How can we make inclusion something that we’re proud of? That question is the starting point for a special episode 70 of Women Disrupting Tech.
Constantijn van Oranje joins me to explore:
📈 Embracing differences between people as a strategic element in the growth of companies.
🧭 His personal journey, from role models to leadership strategies
🚀 Concrete steps tech companies of any size can take today to build more inclusive teams.
Plus, you’ll learn how his late father and Neelie Kroes inspired him to explore the less conventional path. To listen, click play below or use the links throughout this blog post to listen on your favorite podcast platform.
Creating The Culture Shift Towards Inclusion with Constantijn van Oranje | Ep. 70 – Women Disrupting Tech
What we cover in this episode
- What we cover in this episode
- Timestamps
- The Magic you can expect in this episode 🪄
- Free ways to support the Women Disrupting Tech
- What makes this episode magical🌟?
- About Constantijn van Oranje and Techleap
- About Diverse Leaders in Tech
- Let me know what you think!
- What’s coming up?
- More episodes like this?
Timestamps
03:20 How Constantijn Became Special Envoy at Techleap
05:21 Organizing StartupFest with Airbnb, Uber, Google, and Apple CEOs
08:41 Concerns and Opportunities on AI in the Netherlands
10:44 His Leadership Role models
13:40 Neelie Kroes’ influence and the importance of diversity
16:07 Building an Inclusive Environment at Techleap
21:11 The importance of inclusive recruitment practices
24:30: Bringing your whole self to the office
30:03: How his father inspired him
34:21: Changes in gender equality in the Dutch Tech ecosystem
39:00: The need for more entrepreneurship education
46:07: The role of men as allies in promoting diversity
49:02: Creating a cultural shift towards more inclusion
The Magic you can expect in this episode 🪄
Will my podcast be obsolete by the end of 2032?
Probably not, if you ask Constantijn van Oranje, special envoy at Techleap.
He joins me on a special episode of Women Disrupting Tech to discuss a topic that’s near to his heart and crucial for the future of tech: making inclusion the new normal.
According to him, it requires a cultural shift in how we interact with each other, something that is “super hard to change.” It’s about changing the narrative: Inclusion isn’t a burden. It’s a key driver for better outcomes, teams, and lives.
Key highlights include:
- The influence of Neelie Kroes and his late father on his leadership approach.
- Why having diverse teams is a strategic element in the growth of companies.
- How small, targeted interventions can increase diversity awareness
- The need to promote entrepreneurship in education as a viable alternative to traditional employment.
Are you ready to dive in?
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What makes this episode magical🌟?
Well, besides the fact that I interviewed a member of the Dutch Royal Family, it is probably Constantijn’s open attitude and his passion for DEI as a topic. Before the interview, I asked him about observing protocol, but he did not think that was needed. The result is an open and relaxed conversation.
Like when he talks about Neelie Kroes, his predecessor at what is now known as Techleap. We go in-depth about her leadership style, putting her ‘outside the box’ ideas into action, and changing her initial stance on quota.
Another thing that really struck me is that, as we recorded the episode on the birth date of his late father, he talked openly about how his father inspired him.
“We have to turn inclusion into something that we’re proud of.”
Constantijn van Oranje, Special Envoy at Techleap
About Constantijn van Oranje and Techleap
Constantijn van Oranje leads Techleap, the initiative to turn The Netherlands into a European powerhouse for tech companies. He and his team run programs and connect a community of the most promising and ambitious startup & scaleup founders in The Netherlands. Techleap also works with stakeholders like the government to improve the conditions for tech entrepreneurs to scale their companies.
Before Techleap, he was Chief of Staff to VP Neelie Kroes at the European Commission in charge of the Digital Agenda and led the Brussels office of the RAND Corporation following jobs at Booz Allen & Hamilton, IFC and the Cabinet of EC Commissioner Hans van den Broek.
In addition to innovation and technology, Constantijn van Oranje is passionate about art, music, photography, and nature.
You can follow Constantijn van Oranje and Techleap on LinkedIn. And you can learn more about Techleap’s programs on its website.
About Diverse Leaders in Tech
At the end of the episode. Constantijn also asks you to join Diverse Leaders in Tech, a request that I totally support (being a member myself). Diverse Leaders in Tech is a unique community that supports tech companies and leaders by creating benchmarks on diversity and inclusion. They also organize monthly meetings where you can learn about best practices in DEI. You can learn more on their website and by following them on LinkedIn.
Let me know what you think!
Please let me know your thoughts about this episode of Women Disrupting Tech in the comments.
I’m experimenting with letting the flow determine the conversation. I’m curious to hear if I managed to make this an engaging episode. So feel free to put your feedback in the comments.
And if you would like to suggest a guest that I absolutely must have on the podcast, send me an email or a DM on LinkedIn.
What’s coming up?
Next week, on Women Disrupting Tech, Sergio Panday joins me to talk about promoting ethnic diversity in corporate boardrooms and beyond.
After that, we return to women who are disrupting tech. In episode 72, Manisha Athukorala shares how corporate skills come in handy when you’re working for scaleups like Uber Eats, Sword Health and Mews.
So stay tuned for more inspiring women disrupting tech and their male allies in season three of Women Disrupting Tech!
More episodes like this?
It’s always difficult to compare, but if there are two episodes that I’d like you to listen to it’s these:
– In episode 31, Ingrid Tappin of Diverse Leaders in Tech and a front runner in DEI is my guest to share how she champions Diversity, Equity and Inclusion in tech.
– In episode 41 Sabine Schoorl shares how she uses curiosity to find exceptional impact and exceptional founders as a VC.
Women Disrupting Tech | The Podcast 
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