Philips’ Female Leaders on Self-Management

You must dare to look at yourself to be a good leader. If you cannot lead yourself, you cannot be a good leader for others. This was one of the many insights shared by Karin Middelburg (Vice President Human Resources Europe at Philips) during the Women’s Leadership Summit last week in Amsterdam. Together with Stephanie Sievers (Managing Director Nordics Philips), she spoke about the importance of self-management. According to both women, self-management is crucial for building a successful career.

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The room was filled with ambitious women from France, England, and Germany, all eager to learn more about personal growth and leadership over the two-day event. Many more people watched and listened online. Karin (in blue) and Stephanie (in red) shared personal stories about self-management, full of anecdotes, inspiring examples, and suggestions for further reading to encourage personal growth. The attendees received an energetic mix of advice and inspiration, ranging from email management tips to the benefits of early rising for better balance and personal productivity.

Self-Management is Everything

While the session on self-management was primarily aimed at female leaders, the lessons are applicable to anyone who wants to get the most out of their career. “Self-management is everything,” said Stephanie. For them, self-management consists of a combination of goal-setting, time management, self-motivation, stress management, personal development, and adaptability. “And that’s what makes it so difficult. Today, we hope to inspire you with our stories so that you can apply them to your own life.”

A Different Path Than Planned

The personal stories of Karin and Stephanie resonated with many in the audience. Karin started her career with the ambition of becoming a diplomat but realized after two years that she wanted a different direction. She moved to China and transitioned into HR. Stephanie built a career in the consumer business and made the bold decision to switch to healthcare. She now leads the Nordic team at Philips. For both, self-knowledge, goal setting, conscious choices and control played an important role in their personal growth.

Know Who You Are

At the foundation of growth is the awareness of who you are. According to both women, self-awareness is the first step toward growth, whether it’s about understanding your strengths, finding your ideal work-life balance, or discovering your purpose in life. Stephanie said: “This is different for everyone. Self-awareness is a continuous journey, so keep investing in it. You first need to know who you are to understand your strengths and weaknesses. Only then can you work effectively with others.”

Small Steps with Big Impact

Both Karin and Stephanie emphasized that setting goals is essential to achieving something in life. Stephanie encourages everyone to set big goals: “Think big. And then think even bigger. That has always stuck with me.” When people don’t realize their dreams, it is often because they haven’t thought carefully about how to achieve them. “Set a goal for yourself and determine how much time you need to invest to reach it within a certain timeframe,” she advised. “Even small steps can lead to significant impact.”

Becoming Happier

When asked by the audience whether happiness is a choice, Karin stressed the importance of small steps for creating significant impact. “You can’t decide to be happy all at once, but you can decide to do your best to become happier,” she said. “Some people are unhappy and see themselves as victims of their circumstances. For them, taking control is crucial. It may take some time before you reach where you want to be but be kind to yourself. You’ll get there eventually with small steps.”