Connector of Talent and Success 💼 | Empowering Businesses to Thrive through People | Culture Growth Strategist | Coach | Writer | HR leader | #1 LinkedIn Belgium | Top #150 LinkedIn 🌍

Who I help: Ambitious introverts and people-first companies

Problems: Visibility without burnout, quiet leadership, culture that enables deep work

Outcomes: Promotions, role transitions, retention, high-trust cultures

STRATEGIC HR LEADER AND COACH WITH HANDS-ON APPROACH AIMING FOR THE BEST EMPLOYEE/BUSINESS EXPERIENCE - INTROVERT ADVOCATE

International HR Executive passionate about the link between employee experience and business dynamics. Combining a strong focus on strategic thinking and planning with a structured and factual hands-on approach. A positive well connected team coach with a natural sense of empowering team members in a spirit of challenge, learning and mutual recognition. Sound decision making capabilities based on critical reflections within companies focusing on innovation, change, digital transformation and learning.

A. Group HR Director Alter Pharma (200 FTE - BE/IRL/US) – private equity backed firm defining & implementing HR strategy (from strategy to operations) including definition of mission/vision/strategy & values.
B. Global HR Business Partner BU Kerley international/Tessenderlo Group (+/-300 employees - 11 countries) developing/transforming key HR processes (talent resource planning, talent acquisition, performance management, competency management, learning, reward,..) - HR project lead new factory Rouen, France. 
C. Global HR Executive SWIFT (+/- 3.000 employees in +25 countries) transforming/coaching business and HR into new ways of (digital) working/thinking to improve the employee and business experience 
D. Global Head of Reward Tessenderlo Group (+/- 5.000 employees in +25 countries) - strategic development/transformation reward strategy
E. Development new holistic performance management framework for Tessenderlo Group, including full implementation recognition stream.
F. HR Project Manager : move of the Chiquita EME Headquarters from Belgium to Switzerland (social plan negotiations, c&b setup, recruitment, mobility, new policy/process design,...)

Professional coaching certification Better Minds at Work               2018 - 2019
Centre for Creative Leadership - senior leadership program           Q1-2 2018
Management Development Programme Vlerick (17 days)		  2010 - 2011
Strategic Compensation & Benefits Management, Vlerick 		  2007      
Master degree in Law&Taxation, Katholieke Universiteit Leuven    1997 - 1998

Steven Claes

Her team thinks she doesn't care.
She's one of the most passionate leaders I know.
She just happens to be an introvert.

Harvard Business School found introverted leaders receive higher team performance ratings.
Another study showed they drive 28% higher productivity from proactive employees.

And yet we still get overlooked for promotions.
Still get told to "speak up more."
Still get judged by volume instead of value.

What companies miss when they overlook introverts:
→ We spot patterns others miss because we process deeply
→ We build trust through listening, not talking
→ We create safety by holding space, not taking it

The future of work doesn't need louder leaders.
It needs ones who think before they speak.
Who listen before they solve.
Who create space for everyone, not just the loudest voice.

Quiet leadership isn’t a flaw.
It’s your edge.

♻️ Repost if you know a quiet leader who needs to hear this

📩 If you're an introvert trying to lead your way, you’ll find more here:
→ https://lnkd.in/eSdKpkMs

Introversion isn't a bug. It's an operating system. I spent years apologizing for who I am.

Too quiet. Too reserved. Too much "in my head."

I tried to fix myself.
Fake energy. Forced small talk. Endless networking events that drained me by Tuesday.

Then something shifted.

I stopped treating introversion as a bug to fix.
And started seeing it as my operating system.

My quiet? It's deep listening.
My reserved? It's strategic thinking.
My "in my head"? It's where the best ideas live.

20+ years as a CHRO taught me this:
The leaders who know how they're wired outperform those who fight it.

Every time.

So I wrote this on my whiteboard.
As a reminder.
As a declaration.

I'm done apologizing.

And if you've ever felt like you needed to become someone else to succeed, I see you.

♻️ Repost for the introvert in your network who needs to hear this.

📩 These are the daily techniques that helped me stop fighting my wiring:
https://lnkd.in/eSdKpkMs

As Head of Commercial for the Gulf & Levant, I lead a $140M+ portfolio across multiple markets, delivering sustainable growth and strategic market leadership in a highly competitive, regulated environment. With 20+ years of experience in pharmaceuticals and healthcare, I have built a reputation for transforming commercial operations, developing high-performing teams, and forging partnerships that expand access and improve patient outcomes.

My expertise spans market access, brand strategy, P&L leadership, tenders, and organizational transformation backed by a strong track record of turning vision into results through innovative strategies and collaborative execution. I have successfully led cross-functional teams across diverse cultures, delivering double-digit growth, and shaping public-private partnerships with health authorities and global stakeholders.

With an MBA and a Master’s in Health Economics, I bring business acumen, financial discipline, and deep healthcare insight to drive performance in complex markets. As a certified leadership & happiness coach, I am passionate about creating empowered, engaged teams that deliver lasting impact.

I thrive at the intersection of business, leadership, and healthcare transformation, turning strategic opportunities into measurable results.

taplio

The Battle

Steven Claes

Sameh Khair

Followers

Posts

Engagements

Likes

Performance ScoreSteven Claes's LinkedIn Performance

Ready to grow your LinkedIn presence?

taplio

The Battle

Steven Claes

Sameh Khair

Followers

Posts

Engagements

Likes

Performance Score.css-goub6s{font-size:var(--chakra-fontSizes-md);font-weight:500;color:var(--chakra-colors-gray-600);display:block;margin-top:var(--chakra-space-1);}Steven Claes's LinkedIn Performance

Ready to grow your LinkedIn presence?

Performance ScoreSteven Claes's LinkedIn Performance