Leadership & Inclusion - page 4

Diversity & Inclusion

Our members determine which themes we act on. We work on organizations that are open to talent and where every employee, regardless of personal characteristics or background, feels valuable and welcome.

People are what make organizations. People have different backgrounds, talents, and motivations. In a world where technology, markets, and organizations are constantly evolving, both strong leadership and an inclusive working environment are essential for success.

Leaders play a crucial role in shaping the future of their organizations. They provide direction for digital transformations, foster innovation, and bring people together around shared goals. At the same time, the best results are achieved when different perspectives, experiences, and ideas are embraced and put to use. Diversity and inclusion are therefore not goals in themselves, but important foundations for better decision-making, greater innovation, and sustainable organizational development.

Today’s labor market also requires organizations to attract a diverse range of talent while being able to engage and retain employees over the long term. An inclusive culture, where people feel welcome, valued, and heard, provides an essential foundation for this. Effective leadership helps create and strengthen such a culture.

Within Leadership & Inclusion, we therefore focus on two closely connected themes:

Leadership
How can leaders provide direction in times of change, innovation, and digital transformation? What competencies, skills, and behaviors are needed to become and remain an effective leader? How can we develop future-ready leadership and connect today’s generation of leaders with the leaders of tomorrow?

We create a platform where leaders can share experiences, challenges, and lessons learned, and learn from one another.

Inclusion
How can you create an organization where everyone feels welcome and has the opportunity to contribute? What factors help build an inclusive culture, and what challenges and pitfalls may arise along the way?

We share knowledge and practical experiences on topics such as diversity, inclusion, culture, collaboration, and talent development. In doing so, we draw on insights from research, the market, and the experiences of our members.

To achieve this, we focus on the following:

1. Sharing knowledge about leadership and leadership development
What insights, experiences, and best practices help leaders successfully navigate transformation, innovation, and organizational change? Which competencies are crucial for the future of leadership? And how can we create strong connections between experienced leaders and the next generation?

We bring together knowledge from research, practice, and the CIO Platform Nederland network to further strengthen and develop leadership.

2. Exchanging experiences on inclusion and organizational culture
What elements are essential to developing and sustaining an inclusive culture? How can you create a working environment where different perspectives are valued and people feel seen and appreciated? What works in practice, and what can we learn from one another?

We share experiences and insights to further strengthen inclusion within organizations.

Our ambition
Leadership & Inclusion brings together leaders who believe that successful organizations are built by people. By sharing knowledge, experiences, and lessons learned about leadership, transformation, culture, and inclusion, we strengthen one another as well as the next generation of leaders.

In doing so, we contribute to future-ready organizations where everyone has the opportunity to make an impact.

Future-focused leadership is about more than having vision and making decisions. It means being open to different perspectives, connecting people, and having the courage to make room for differences. By recognizing and leveraging talent, organizations can build stronger teams, make better decisions, and become more resilient and future-ready.

  1. April 30, 2026

    Alexander Zwart (Rabobank), speaker at the Jaardag on June 4th

    We are proud to announce our next speaker: Alexander Zwart, CIO at Rabobank and winner of the most recent CIO of the Year Award. On stage, he will lead us through an inspiring session titled “How Do You Become CIO of the Year?”
    2026-06-04 Speaker Announcement Alexander Zwart
  2. April 23, 2026

    Simone Werner becomes the new CIO and CDO at UWV

    Members in the News: Simone Werner has been appointed as the new Chief Information Officer (CIO) of UWV. As of 1 May 2026, she will lead the digital direction of the public agency. In her dual role as CIO and Chief Data Officer (CDO), Werner will have end responsibility for the digital strategy, information management, and the organization’s complex data landscape.
    2026-04-23 Leden in het nieuws Simone Werner nieuwe CIO en CDO bij UWV
  3. April 23, 2026

    Great leadership starts with dreaming | An impression of the NextGen Tech Leaders Dream Festival

    Strategic thinking does not start with plans, but with dreams. During the Dream Festival, tech leaders came together to step away from today’s operations and dare to look toward tomorrow. This is what happens when ambition, imagination, and leadership come together.
    Dream Festival 2026 new
  4. April 2, 2026

    Interview NextGen Tech Leaders | How emerging and established IT leaders strengthen each other

    NextGen Tech Leaders (powered by CIO Platform Nederland) highlights how experienced and emerging leaders strengthen one another and are better equipped together to navigate technological acceleration. Hylke Sprangers and Pleuni van Rooij show that the IT leader of tomorrow grows through collaboration with the current generation.  

    2026-04-02 Logo NextGen voor NB

Leadership & Inclusion events

  1. CEG Management Support | From Assistant to Impact Maker | Prinses Máxima Centrum | Utrecht Utrecht

    Expert Group Management Support – Inspiration, Insight, and Growth for the Assistant of Tomorrow is the premier network for management assistants of CIOs and CDOs. Twice a year, we share knowledge, experiences, and inspiration during interactive meetings, often with a behind-the-scenes look at one of our members' organizations. Digitalization is rapidly transforming the profession: how can assistants remain visible and future-proof? During our sessions, you'll receive practical tips, best practices, and insights from peers and experts.

    29 Oct
  2. Female IT Leaders Network | Make her want to stay: lessons learned at Alliander | Alliander | Arnhem Arnhem

    A live meeting for and by female CIOs and IT executives. The purpose of this meeting is to strengthen and help each other and build a close network of female IT executives.

    This time we are also inviting all our CIOs and IT Leaders: He/she/them! 

    19 Nov

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