Carlijn belongs to The Next Leadership Top 50 of 2023

Carlijn - Inclusive by Nature

Carlijn is Finance Director for the Transformation Office and started working for FrieslandCampina in November 2020. She leads the finance transformation including the cost-saving program. The renewed strategy of Expedition 2030 will lead FrieslandCampina to improve profitability in the coming years. By doing so, The organization will be transformed into an organization with a clear strategy and a fit-for-purpose operating model and cost structure. The TMO has a leading and coordinating role in the transformation towards a company with more focused businesses, a fit-for-purpose cost structure, and a collaborative performance culture.

My leadership style is about giving people the freedom to experiment. Making mistakes is part of learning and building new concepts or ideas too.

 

My career Journey

My family owns a FrieslandCampina farm. Since I was little, I have seen first-hand how much dedication, hard work, entrepreneurial skills, innovation, and drive farmers give their business to make a living. That gave me a great sense of responsibility, humility, and equality. There is no shortcut to success. Work hard every day to feed the animals and grow crops. You become one with the laws of nature.

I learned that big things are not achieved when you work alone. I have tried to accomplish assignments independently, but it was not satisfying and, in the end, unsustainable. Working as one team, like our family on the farm, was the key to success. For the teams to succeed, it is elementary to give direction, disclose information, and provide guidance, empowerment, and support. You create a culture based on safety, transparency, feedback, advice, and trust.

Carlijn Janssen

My personal development at FrieslandCampina

The opportunities for personal development at FrieslandCampina I received were very valuable and helped me a lot:

Training and Skill Development: FrieslandCampina offered training programs to enhance employees' skills and knowledge, I followed the Lead to Win program at London Business School. Very valuable program.

Educational Support: Training on Power BI, AI, Free cash flow, and Balance sheet training were all provided and made me a better financial.

Mentorship and Coaching: I had access to mentors or coaches within the company who guided and supported my career growth path, special thanks to Marlies Hanskamp, Tuncay Ozguner, Roel van Neerbos, Suzanne van Noppen, and Hein Schumacher.

Networking Opportunities: Being part of a large multinational company like FrieslandCampina provided me with valuable networking opportunities both within the organization and in the broader industry, especially the Young Captain program last year was an amazing journey.

Inclusive by Nature

My principal and core belief is that 'inclusiveness' is the key to success during these hectic times. All stakeholders should get around the table and discuss options together. We must include farmers in our "license to operate". We all know that we are at the change of an era. Let all stakeholders join hands and do it together.

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Next Leadership top 50

My key strength is to connect informally on all levels and to be able to tell a compelling story that takes people with me and gives purpose, direction, and confidence. I feel not merely responsible for my results. I take ownership of the company and am fully accountable to the people working with me. Carrying out my story makes people proud of RFC, farmers, and their employees. 

I coach my team members not only to bring concerns and problems but to bring solutions too. My leadership style is about giving people the freedom to experiment. Making mistakes is part of learning and building new concepts or ideas too. You do not develop products and services with a 100% guarantee of success. You create them step by step: validate assumptions, pivot, and continue. And we celebrate our successes together.

By leading her team in this way, Carlijn became part of The Next Leadership top 50 of 2023. She has become part of this top 50 within her old position as Finance Director Zijerveld & Consumer Dairy Americas, she fulfills a new position within FrieslandCampina, namely Finance Director Transformation Office

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