Meet The Ultimate Dutch Power Woman “Neelie Kroes”

Born and bred in Rotterdam, The Netherlands. She first saw the light of day in 1941, a year after the Rotterdam blitz, which obliterated almost the entire historic city centre. But as she grew up, Kroes saw her hometown get back on it’s feet, dust itself off and play an important international role. Luckily as it led her to be a groundbreaking EU  and an inspiring mentor for “Start Ups”. With an impressive track record at age of 75, Kroes is still unstoppable, highly motivated, assuming positions at: Uber, Bank of America/Merrill Lynch, Salesforce and the Open Data institute.

After the war, Kroes father bought up material left behind by the US military and started a transport company with it. Those where trying times, as the family never knew whether there would be enough money to put food on the table. Kroes feels strongly connected with Rotterdam’s roll up your sleeves and stop whining mentality. This town is all about getting results and adapting, looking ahead and not complaining.

Kroes feels strongly connected with Rotterdam’s: roll up your sleeves and stop whining mentality.

 

Everything in The Netherlands is so close together. If you connect disciplines throughout the country – which is relatively easy in a small country like The Netherlands – you can suddenly make your mark on the world. But the Dutch can really be too modest. If they discover something interesting, they will say: Let’s give it a try first. Nonsense, I say: just get up on stage and show it off.

 

Women should roll up their sleeves and take care of themselves, without complaining.

 

So what does Kroes think about the way in which women present themselves in society today?

Women should show each other greater solidarity, she says. As Madeleine Albright – Former US Secretary of State – once said. “There is a special place in hell for women who don’t help other women”. When I see talented young women, I want to help them find a way to let their talent flourish. Fortunately, many young women in the start up world don’t need that support anymore. Their number keep increasing and I have noticed they dress very well. However, Kroes does feel that women are still at a disadvantage. “It’s such a pity”. Women tend to be better team players, which is exactly what we need at this point in time, but it’s insufficiently picked up on. Basically I believe that women should roll up their sleeves and take care of themselves, without complaining.

But if you read studies and see the low numbers of women at the top, you can only conclude that “women quotas” are still a necessity.

More than anything, women have to seize opportunities as they arise. They tend to wait for the right moment: until their kids are older or until they are well-versed in a certain topic. But they can’t afford to wait, because a job offer might be here today, and gone tomorrow. Men seldom wait to grab an opportunity. I wish that women were less modest and less inclined to hold off.

Want to read more about this topic, go to:  To all (future) female leaders we need to change – written by Mariëtta

There is a special place in hell for women who don’t help other women

Madeleine Albright

 

No regrets

Would she do things differently if she were young again? “I don’t think so”, Kroes says. I have been through two marriages that did not last. I was often away, but I think I made the most of the opportunities I was given. Sometimes, one has to make choices. I’m lucky I have a son who could cope with his mother being far away. He lives in San Francisco with his family now. His wife got a good education at Princeton and started her own company, while he also built a career for himself. He has become a well-balanced man.

I have had the privilege of speaking to quite a few interesting people. When I was Minister of Transport and the late Indian Prime Minister – Rajiv Gandhi – a seasoned flier, was visiting. I took a helicopter flight over the Delta Works, and pointed out on the map where we were. He smiled benignly at me while adjusting the map, which I was holding upside-down:)

I still have so much I want to do, and I have to get a move on!

I hope this Power lady gives you the inspiration, I really felt! My grand dad was a big fan of Neelie! I hope I can meet Neelie one day, too!