In the second episode of 'CEOs on course', financial journalist Paul Laseur picks up Van Houwelingen at the Aon office in Rotterdam and takes her home. Following PwC's 27th CEO Survey, they talk about Van Houwelingen's ambitions and the challenges she faces as CEO of Aon, which is a leading advisor in the field of risk, pension and health solutions.
'At Aon, too, we are of course working on a transformation. Something I also hear from all our clients. Everyone is looking at how they can still be relevant as an organisation in ten years' time. And I can imagine that this causes stress. Especially among employees. Because change is always difficult and creates uncertainty,' says Van Houwelingen.
S1#2: CEO Leonique van Houwelingen van Aon Nederland over
Transformation should not come at any cost
In her view, transparency and pace are therefore key components of any transformation. 'It must be clear to everyone what process you are embarking on together. I also don't see transformation as a hurdle that has to be overcome. You take on the challenge together and you set the pace together. Transformation should not come at any cost. It is important to constantly ask yourself if you are making the right choice. Is this step really necessary? Do you have the people to do it? So always keep asking yourself these questions.'
Before joining Aon, Van Houwelingen worked for ABN AMRO and BNY Mellon. She is also a supervisory director at Mizuho Bank Europe. In the back seat of the 'PwC car', Paul Laseur asks her if she sees herself as a role model for young women considering a career in the financial sector.
Gender equality: ‘We could be a bit more ambitious’
'At the beginning of my career, I didn't think about it that much, but at a certain point I got to a position where I thought: I can be a role model for others. So I consciously started to work on it. I think that with my experience I can help other women make choices. In the Netherlands, women still find it difficult to realise their ambitions. You want to have children, how do you manage that? I have three children of my own and things are going very well. You have to make your choices at the right time.'
'In the Netherlands we have made progress in recent years in terms of equal opportunities for men and women, but we could be a bit more ambitious. Compared to other countries, we are too easily satisfied. We all need to work a little harder on that.'
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