Inspiring People, Inspiring Journeys – Part 8
Our Privacy Policy has been updated! The Conference Board uses cookies to improve our website, enhance your experience, and deliver relevant messages and offers about our products. Detailed information on the use of cookies on this site is provided in our cookie policy. For more information on how The Conference Board collects and uses personal data, please visit our privacy policy. By continuing to use this Site or by clicking "ACCEPT", you acknowledge our privacy policy and consent to the use of cookies. 

LET'S TALK GLOBAL BUSINESS

Inspiring People, Inspiring Journeys – Part 8

24 OCTOBER 2023

In this eighth episode, Sanja sits down with Mieke van de Capelle, CHRO at dsm-firmenich.

Inspiring People, Inspiring Journeys, is a new podcast series in 2023, moderated by Sanja Haas, Chairwoman of the Advisory Board for the European Human Capital Center at The Conference Board. Each episode features an informal conversation with a CHRO about their role & responsibilities, professional journey and perspectives about HR careers and the future of the function.

 

In this eighth episode, Sanja sits down with Mieke van de Capelle, CHRO at dsm-firmenich. Mieke shares with us what it’s like being a CHRO in a newly merged conglomerate (the B2B company touches 4 billion people on a daily basis indirectly) and how this is a daunting experience - both incredibly rewarding and challenging at the same time. Rewarding because of the opportunity to be building a company fit for purpose; challenging because everything is up for reevaluation. She tells us about her different professional experiences and journey which prepared her for the current role, including being part of a very long post-merger integration as her first role as CHRO in 2012.

 

Mieke explains that she does not have a “recipe book” and that every situation is different with no “one size fits all”. Having experience is one thing, but not enough. Mieke shares that in order to make a difference as an HR Professional, experience needs to be coupled with a mindset of being open to listen, learn and understand what is needed for the business.

 Inspiring People, Inspiring Journeys – Part 8

Listen/subscribe on

Inspiring People, Inspiring Journeys, is a new podcast series in 2023, moderated by Sanja Haas, Chairwoman of the Advisory Board for the European Human Capital Center at The Conference Board. Each episode features an informal conversation with a CHRO about their role & responsibilities, professional journey and perspectives about HR careers and the future of the function.

 

In this eighth episode, Sanja sits down with Mieke van de Capelle, CHRO at dsm-firmenich. Mieke shares with us what it’s like being a CHRO in a newly merged conglomerate (the B2B company touches 4 billion people on a daily basis indirectly) and how this is a daunting experience - both incredibly rewarding and challenging at the same time. Rewarding because of the opportunity to be building a company fit for purpose; challenging because everything is up for reevaluation. She tells us about her different professional experiences and journey which prepared her for the current role, including being part of a very long post-merger integration as her first role as CHRO in 2012.

 

Mieke explains that she does not have a “recipe book” and that every situation is different with no “one size fits all”. Having experience is one thing, but not enough. Mieke shares that in order to make a difference as an HR Professional, experience needs to be coupled with a mindset of being open to listen, learn and understand what is needed for the business.

Return to podcast series

Episodes

View more episodes