Sylvia Houwers

Sylvia Houwers has over 20 years of experience on the people side of business, including senior leadership roles at SHV, Mammoet and Nutreco. Her experience spans leadership, culture, talent and organisational development across both international corporates and entrepreneurial environments.

Sylvia is known for her ability to quickly understand what is really going on. She sees patterns and connections, gets to the core of complex issues and translates them into a clear and practical approach. Clients value her pragmatism, sharp thinking and solution-oriented approach. She asks the questions that need to be asked, likes to keep things simple and makes clear what is needed to move forward.

Sylvia works at the intersection of business, leadership, culture and organisation. She helps organisations understand what is needed on the people side to deliver their strategy and ambitions, and where leadership, behaviour or the way the organisation works may be getting in the way. She primarily works with executive and leadership teams facing growth, change or a new phase in their organisation. Her work ranges from defining leadership profiles and desired behaviours to leadership assessment, succession, culture and values, and executive team effectiveness. Sylvia has a strong ability to quickly make sense of complex organisational challenges, connect the dots and bring them back to their essence. She combines strategic insight with a pragmatic approach: making clear what is really going on, what matters most and what needs to happen next. Her vast experience makes her comfortable moving between the boardroom and the reality of the organisation.

• CHRO and Board Member – Mammoet Heavy Lifting & Transport
• Corporate Director Talent & Leadership Development – SHV Holdings
• Global Talent & Development Director – Nutreco
• International Manager Recruitment & Talent Development – Action
• Sylvia’s past clients include Coca-Cola, KLM, Bayer, and PepsiCo, among others.

• Transformational Leadership Coaching ACTP/ICF program, TPC Leadership (2023-2024), 
• Cultural Change – Nyenrode Business University, 2024
• Various Programs in Leadership, Talent & Team Development, Change Management, D&I, Culture, delivered by TIAS Business School, IMD, Ashridge (2000 – 2023)
• Hotel and Hospitality Management, 1989 – 1993
• Certified Practitioner Hogan, Insights, PAPI & OPQ
• HRIS: Workday & SuccessFactors