Steve Jordan talks to two female industry leaders, in acknowledgement of International Women’s Day (IWD), and finds the answer to a question he has been asking for 30 years.
This article will be first released to coincide with International Women's Day (IWD) on 8 March, 2025. IWD has been around since 1911. It is relevant for everyone who cares about women’s equality. It celebrates achievements, raises awareness of discrimination and encourages action to achieve gender parity.
In this article I talk to two women who have achieved the highest level of management in their company: De Haan in The Netherlands. But that’s not really what the story is about. You see, for many years people have told me that we need more women in management. I can understand that greater equality is fair; I can see that it’s morally right. But nobody has ever explained to me why it makes business sense. Until now.
My interviewees are Linda Rovekamp and Madeline van der Rhee, De Haan’s CCO and CEO respectively. Two relatively young women, right at the top of one of the oldest and most respected family firms in the moving industry. Linda has been with De Haan for six years having previously worked with Noble Mobility. Madeline was with De Haan for over nine years, before moving to Gosselin in 2020. She returned to De Haan in January this year as its CEO. Together, their aim is to guide the company into a new era.
An inspirational role
Right from the start of the interview we picked up on the IWD theme and the need for greater equality. “I don't think you need to select a person because they're a woman,” said Madeline. “But I do think there are a lot of women in the industry who don't gain the position they deserve because they are women. Some companies are still so male dominated, that the huge potential some women have is not always seen.”
Madeline and Linda both want to inspire other women in the industry. “It's not just that there should be more women, it's that there are a lot of women who are under-estimated. We can inspire them to believe that it's possible to get the promotion they deserve and make a difference within the industry.”
“We shouldn't discuss whether somebody is a man or a woman,” said Linda, “it should be the person with the best capabilities.”
Influencing the decision makers
I pointed out that, in addition to inspiring women to be more confident, they also need to influence the people who are appointing them – frequently middle-aged men ...
Photo: Madeline van der Rhee (left) and Linda Rovekamp.
Click here to read the full story in The Mover magazine.