Maria van der Heijden

To achieve the new economy, we must change. As entrepreneurs, as businesses, as governments. And as human beings. On its own, change is exciting. Change takes energy. And yes, it causes discomfort. Getting over your fear of the unknown and showing courage. Starting conversations with dissenters. Daring to say what you think, regardless of your interests or role.

Maria van der Heijden has been managing director of MVO Netherlands, Europe’s largest sustainable business network, since July 2016. Together with 2,000 partner companies, MVO Netherlands forms the movement of entrepreneurs in the new economy. Her expertise lies mainly in the role of leadership in the transition to a sustainable new economy. That includes topics such as inclusiveness, biodiversity, real prices, transparent chains and other themes from the New Economy Index (NEx). She is an expert on the legal versus societal norm among CEOs and leaders. And loves to talk about the importance of international sustainability legislation for companies.