follow the programme ... but the time we spent learning was incredibly rewarding. This applies to any sacrifice you need to make to equip you with the tools to step up on a professional level.
Indira: Find a mentor that can help you grow and formulate a growth plan with intention with someone other than your line manager. Expand your mind in whichever way you can –whether it be books, podcasts, or interorganisational networking. Inspiration awaits!
Interested in the RightBrains Digital Leadership Programme?
Connect with us and book your seat. We kick off in October!
Selling the sustainability sizzle
Have you ever asked yourself how much energy data and technology consumes? Renske Melchers-Vermolen, Sustainable IT Lead within CITO (Rabobank’s IT organisation), is fired up to create awareness about IT’s hidden carbon footprint and shares with us her recommendations for greener tech solutions.
When Renske Melchers-Vermolen helped to organise a symposium for green computing in 2009, she had no idea that a spark had been ignited that would fan the flame of her passion for sustainable IT. The symposium,
ironically, explored possibilities for remote working via video, but it was the first time Renske grasped the growing tension between automation’s limitless potential and the unseen carbon costs tied to digital expansion. When she joined Rabobank two and a half years ago, she volunteered to take the lead of a strategic initiative consisting of a handful of techies and specialists. They set out to consider some insights and tooling for a large tribe to make more balanced decisions on eco design and digital cleanup – and Wavemakers was born. This project, focusing on integrating sustainable software engineering into the bank’s IT operations, has since garnered a lot of positive interest amongst
their colleagues, and as part of its strategic agenda, Rabobank is currently centralising and scaling efforts within CITO to bring pioneering sustainability solutions to the collective IT organisation. As recently appointed Sustainable IT Lead, Renske will help to grow this powerful force for good within Rabobank and the banking industry as a whole to become Sustainable by Design.
The story of sustainability It’s a sobering reality: today, the IT sector is already responsible for roughly 3.5% to 4% of global carbon emissions. “A 2018-study published in the Journal of Cleaner Production projected that ICT’s share of global GHG emissions could rise to 14% by 2040 – and that was before the rise of GenAI,” Renske says. But to her, figures like these are simply the backdrop to a bigger, more hopeful story. It’s a story she tells with passion, and her infectious enthusiasm has made her an influencer in her own right. She believes that meaningful change is possible through small, everyday actions, which is what lies at the heart of the story of sustainability. “As consumers, we all have choices,” she explains. “It’s about being aware. For example, a GenAI search with tools like Chat GPT or Copilot uses much more computing power than a regular Google search – but if it saves you hours spent on a charging laptop, it could still be the greener option overall.” She urges individuals to use their hardware as long as possible despite the dizzying rate of consumerism, and to prioritise regular digital cleanup to limit cloud usage and stream at lower resolutions. “All in all, taking these steps won’t be without sacrifice, which complicates adoption.” A natural storyteller, Renske compares the art of ‘selling’ sustainable tech solutions to two of her other roles: amateur chef and mom. “Sometimes you have to dial back the spices or sneak the vegetables into the meal to make sure
everyone enjoys dinner,” she laughs. “It’s the same with clients – the most sustainable tech is the technology we don’t use, so we have to keep a minimalist mindset and ask questions like: Do we really need this feature? What is the true carbon cost? But there’s real value in those small trade-offs. I aspire towards creating a world where people are intrinsically motivated to make positive everyday changes, and to embed these habits as part of their lives.”
Shifting the demand
“Today, the IT sector is already responsible for roughly 3.5% to 4% of global carbon emissions.”
Although Renske believes in the small gains, she is also championing systemic shifts within the IT industry with urgency, and this mission is what drives her. As professionals in the digital industry, she encourages developers to adopt simple strategies like not resizing images within browsers, using fewer if/else-statements, and avoiding redirects. “At Rabobank, our engineers are also currently exploring practical practices like demand-shifting, which means moving the time slots or locations used to execute tasks and choosing other times and locations when cleaner energy is available and/or fewer companies are working,” Renske explains. Her advice to companies is to ‘sell the sizzle, not the steak’, which refers to the famous marketing tagline by Elmer Wheeler to sell the experience that a product gives, rather than the object itself. “I hope to one day see a fundamental shift in the entire market towards sustainable IT as a major factor in cost-saving, risk reduction and general future-proofing of our organisations beyond just my own company. Right-sizing your IT infrastructure can lead to cost savings of up to 30%, and your risk of failure decreases with optimised code. Our future workforce and future clients also expect us to work more sustainably. I believe that considering IT as a finite resource will ultimately help us to solve problems much more creatively as humans,” she adds. “And therein lies the secret of the sustainability sizzle.”
“Leadership, or even success, is about understanding your own strengths and having the courage to forge your own path.
Trust that your perspective holds value, even when it doesn’t align with the conventional way.”
Andrea Kraus Chief Revenue Officer at the Eurofiber Group
CEO at Eurofiber
Alex Goldblum
RightBrains book club
We are honoured to have talented authors within our circle of support, and beyond! These inspirational ladies cover a wide range of topics, ranging from personal and leadership development, to D&I and more! Check out these recommended resources to help fuel your career and help you thrive on a personal level while also inspiring the next generation.
High-performance Lifestyle
Achieve elite performance and live your dream life
Hendrika Willemse-Veugdehill
Why settle for less when you can have it all? Some people seem to thrive effortlessly – excelling in business, sports, and life. They hit their targets, build successful companies, and unlock their full potential. What’s their secret? Highperformance Lifestyle is your ultimate guide to achieving more success, joy and impact… without burning out. This book gives you the practical tools and mindset shifts to push past fear, break free from limitations, and create lasting success on your own terms. Ready to step up and start living your dream life? It’s time to take action!
The
Leadership Book for Women
Introducing the 50/50 principle
Marja Wagenaar
The Leadership Book for Women offers a practical guide for women looking to grow their careers and lead with impact. At its core is the 50/50 method: a strategy that encourages women to balance their time between organisational goals and personal career ambitions. With practical exercises, reallife examples, and advice on topics like strategic networking, reputation-building, and navigating unwritten rules, the book supports women through every phase of their career. Marja, a global leadership expert, empowers women to lead confidently – on their own terms and with lasting success.
Holy Shit. She did. Het ultieme handboek voor ambitieuze wezens
Lotte de Man
What if, exactly one year from now, you could be living the life you’re dreaming of today? What if the goals that seem so big right now suddenly turn out to be within reach? Would that make you happy? This book is about ambition, discipline, and growth. It’s about seeing potential, believing in it, and acting on it. This book is about you – the you of today comparing yourself to the you of last year. It’s about finding inspiration when intimidation is lurking. This book is about those moments when you say to yourself: “HOLY SHIT. SHE DID.”
The Inclusion Marathon
On diversity and equity in the workplace
Kauthar Bouchallikht and Zoë Papaikonomou
In recent years, organisations have realised that diversity and inclusion in the workplace are both crucial and beneficial. So, how do you turn awareness into action? In this guide, the authors interview 41 local practitioners and researchers about their knowledge in the field of DEI and discuss the approaches, challenges and barriers they come across. This book, which is the English summary of De Inclusiemarathon, is a revealing look into the persistent lack of diversity within organisations, but also a constructive, concrete guide on how to become more diverse, equitable and inclusive.
The Tech Coup How to save democracy from Silicon Valley
Marietje Schaake
The Tech Coup offers a behind-the-scenes account of how technology companies grabbed power from democratic governments. It explores beyond the headlines to high-stakes meetings with human rights defenders, business leaders, computer scientists, and politicians to show how technologies have gone from being heralded as utopian to undermining the pillars of our democracies. Drawing on her experiences in the halls of the European Parliament and among Silicon Valley insiders, Marietje offers a frightening look at our modern techobsessed world, and a clear-eyed view of how democracies can build a better future before it is too late.
Adventures in the Cloud World with Bella & Nini
Melissa Scholten
Adventures in the Cloud World with Bella & Nini is a fun, accessible introduction to data centres for children aged six to twelve. The story follows Bella and Nini as they explore the Cloud World after their VR glasses lose connection. There, they meet JB, a robot engineer, who explains how data centres work and asks for their help fixing a loose connection in the meet-me room. The book aims to spark curiosity about IT, show that people and resources are needed to keep the internet running, and raise awareness about data centres.
The Anomaly How human values guide ethical AI design & development
Noya Nachmany
The future of Artificial Intelligence is not just a technical challenge: it’s a human one. The Anomaly invites you to rethink what it means to build machines that truly serve humanity, guided by our deepest human values. Beyond laws and transparency, we must trace the heart of AI back to the people it impacts every day. This book empowers you, whether you’re a leader, policymaker, or concerned citizen, to take your place in shaping ethical AI. The world is at a crossroads: your voice, your choices, and your actions have never mattered more.
*Coming soon
Photo:
Fuelled by excellence
Janine Tjassens is the Senior Vice-President and BU Leader Central and North Netherlands at CGI, which forms part of one of the largest IT and business consulting services firms in the world. She’s a language aficionado with intensive experience across the European market – and has learned that innovation is cultivated by true connections.
The first decade of Janine’s career was what she describes as professionally nomadic. After pursuing studies in Italian and later economics, she landed in the sphere
of IT when she started doing projects related to the millennium transition. “As we know now, that transition was a bit of an anticlimax and systems did not fall apart, but it was a very immersive introduction to the world of IT,” Janine recalls. The following years were dotted with tenures in Germany, Luxembourg, and locally in the Netherlands, where she found herself running operations with a team of technical colleagues reporting to her.
The adventure of leadership
Janine’s transition into leadership was not a conscious pursuit, but rather an organic move brought about by her personal drive
for self-actualisation. “Eventually, I stood at a crossroads, and I was questioning whether I should stay in IT. I asked myself: what’s next?” Following a sabbatical and some freelance work, she realised she missed being part of a larger team. A former mentor reached out to Janine to ask if she was up for an adventure; and she took on a position based in the UK. After almost five years, she returned to the Netherlands to join Logica, which was later acquired by CGI. “Through my career journey, I always found it very important to grow and learn, especially as part of a team. Moving into leadership roles has been a happy by-product of this,” she says. She describes herself as a collaborative leader who aspires to work with others across various organisational levels and one who values diversity, shared leadership, and not shying away from taking complex decisions. Despite the constant balancing act between clients, colleagues, and shareholders, Janine draws energy from the fastpaced and ever-evolving consultancy environment.
Tech is where the future is
Maintaining a connected culture
Janine describes herself as a pragmatic people manager, while remaining keenly aware of the complexities surrounding automation and hybrid work in today’s workplace. Her advice for maintaining a culture of connection is to value authenticity and stay true to oneself when climbing the career ladder. On a practical level, she has learned that real, face-to-face interaction is becoming a rare and valuable asset; especially in the consulting world. She encourages others to make the most of their time in the office, to be visible, and to connect with clients intentionally.
“In order to work on innovation together, we need to be together.”
Throughout her career, Janine has felt, at times, that her lack of classical technical knowledge awakened in her the need to prove herself constantly. “In retrospect, I think it’s of no disadvantage to you as a leader of technical teams not to have the in-depth technical knowledge. But I’ve had mentors along the way who have kept me grounded – and mentorship is critical, regardless of whether you work for an IT company, in retail, finance, or manufacturing, to share a few examples. When I was at my career crossroads, my mentor encouraged me to stay in the world of technology, because that’s where the future is. That had a bigger impact than exhaustive technical knowledge in a dynamic technology landscape where innovation is such a constant disruptor.”
“In order to work on innovation together, we need to be together,” she says. In an increasingly AI-driven world, Janine believes there is important work ahead to ensure technology is applied thoughtfully. “The concept of AI isn’t new. Over twenty years ago, I worked with a team that developed predictive software for the cockpits of F-60s. We called it ‘adaptive systems management’ back then, but essentially, we were analysing data and developing predictive models – just like AI today. What has changed is the democratisation of access and the rapid acceleration of the technology.” Janine believes that the expertise and leadership development of younger generations will be crucial to harnessing AI’s full potential. The knowledge and adaptability of our younger colleagues are tremendous, and as leaders, we must embrace and foster it. “There’s no silver bullet for how clients can best use AI. But if we continue striving for excellence as leaders and stay true to ourselves, I believe we can inspire our colleagues and clients to lead by example.” Her advice to other women in the digital technology landscape is to continue supporting each other. “We put so much pressure on ourselves. Don’t – when we uplift each other, we can balance so much more. And I hope we can do so increasingly in the future as women within this industry.”
Bracing for impact
Harriet van der Winden is the Chief Information Officer and Kornelieke Buchel is the Chief Operations Officer at BumaStemra, a non-profit collecting society that manages music rights for songwriters, composers, and music publishers. It’s an industry pulsing with creativity and passion – and one brimming with possibilities for IT to unlock new frontiers.
Kornelieke Buchel and Harriet van der Winden
Harriet van der Winden and Kornelieke Buchel have only been working together for a year, but their professional chemistry is undeniable. Their paths to the music licensing industry were anything but conventional: Kornelieke began her career in child psychology, transitioned into HR, earned an MBA, and went on to lead as a general manager in the manufacturing sector before joining BumaStemra. Harriet originally studied industrial engineering and management sciences, took a gap year as a ski instructor, and unexpectedly stepped into the world of IT after receiving a job offer at her graduation party. What followed, is a prolific career in operations and as IT director. Years later, a common driver brought them together: the desire to pursue something completely novel and different in a knowledgeintensive industry. Despite their very different beginnings, their journeys have led to a powerful and forward-thinking partnership. “Harriet’s team built the engine that is critical to run the business,” says Kornelieke, “but nowadays, it’s more of a joint venture than the traditional role of IT as an internal service provider.” One of the reasons Harriet and Kornelieke make an exceptional team is because they have complementary natures. Where Kornelieke is a calm, collected thinker, Harriet is a quick and decisive decision-maker. These opposing qualities are, ironically, exactly what they admire in each other. “Kornelieke can be very present, but also has the ability to think with the mindset of an objective observer,” Harriet notes. Kornelieke admires Harriet’s ability to communicate her viewpoint with conviction and authority.
Bracing for impact
“Great support is a starting point, but nobody is going to completely fix it on your behalf. You have to hustle, manage it, and plan around it.”
generated music are still in its infancy, and the landscape is very complex,” she adds. “AI can create music based on the style of an established artist by referencing a few songs, for example. It complicates compensation for that artist, because it’s still their IP,” Harriet continues. Both Harriet and Kornelieke are aware of the challenges and opportunities of the constant tectonic shifts in terms of data-driven new technologies in their industry. “Ultimately, we are part of an industry that thrives on creativity and emotion… but our impact lies in building and optimising the systems that protect and reward that creativity,” adds Kornelieke. Both Harriet and Kornelieke also share a passion for sustainability within the sector, but find it particularly challenging as a non-profit company in the business of a physically intangible end product. “We don’t have the answer yet, but when parties are aligned and share aspirations, we are confident we can find a way to champion sustainability – both strategically and by involving our members,” Harriet says.
The toughest bridge to cross
Music is universal and has meaning to everyone – but both Harriet and Kornelieke look beyond the aesthetic auditory value of music and find meaning in the underlying data. “It’s simple: in our industry, data equals fair compensation for creators,” Harriet explains. “BumaStemra is a 112-year-old heritage brand and started with little more than pencils and paper at its disposal. Today, we have scores of data, but aspects like regulation of AI-
Gender politics is obviously a tender subject in the wider music industry, but Harriet and Kornelieke don’t experience that at all within the BumaStemra organisation. “It’s when we step out of the doors and at conferences where we feel that we stand out as female C-suite executives,” Kornelieke notes. Reflecting on the entirety of their professional careers, they can attest to this one fact: the toughest bridge to cross as an ambitious woman, is other ambitious women. “We need to treat each other with a lot of transparency,” Harriet advises. “Conflicts or non-alignment with other women just seem to have an extra edge and additional emotional layer. It often feels more personal,” says Harriet. Kornelieke urges others to seek out managers (both male and female) who are supportive in all the seasons of their careers, especially during the years when they have family priorities. They have some tough love to share with younger women, however: “Great support is a starting point, but nobody is going to completely fix it on your behalf. You have to hustle, manage it, and plan around it. But it will, very much, be worth it.”
“At Valcon, we believe diversity is the engine of innovation. Supporting initiatives like RightBrains isn’t just about closing the gender gap in digital technology – it’s about opening the door to smarter, more inclusive solutions for the future. Empowering more women to lead in digital is essential for building resilient, forward-thinking organisations.”
Andrea Kraus Chief Revenue Officer at the Eurofiber Group
Partner at Valcon
Bart Doorenbosch
Belonging through purpose
Vineeta Singh is a Senior Procurement Specialist at Eurofiber and a dedicated RightBrains Ambassador. She is an unashamedly ambitious, endlessly tech-curious expat and mother. She sat down with us to unpack why she finds purpose in procurement as a critical element of innovation and risk management.
The intersection of business and technology has always fascinated Vineeta. In a world where change is the only constant, one thing is certain: throughout her career to date,
she has never been bored. The past seven years are a testament to big life changes, as she moved to the Netherlands from her native India, became a mother, and took on a role as a pricing manager. But procurement was ultimately where she belonged, and she was delighted to join Eurofiber as a senior procurement specialist of technology in 2023, which encapsulates IT, cloud services, network and datacentre requirements. “Eurofiber is not a typical telecommunication provider, but a combination of connectivity as our core product, fibre and our datacentre business,” Vineeta explains. “This sets the stage for unique procurement needs, and I get the opportunity to work with both internal and external
partners to align our tech investment with our long-term goals. My role isn’t just about acquiring products and services, however, it’s about leveraging innovation to create tangible value and foster commercial excellence through collaboration, transparency, attention to detail, and a positive attitude. And that is why I love it so much.”
Positive impact and influence
To Vineeta, the field of procurement is not just about cost-saving: it’s about building partnership and bringing long-term value. In the everevolving technology space, it holds a special place in enabling innovation and mitigating risk. Her analytical thinking and curious mindset are characteristics that serve her well in the execution of her everyday tasks, but procurement also calls for defined EQ and stakeholder empathy. These skills are not easily automated, and Vineeta is conscious of the human value in this process. “It’s a space where you can have a positive impact and influence even before you hold actual authority,” she adds. She relies on her academic background from her MBA and studies in Finance and Operations, but credits her unquenchable curiosity for tech to some supportive colleagues she has met along the way. She has found that being tech-curious and a willingness to constantly stay abreast of new technologies enables people from other disciplines to deliver great results in technical teams. “With this kind of mindset, half the battle is already won.”
A powerful shift
“Your workplace is your second home. It’s critical that you feel supported.”
into the European market seven years ago. “I personally found India to be bureaucratic and hierarchical. And although Europe has its challenges in terms of gender balance, I feel at home in the great company culture at Eurofiber,” she says. Her advice to women starting out in the industry, is to choose wisely where they plan to grow and bloom. “Your workplace is your second home, because you spend such a big portion of your life there. It’s critical that you feel supported.” She has found that, unfortunately, unconscious biases are universal across markets in some way or form, with language being a common point of contention. “I have been in the situation where I needed to speak up in a roomful of people to ask the meeting host to switch to English. But all in all, I feel very comfortable in the Dutch society. That (in)famous directness suits me well, and I think I’ve belonged here all along!”
Reframing feminism
As the daughter of liberal parents who provided the best possible education and a call to their daughters to value independence, she felt a welcome shift in the power dynamics when she settled
Vineeta has been a proud and engaged RightBrains Ambassador since joining Eurofiber, and she feels passionate about supporting other women within digital technology. Raising her own daughter has reframed her early definition of what she grasped feminism to be – and today, she finds it in being her authentic self and experiencing belonging wherever you are planted. She believes that hand in hand with that, should come the confidence to pursue your passions without overthinking and buckling under the fear of failure. “My worldview reminds me of a Dutch book I read to my daughter. On the one side, the title is ‘Olivia Rabbit is scared’, and on the other, ‘Olivia Rabbit is courageous’, with accompanying storylines that describe both emotions and illustrate how they can be interconnected. We can all be like Olivia – owning that we can be fearful and courageous at the same time – in finding where we belong. If we can develop confidence in that, we can belong anywhere.”
Diversity drivers
The RightBrains theme for the year is United, because we believe that interdisciplinary collaborations will foster growth, connections and innovation. We are proud to spotlight and support like-minded initiatives striving for more gender diversity in digital technology and those who champion diversity, equity and inclusion. Here are some of these initiatives and the driving forces, management teams and representatives behind them. We look forward to ongoing collaboration and mutual support!
Prof. Hanneke Takkenberg
Executive Director, ECWO (Erasmus Centre for Women and Organisations)
ECWO, a research, teaching and advocacy centre at Erasmus University Rotterdam, fosters inclusion and stimulates social innovation as part of its vision for a world of inclusive prosperity. From its founding purpose in 2014, which was to empower women and create a level playing field by building communities for organisational change, ECWO now works to create a sense of belonging for everyone within organisations through diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI), anchored in social safety.
Gabrielle Tang
Managing Director of SheSharp
SheSharp is a non-profit foundation based in the Netherlands, on a mission to make it easier for all women and non-binary individuals to enter, stay, and grow in the tech industry. Run by volunteers since 2016, SheSharp was born out of a need for an inclusive space in Dutch Tech and has grown into a community-led platform that empowers underrepresented people with opportunities to develop their tech-related careers.
Head of Programmes, We in Quantum Development (WIQD)
WIQD (pronounced “Wicked”) stands for We in Quantum Development. WIQD is a professional network in the Netherlands working in industry, academia and policy that envisions an inclusive quantum sector. Their aim is to connect and retain underrepresented groups in quantum who have or want to pursue a career working or studying in the field of quantum technologies.
Tiarma Witte
Co-founder of Low-Code Ladies
This community is designed for women and non-binary individuals passionate about lowcode development, offering a space to connect, learn, and grow – whether just starting out or already experienced. It empowers members by fostering a supportive environment focused on shared knowledge, skill-building, and mutual success. Through mentorship, workshops, networking, and collaboration, it works to break barriers and champion a diverse, inclusive future in tech.
Sahar
Yadegari CEO, VHTO
(Voor Haar Technische Ontwikkeling – Gender Diversity in STEM)
At VHTO, the objective is to attract more women in science, technology and IT-jobs, and ensure girls have full freedom to choose STEM subjects in school and pursue a career in STEM. They take on this challenge with a substantial amount of knowledge, years of experience and a strong network, and equipped with ready-to-use activities and smart tools to break through stereotypes and (unconscious) bias.
Judith Helgers
Team leader and coach, Girls @ Informatica Olympiade
Karen Harriss
Co-CEO and Co-founder, AI4All
AI4All is a women-led community and foundation for ethical and responsible leadership, dedicated to promoting diversity and inclusivity in artificial intelligence and STEM-related fields. They are a collective of AI change-makers, researchers, educators, and professionals working across sectors like health, sustainability, education, and youth empowerment. Their mission is to make AI more inclusive, ethical, and accessible so it works for everyone, not just a few. AI4All welcomes everyone from beginners to experts, across all fields and backgrounds.
Oliviana Bailey, Karen Harriss, Alla Idrisova, Jana Wilhelmus.
This local initiative aims to encourage secondary school girls to engage in computer science through programming challenges and community support. Sessions are hosted four times a year and prepare students for the European Girls’ Olympiad in Informatics (EGOI), where they can represent the Netherlands and connect with peers across Europe. The programme fosters logical thinking, creativity, and confidence, providing a supportive environment for young women to explore and excel in programming and algorithms.
Valentine Couture
Co-founder, WICCA (Women in Cybersecurity Community Association)
WICCA is the women-in-cybersecurity community of the Netherlands, uniting over 1,000 members who meet monthly to discuss all things cybersecurity. By collaborating with companies, universities, and subject matter experts, WICCA creates opportunities for learning, growth, and career advancement for women in or aspiring to join the field. It offers an inclusive platform to connect, share experiences, and support one another, all guided by its motto: “Empower women, secure tomorrow”.
Since its launch in 2014, the RightBrains Digital Leadership Programme (DLP) has supported more than 135 women on their journeys toward digital leadership. The programme is designed for talented women with several years of management experience in industries that rely on digital technology. We caught up with alumni from within the same companies to explore how the programme impacted their leadership journeys … and what they are up to nowadays.
Why do you think it is an exciting time to be within the sphere of digital technology in the banking industry?
Namrata: Banking used to be very transactional. The big change brought about by digitalisation is that it’s become much more interactive and intentional. Banks connect people and play a role in making their lives easier and building wealth. I’m passionate about playing a role through my area of specialisation and the role that IT has to play in this process.
Paula: The impact and the scope of IT infrastructure have always fascinated me, and the banking industry is crucial to society. In the network and datacentre space, we have an immense responsibility of 24/7 availability since the impact of a single incident is far-reaching. I like the complexity and the legacy of the IT infrastructure and the challenges that come with bringing it into the future.
How did the insights from the DLP help you to broaden your perspective and how has this supported you in your career journeys?
Namrata: I have been in IT all my life and have been working at ABN AMRO for fifteen years. Before my current role, I was a release manager for internet banking, intranet banking, business process management teams and later a chapter lead, so I have an extensive technical background. In the year I completed the RightBrains Digital Leadership Programme, I did not necessarily get the most value from the technical content, but from meeting interesting women from other leading companies. I learned that certain challenges are shared across the industry, and it helped me to broaden my professional network. I think it’s an advantage of the programme that each year’s group has its own dynamic and that the content is revised on an annual basis.
Paula: I had a similar experience! I was actually in one of the first
groups a few years ago, so the technical content is tough to recall in detail. But I specifically remember being inspired, and I found a kinship with many women there. It was a meeting of minds of sorts – to this day, I still have contact with the ladies I met. It also helped shape my fundamental understanding about diversity, and what it means to have a diverse team that functions optimally.
How can women maximise the gains of trainings, programmes and knowledge sharing into their everyday tasks?
Namrata: Continuous learning should be embedded in your DNA, regardless of your gender. Technology is not a discipline where you can excel with a ‘fake-it-till-you-make-it’ approach. You should be totally immersed in the technical content if this is your chosen focus – and the more you learn, ask, and explore, the more you will refine your skills. If you approach upskilling opportunities with a curious mindset, it will translate into your everyday tasks in covert as well as a subconscious ways and momentum will build over time.
Paula: I think it’s important to get to know yourself to the point where you are conscious of where your strengths lie. That could be in content, process, organisation, or even leadership. Once you know this, focus on maximising your capabilities in that area, and don’t lose sleep over the things that don’t come naturally. I’ve learned that the things I’m good at give me the most energy, and that usually has a positive effect on how I apply learnings in practice. Pursue what makes you happy!
Interested in the RightBrains Digital Leadership Programme?
Connect with us and book your seat. We kick off in October!
“Continuous learning, adaptability, and curiosity will be the pillars of success in the digital age. By investing in people, and not just technology, we have an opportunity to build a future where innovation and leadership are truly accessible to all.”
Founder at RightBrains Geke Rosier
Andrea Kraus Chief Revenue Officer at the Eurofiber Group
Cultivating your unique style
In literature, the term ‘inciting incident’ is used to describe an event that sets the plot into motion. For Merel Woudstra, Director of IT at the Randstad Group in the Netherlands, curiosity about the business world was the inciting incident that led this former editor on a path to a successful and impactful career in the world of digital technology.
Merel Woudstra never really fancied herself a manager. In her early career, when she made a career shift from broadcasting, she landed in a position as an intermediary
for secretaries at Randstad. This challenged her in the sense that she found herself making calls and visiting clients. “I think it was the perfect job to immerse me in the business world,” she remembers. In the ensuing years, she went on to hold various roles within Randstad, and the notion of management was one brought about by her superiors. And although she didn’t quite know it yet, her course toward IT leadership had already been set. When the leaders of two internal teams left the company, Merel found herself temporarily overseeing both teams. She recalls: “I remember I had a huge drive to make a success of it. I realised that my team and I were on our own, but I felt very empowered in that moment.”
Coordinating complexities
Twenty years have passed since Merel’s first venture into her professional unknown, and she has added value to Randstad, Yacht and the Randstad Group in the roles of a senior consultant, commercial manager, and most recently as the Director of IT at the Randstad Group. The 65-year old Dutch company is currently one of the world’s leading talent companies and operates in 39 markets. Across Randstad Digital’s holistic market, more than 25,000 digital talents work on their clients’ IT challenges. To Merel, it’s an interesting environment to work in, since talent is scarce, needs are constantly shifting, and digital technologies are transforming operations constantly. One of the mammoth tasks that she is working on as Director of IT, is the transition from a local organisation to a global IT infrastructure. “A uniform IT landscape is what we need to continue innovating and to remain at the top of our game for the sake of our clients and talents,” she explains. “We have a loyal IT population and our colleagues have built elegant solutions over the years. It’s a complex task to replace the older technology and integrate it into our global solutions – but I get a lot of energy out of challenging teams to widen their perspectives.” Merel is conscious that within the recruitment landscape, offline issues related to biases have existed for decades, and that it should be digitised with caution. “Overall, I’m all for proceeding with automation with caution within the digital recruitment industry, regardless of your own company’s status of globalisation.”
The return to the office
professional, she realises the impact of fully remote working on teams. “Five years ago, we did really well with the shift to remote working with our existing colleagues. But as more new colleagues join over time and youngsters join the workforce, the distance between people keeps growing. As a leader, she encourages people to seek connection beyond just one-on-one online meetings, where you undoubtedly have to repeat the same message to several people individually over the course of the day. “I think we can increase productivity and effectiveness as teams if we shift our mindsets and find joy in being together again.”
Challenging change
“Showing more of who you are will ultimately leave you feeling powerful and impactful in your career.”
When considering how the needs of job-seekers have changed in the face of digitalisation, Merel notes that there is very little interest in a full-time return to the office following the pandemic. She, herself, is a bit of a convert: as a trained communications
In her leadership journey, Merel constantly reminds herself that there are things that go beyond her scope of influence. “Sometimes, the only thing you have control over is how you deal with change and challenges. I try to appeal to my teams to unpack their doubts so that diverse perspectives come forward. Nobody is perfect, and no one holds all the wisdom – the best you can do is to create an environment where they can be transparent.” She is also adamant that women should afford themselves the time to learn, and to value each job as a learning opportunity rather than seeking the perfect appointment right out of the gate. “It can be tough, but we must be strict with ourselves not to take failure personally. That way, we will be able to spot hidden compliments in every rejection and bounce back from professional disappointments more quickly.” She feels that she hit her personal stride when she started sharing more of herself in the workplace; she noticed she became more effective and it added to her overall enjoyment of her job. “It takes years to cultivate your own unique style, and to develop the confidence to stop asking yourself if you are good enough. But showing more of who you are will ultimately leave you feeling powerful and impactful in your career.”
The symphony of Artificial Intelligence
Marieke Peeters, senior researcher, consultant and teacher in the 2025/2026 RightBrains Digital Leadership Programme, is more versed than most in the complex and systemic nature of building responsible and ethical AI. But in her view, AI is not the conductor of this grand performance; it is just one of the many instruments in the orchestra. The real challenge and opportunity lie in how SMEs, big business, and society at large can tune in to one another to create greater harmony.
Marieke Peeters certainly has a unique vantage point on the topic of ethical AI in the Netherlands and across Europe. Some of the large projects that she is involved in as a researcher, is a collaboration with prominent applied universities to set up a research group that rises above institutional silos and specialises in responsible applied AI. Another is a comprehensive effort with partners to accumulate practical knowledge about how the region can navigate the AI transition. “Many institutions, companies, labs, and community groups are working together to deploy artificial intelligence in line with our cultural values and the AI act in general,” Marieke explains. Although there are holistic efforts to consider
AI governance on macro levels and to create a trickle-down of knowledge, Marieke also assists smaller enterprises, which lack large research and development (R&D) capabilities, to consider AI innovation against the backdrop of their corporate values. As a representative of the academic community, in addition to being a private freelancer and consultant, she has both reservations and is optimistic about what AI innovation can mean for the future.
A value-driven approach
“When I’m asked to pinpoint what excites me about the field of AI, I’m actually quite neutral about it. There is a lot of work to be done to create awareness in terms of how to adopt AI and
Interview by Carine du Pisanie
spearhead innovation meaningfully,” Marieke says. In practice, she sees many small and medium enterprises (SME’s) struggle with aspects like adopting more human-centered development processes, issues hindering domain experts to adopt solutions, and navigating potential legal, ethical and societal impact, risks and constraints of AI practices. “It’s a massive challenge for smaller organisations to champion their corporate values and consider how to ingrain them in the type of AI systems that they use. Automated decision-making and supported decision-making should align with values like inclusivity and sustainability to create a value-driven approach.”
The setting of new standards
One of the ongoing considerations about ethical AI, is the fact that it amplifies what already exists. It magnifies underlying patterns, behaviours, and biases, and projects them on a much larger scale – and automation means less and less human interaction is involved. Marieke illustrates this with the example of a newsroom. “Where there used to be an editorial team pitching, debating and curating the news content, algorithms can now be coded to identify content with the potential for virality and optimise it mathematically. Less and less people are involved, and it causes new standards to constantly be set.” Another example is that of autonomous vehicles. Marieke continues: “One machine might learn that if it must crash, hitting a motorcyclist wearing a helmet is statistically 'safer' than hitting someone without one. “Now imagine that logic scaling. Suddenly, a motorcyclist who wears a helmet becomes the preferred crash target. A decision that began as data-driven ends up having systemic consequences. “It’s not just one car,” Marieke says. “It’s all the cars.” These two examples are perhaps oversimplified, but serve as a powerful reminder of why she cautions that automation should be approached collaboratively. She encourages women to make their voices heard within the industry and encourages the AI-orchestra to include them in the datasets. “Because ultimately, AI should not be setting the tempo. We should.”
The fundamentals of responsible AI in organisations
Know your capability.
Don’t take on AI projects just because you can. Assess your team’s skills and ethics literacy. You need to be equipped not only technically, but morally. Even if you are not developing solutions from scratch, you need to be a smart and informed buyer.
Build governance into your DNA.
Think in terms of risk management and “three lines of defence.” Responsible AI means recognising risk, escalating when needed, and asking hard questions: Are we doing harm? And what value are we actually creating or amplifying?
Focus on innovation.
The next step is to develop your AI innovation capability to ensure that the organisation develops its full potential. But if you really want to make it your unique selling point in some way or another, then you need innovation capability with the help of a formalised innovation funnel. It’s also critical to plan how to adopt this into your core enterprise architecture.
Start small.
Scale intentionally. Innovation needs room to breathe, but it also needs boundaries. Build capability in a controlled and balanced way. A small use case can reveal more than a full-blown transformation.
Marieke Peeters (PhD.) has a research scope encompassing Human-AI collaboration combining expertise in the fields of Cognitive Psychology and AI. She employs Design Science to explore ethical, legal, societal, and eco-socio-technical aspects of AI. Her research aims to aid in developing the wisdom needed to harness AI's potential for benefiting life on earth.
Finding your voice
Laura Winder is an IT Business Development Engineer at Athora Netherlands, a leading pension and life insurer, and recently completed the RightBrains Digital Leadership Programme. Curious by nature, Laura is unapologetic about asking the tough questions. Here’s how she transformed this ability into her superpower.
When a younger Laura completed her Bachelor Bètagamma study at the University of Amsterdam, she initially had strong aspirations to work within the
police force. When she was studying for a Master’s in Victimology and Criminal Justice, she was disillusioned by the significant waiting lists for the police academy. Although she was willing to be patient, she couldn’t imagine being in limbo for four years. This led her to take a pragmatic decision: she would seek a new professional setting to live out her ideals. “Bèta-gamma is an interdisciplinary field that combines natural and social sciences,” Laura explains. “When I started sending my CV out, there were some interesting prospects because the combination of cognitive science (in which I majored) and programming skills was in demand by IT companies.” Even though she did not have
much formal experience in finance or IT, Laura was intrigued by conversations with prospective employers. She took the leap, focused on IT training for three months, and hit the ground running during her first secondment.
Learning on the job
Laura’s initial designation at Athora was in Operations, where she focused on the maintenance of existing processes. Her curiosity and unique perspective sprouting from her studies prompted her to question, probe and improve on system inefficiencies. Her drive to understand more about the underlying mechanics of processes led her to explore the analytical side of operations. “I’m known for being inquisitive, and I think my studies developed an intrinsic need within me to find out all there is to know. But I had to develop my confidence so that I’m perceived as someone who has something to say, too,” Laura laughs. As someone who came from a non-IT field initially, and as a woman, Laura felt that she had to be strategic in the process of finding her voice. Large organisations can be slow to implement changes, and Laura has learned to be patient with her ideas and to bide her time when pitching them. “It’s not only about speaking up, but adding depth and value within a larger team at the right moment in time.” Laura has learned to do this well, and with conviction. Today, she is not only known for her inquisitiveness, but also as someone who can stand firm and hold her ground. Her colleagues know her as someone who is not easily led astray in the face of differing viewpoints, and mark this as one of her professional strengths.
Moving in the right direction
“Curiosity is a hugely undervalued commodity. It’s more than a skill – it’s a game-changer.”
stimulating field for curious minds, and it helps to be able to visualise processes well (in her case, she opted to develop the latter skill further by supporting courses in architecture). Laura’s day-to-day work is very much data-focused, and her department has the mammoth task of collecting, and making sense, of large amounts of data. She relishes this challenge and finds it energygiving to be a cog in the machine of an industry that ultimately has a very direct and life-changing impact on its end users. “The reporting deadlines are intense, and the amount of data in such an operation can be daunting – but that’s why I’m personally motivated to help refine and improve processes for the internal teams. When we move towards this goal together, we are moving in the right direction.” Laura notes that it’s the colleagues and people she works with who give her the most professional energy, and finds it fulfilling to support others in achieving communal goals.
Taking the leap
To Laura, being able to leverage research for problem-solving is a critical skill as a Business Development Engineer. It’s a
In the fast-paced world of digital technology, the stakes are high and there is very little wiggle room in the face of failure. But Laura is still an idealist at heart – and if she could change one thing about the industry, it would be to create more space for risk-taking. “It’s universal knowledge that women tend to fight only for the things they are certain about. They apply only for the positions where they tick all the boxes. I hope that ladies stepping into the field can learn to trust their gut more and to learn from the calculated risks that didn’t pan out.” Another critical piece of advice is to find ‘your people’ within your organisation where there is an organic meeting of minds. Laura advises young professionals to work with them, leverage their support and ask them as many questions as needed in the process of finding the niche where you shine. After all, this is what supercharged her own career. “Curiosity is a hugely undervalued commodity. It’s more than a skill – it’s a game-changer.”
“I firmly believe that diverse perspectives drive better solutions, greater innovation, and stronger business results. To women with digital ambitions: believe in your potential, embrace challenges, and lead with confidence. Your contributions are vital to shaping the future of technology.”
Andrea Kraus
Chief Digital & Technology Officer, HEINEKEN
Chief Revenue Officer at the Eurofiber Group
Ronald den Elzen
RIGHTBRAINS ACADEMY
Learn, grow, and let’s bridge the digital gender gap!
RightBrains is on a mission to bridge the gender gap in digital technology – and education is a key driver that fuels this mission. Over the course of the last decade, we have been honing and refining our programmes to support women to progress their digital careers, and to create more empowered, gender-balanced workforces within organisations.
Please enquire, sign up and share our programmes to boost your own career, or to be part of the collective consisting of our community, sponsors and supporters who are helping us bring our shared dream to life.
Digital Talent Programme
For female talent looking for career progression.
Building a strong, diverse and inclusive organisation is an ongoing challenge for companies. A lack of female role models and mentors is a significant barrier to career growth for women in digital technology. The RightBrains Digital Talent Programme offers a unique combination of expert workshops focused on skills development in addition to three months of one-on-one career guidance from a senior female digital leader. This programme kicks off in March each year, and supports women in navigating promotions, delivering on expanded responsibility, or working through a particular situation, challenge, or opportunity – and can lead to lifelong friendships!
“The programme has accelerated both my professional and personal growth, opening doors to new opportunities. I highly recommend the RightBrains Digital Talent Programme to anyone looking to take their career to the next level.”
-Vineeta Singh, Senior Procurement Specialist: Technology at Eurofiber.
Digital Leadership Programme
For women with digital leadership ambitions.
Tomorrow’s digital leaders are today’s digital learners! The Digital Leadership Programme offers an intensive, invaluable educational experience. This RightBrains programme, now in its 11th year, targets talented women with at least 10 years of relevant business IT experience, of which several years in management. Their ambition is to grow further in their digital and tech career to a seniorlevel position. The ideal candidate is eager to learn more about leading digital transformation on a strategic level within an organisation.
Women are historically underrepresented in digital leadership roles, and this programme seeks to provide them with the knowledge that they need to succeed as digital leaders today. More than 135 women have completed the Digital Leadership Programme to date. We start in October each year!
"The Digital Leadership Programme brings together different aspects of IT technologies and gave me a birds-eye view of these developments and how to implement them in my specific business context. A special programme and highly recommended!"
- Esther Rijkeboer, Associate Partner at Valcon.
Enquire about our educational programmes for yourself or the talents and leaders within your organisation!
Fighting the good fight
Kim van Sparrentak serves as a Member of the European Parliament (MEP) for the Dutch GroenLinks–PvdA (GreenLeft–Labour) alliance. A passionate advocate for ethical digital policies, she sees it as both a privilege and a responsibility to help safeguard democracy in an era where public opinion is shaped by algorithms. In her view, these algorithms should not be left in the hands of just a few – and here’s why.
It’s hard to believe that one of the youngest Dutch MEPs ever elected by preferential vote didn’t originally aspire to be a politician. What Kim could imagine, though, was a future
as an activist – pushing back against well-dressed politicians with polished accents. When she was younger, she was a member of the GreenLeft youth organisation and the European Young Greens, and she worked for the environmental group Milieudefensie, organising climate protests. Over time, through conversations with mentors and fellow changemakers, she came to realise she had more than just a voice from the sidelines … she had an active role to play in shaping lasting change from within. Another realisation was that she could do it by just being herself and bringing her own ideas and enthusiasm to the table. She was elected to the European Parliament in 2019, and has been focusing on LGBTQIA+ rights as chair of the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual,
Transgender and Intersex (LGBTI) Intergroup, as well as digital and AI ethics, an area in which she has co-written legislation to limit the influence of big tech companies. “I sometimes feel like I have to pinch myself that I have the privilege to serve at this level,” she says.
The winds of change
Having recently returned from an official trip to Silicon Valley, Kim is acutely aware of the shifting global landscape, particularly the growing influence of the far right and the controversial ripple effects of President Trump’s presidency. Within the global tech community, there’s a shared sense of concern over rising tariffs and the creeping power of big tech. But Kim, and others like her, continue to work tirelessly to uphold the laws and democratic safeguards that prevent technology from being steered too far in any one direction. She acknowledges the backlash against equality currently echoing through parts of Europe in the wake of the US elections, but points out that Europe’s comparatively stable economy, grounded in strong policy and regulation, offers a more hopeful outlook. Challenges like these don’t deter her – they drive her. Kim believes in the potential of a digital world to improve lives, and she’s energised by the mission to ensure it happens ethically. “I firmly believe that algorithms shouldn’t be governed by just a few. And although politics can be exhausting, it’s essential to create an ethical and democratic framework for digitalisation.”
Bridging the AI knowledge gap
“Embrace your inner nerd – believe it or not, she has a role to play in upholding democracy.”
to get more women into the STEM field; it’s about setting standards and seeing women at boardroom tables and captured in databases. Otherwise, we will end up with products like fitness trackers that neglect to include fundamental aspects like menstrual cycle data, which is a complete oversight and missed opportunity,” she adds. Her vision for a more inclusive and equitable landscape in Europe is rooted in more inclusive technology. “And technology can only be inclusive if the tech is based on the needs of society. You don’t need a technical background to have an opinion about the level of human interaction you would prefer in your child’s classroom, for example. So in that sense, diverse voices are critical.” A universal issue in an AI-driven world, is that of society becoming addicted to technology, especially via their smartphones. “It’s concerning that we are spending hours online every day, and I think that it's holding us back. We neglect to have meaningful conversations with people we don’t know – and we must be vigilant against becoming too robotic,” says Kim. “I aim to make Europe a little bit more human through my work, and I can confidently say that there is a lot of solid work being done in this space by women at the moment.”
Embracing your inner nerd
Kim is passionate about championing diverse voices in addressing the AI knowledge gap in the market, and believes that gender diversity is crucial. “AI discriminates when it neglects the perspectives of women. It’s not only about providing programmes
According to Kim, women considering the field of politics, especially with a specialisation in tech-related matters, are in for a pleasant surprise if they are expecting the same formal, welldressed and tight-lipped archetypes she had envisioned. “I’ve met some of the coolest women throughout my career, with varying backgrounds and profiles. They bring valuable perspectives in assessing effects and are so hands-on in bringing solutions to complex problems. If you choose to step into this field and fight the good fight towards more ethical technology, prepare to be blown away. And embrace your inner nerd – believe it or not, she has a role to play in upholding democracy.”
Karin van der Wekke
VP Cloud & Mobile Platforms, KPN
Taking the leadership leap
The RightBrains Digital Leadership Programme (DLP) supports women in advancing to the next level of digital leadership. It provides critical knowledge and practical skills to help them navigate competitive landscapes, respond strategically to technological change, and lead complex digital transformations with confidence. We caught up with alumni from recent years to reflect on the programme’s impact on their growth as leaders.
How has your career progressed since you joined the RightBrains Digital Leadership Programme?
I was fortunate to pair the DLP with an internal high-potential programme, and together, they had a profound effect on my ability to self-reflect during that period. Programmes like these help you forge connections with other ambitious people, and in the case of the DLP, other ambitious women. It’s the connections that give you the energy to make a change when you are stuck, and can even include some constructive competition. It prompted me to grasp that I’m the architect of my own career and that I could make a conscious decision about my options, rather than just considering opportunities when they come my way organically. One of the direct results of this was that I took the leap from operational management to strategic management and was able to secure a VP role within the B2B solutions department, focusing on the small and medium enterprises (SMEs). This role came after I approached HR to discuss the next step in my career, and I like to think that the DLP gave me the subtle push to cultivate the confidence to do so.
What course content struck a chord with you, and why?
I enjoyed considering our companies from a greenfield perspective (which refers to approaching a project, system, or initiative as if you’re starting completely from scratch) during the business transformation module. It allowed us to consider things from a new perspective, even though many processes and policies in big companies are already cemented. And we were surprised to discover that there is always room for creativity and innovation. Kay Formanek, the teacher on the day we delved into diversity and inclusion, also really gave me pause. I realised that although I was trying to create diverse teams, I could do even more in terms of allowing everyone the same growth opportunities. When you frequently depend on a team member for something, for example, you may be subconsciously limiting someone else from developing or refining the skill to help with that specific task. En
What are some of the challenges that women with digital ambitions face in the market? What are your tips to help them overcome these obstacles?
Navigating a space that remains predominantly male-dominated. My experience was no different. In my view, the key is not to blend in, but to stand out – by owning your expertise, speaking up with confidence, and building a strong network of allies, both male and female. Digital transformation thrives on diverse perspectives, so rather than adapting to the status quo, women should feel empowered to challenge it and bring their unique vision to the forefront. For me, that meant using my communication skills and commercial mindset to support my male counterparts in influencing decision-making and driving faster execution.
Why should women prioritise opportunities for upskilling and continuous learning?
I think that it’s a universal tool for self-actualisation, regardless of your gender. I personally find it helpful to complete a programme with other women who share similar experiences in the market that is not known for being gender balanced. To me, the true value of learning transcends the knowledge; it can only reach its potential if it’s utilised in your day-to-day task completion. And it’s important not to lose the momentum or the ‘high’ you feel when you are listening to an inspiring teacher, but to actually go out and make a difference. Continuous learning just makes sense with the speed of technology at the moment, so you need to grab every opportunity to stay ahead of the curve – as an employee and as a leader.
Learn more about our modules and the schedule for 2025.
Connect with us and book your seat. We kick off in October!
ANNUAL EVENT AND AWARDS CEREMONY
RightBrains Celebration Event
The RightBrains Awards, in association with Computable, proudly recognise outstanding female leadership and talent, alongside incredible male allies, who are igniting positive change in the digital technology industry. The finalists and winners are celebrated at our annual Celebration Event, which aims to provide a valuable networking opportunity for our RightBrains community, partners, sponsors, and like-minded industry peers. During this event, we also feature formidable keynote speakers and role models who share their career journeys and learnings, and an insightful panel discussion by the finalists in the Digital Leadership & Diversity Award category, who discuss some topical industry trends. In case you missed it, here are the highlights from 2024!
Nominations open in March each year, and finalists are announced in July.
The RightBrains Awards consist of two overall categories: The Digital Leadership & Diversity Award and the Digital Talent Award.
We spotlight and celebrate the finalists in both categories and create visibility for their organisations.
“As a jury member of the RightBrains Awards, I am continually impressed by the talent, vision and impact of the nominated talents and leaders. We must highlight these contributions to the digital field, not only to recognise individual achievement, but also to inspire broader change. The RightBrains Awards offer visibility to women whose work deserves to be seen and celebrated.”
Prof. dr. Erik Beulen
Professor at the University of Manchester and RightBrains Awards jury member
Follow news and updates around the RightBrains Awards and Celebration Event by scanning the code!
“When we invest in women, we invest in progress. The growing presence of women in our teams is making our technology more inclusive, our communication clearer, and our relationships stronger. This isn’t just about numbers, it’s about unlocking creativity and intelligence across every field, especially in IT and leadership.”
Wido van de Mast
Andrea Kraus Chief Revenue Officer at the Eurofiber Group
CEO at AET Europe
A quantum leap for humankind
Judith Kreukels is the Head of Programmes at We in Quantum Development (WIQD), and it’s easy to understand why she received a special mention at the 2024 RightBrains Awards as the winner of the public vote in the Digital Talent Award category. She has made it her life’s mission to address inequalities, and her soft-spoken manner has won hearts within the ecosystem. Here is her story.
It’s clear from Judith’s academic background that she set out to do humanitarian work with serious intention. She completed degrees in International Development Studies
with a specialisation in Urban Development and Inequalities, as well as in International Relations and Political History. These impressive academic credentials equipped Judith to apply her skills in her early career within a human rights organisation, where she specialised in equality issues in Eastern Europe and Central Asia. During this period, she had the opportunity to work towards addressing real-world issues faced by underrepresented communities. “I’ve always had an interest in other cultures and alleviating the universal issues that we experience as humans,” Judith says. “During my studies, I realised that a lot of content was viewed through the lens of Western history. I was fascinated
by the legacy of colonisation on inequality from the perspective of the South, including areas like Latin America and Sub-Saharan Africa .”
Taking a quantum leap
Judith’s wealth of experience, which she accumulated during extensive travels, community work and working hands-on in the sector, eventually saw her step into the role of a project manager back at the University of Amsterdam, her postgraduate alma mater. The shift to a public institution was a welcome one at the time: “The wheels tend to turn faster than in the non-profit sector, because longterm funding is steadier, and it’s not susceptible to political change every four years to such a degree,” Judith explains. WIQD landed on her desk four years ago due to her work in the space of diversity and inclusion (D&I). WIQD is a professional network in the Netherlands working in industry, academia and policy that envisions an inclusive quantum ecosystem. It aims to connect and retain underrepresented groups in quantum through support, networking, and community growth. Under Judith’s leadership, WIQD has gone from strength to strength and the project team has been expanded to include a communication officer, a project manager, and a team of about 20 volunteers who form part of the board. She is humble about this growth, however, and credits her team and those who support WIQD. When she was recognised on stage at the RightBrains Awards in 2024, she was surprised and honoured to hear that so many people voted for her during the public voting phase. “It’s not always easy to work in this field, and it’s tough to tie a metric to the degree of support for your initiative. But through the RightBrains Awards, I felt that WIQD’s efforts were validated and celebrated, and I’m happy that it opened the doors for some exciting collaborations, like being included as a partner
of the RightBrains United Network.”
Getting in on the ground floor
“Through collaborations that unite different key players across the industry, I’m confident that we will have a lasting impact, together.”
According to Judith, quantum computing and technology are fairly new disciplines and are rich in opportunities. With this vast potential, she believes, comes the opportunity to do things right from the early days. “New degrees are being introduced in the market, and it’s exciting to learn as we go,” Judith says. “We work across industry and academia, though currently, many women quantum experts remain concentrated in the academic sector, especially in senior positions. As research suggests, many women don’t stay in the field, but the data on non-binary people is limited. We hope to support these individuals in their journeys.” Judith is constantly energised when someone approaches her to share how much value WIQD has brought to them. “Academia can still be very isolating for some people. We strive to help those who need support with navigating the hierarchy and those who need more visibility to be considered for publications. We also hope to limit issues like microaggressions, and to help address the leaky pipeline.”
Celebrating successes
It is one of Judith’s ambitions to celebrate successes – even if they are small. Nowadays, she is in more of an advisory than an operational role, and she hopes to expand the WIQD team and develop more partnerships and training on how to improve diversity initiatives, policy and culture. “One of my sincere hopes is that initiatives like WIQD will yield ever-increasing positive influence. I believe that initiatives that exist for good causes can sometimes be underestimated in the market. Through my work at WIQD and through collaborations that unite different key players across the industry, I’m confident that we will have a lasting impact, together.”
With special thanks…
ROLE MODEL STORIES
Merel
Kim
RightBrains celebrated its ten-year jubilee in 2024 with the launch of our inaugural issue of DIGIDIVA Magazine. In many ways, that first edition was easier to create than the one you're now holding in your hands (or reading online). It was novel, exploratory, and unbound by expectations. We had no benchmarks for success, only the drive to start something meaningful.
This year, the challenge was greater. We had to dig deeper, ask different questions, and refine the business case behind this initiative – amid tighter budgets and global shifts toward what some have called a resurgence of ‘masculine energy’ in the workplace. The RightBrains team has navigated its own changes too, including a significant transition from our platform to an upgraded website. Yet throughout, our intention remained clear: to deliver even greater depth and inspiration for women shaping digital careers. With the help of our long-standing partners, new supporters, and the incredible women and male allies who fill these pages, we believe we’ve succeeded. United, as this year’s theme suggests, we’ve created something we’re proud of.
“When we uplift each other, we can balance so much more.”
The creation of this magazine is a testament to the trust and energy we continue to receive from the market. It fuels our optimism for the future of RightBrains, from our employer branding activities for partners. Our sponsors remain passionate about our shared mission, and we are deeply grateful for the relationships we’ve nurtured during this journey.
EN ROUTE TO LEADERSHIP
Thank you to everyone who offered their time, stories, and even some tough love. Your willingness to share your educational journeys, ambitions, and hard-won insights has brought this magazine to life. It informs, challenges, and inspires
Renske Melchers-Vermolen is fired up to create awareness about IT’s hidden carbon footprint. She shares her recommendations for greener tech solutions.
Fuel your career with these handy resources.
Finally, a heartfelt thank you to Annet Pouw from Mrs Peacock Designs for her unwavering support, and to Michiel Wijnberg for his signature photography. A word of praise, too, to the companies who continue to stand behind RightBrains leadership in tech. Cheers to you!
Last but not least...
A final word of thanks to the companies who are represented and who contributed content towards the RightBrains DIGIDIVA Magazine and Inspiration Event. We appreciate your support of this publication and campaign.
Let’s unite!
Your partner for a gender-balanced digital future.
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Let's bridge the digital gender gap
“I’m inspired by the vision of RightBrains and DIGIDIVA – where purpose meets innovation, and education sparks real change. Their 2025 theme, United, is more than a message: it’s a movement. By championing collaboration, we can accelerate progress towards a truly inclusive digital future. We’re not just closing the gender gap in tech, we’re shaping a next-gen industry that reflects all of us. It’s my pleasure to support this movement and the motivated people driving it forward.”
Joost Farwerck CEO and Chairman of the
Board of Management at KPN
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