Top Women Academy is an initiative by Carmen Breeveld, following her book The Secret of the Old Boys Network. At the time, SER Top Woman Mariëtte Hamer received the first copy.

In large Dutch companies, relatively few women occupy top positions. To address this, the “ingrowth quota and target figures” law was introduced on January 1, 2022. This law, commonly referred to as the “women’s quota,” aims to create a more balanced ratio of men and women in corporate leadership.

The women’s quota seeks to have 30% female participation in Supervisory Boards. However, women themselves can also take significant steps to achieve their dream positions.

Women & Leadership

Female leaders with 5-10 years of management experience who aspire to advance to a top position within the corporate world and/or (semi) government organizations.

€ 7.945,-

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Young Management

Emerging female talent (HBO|WO) with 5-10 years of experience and the ambition to advance to a leadership position. A customized proposal will be prepared based on the desired number of modules and group size.

Customized proposal

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Smart Entrepeneurship

Female entrepreneurs from SMEs and independent consultants with growth ambitions.

€ 3.995,-

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The charter flight from 'board ready' to 'ready to board'

The secret ingredients for a top career, as told by current role models.

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For every highly educated woman who wants to break through the glass ceiling

Top Women Academy: The charter flight from 'board ready' to 'ready to board'

Top Women Academy is an initiative by Carmen Breeveld, following her book *The Secret of the Old Boys Network*. SER Top Woman Mariëtte Hamer received the first copy at the time.

In large Dutch companies, relatively few women occupy top positions. To address this, the "ingrowth quota and target figures" law, commonly known as the "women’s quota," was introduced on January 1, 2022. This law aims to create a more balanced gender ratio in corporate leadership. The goal of the women’s quota is to ensure 30% female participation on Supervisory Boards. However, women themselves can also take significant steps to achieve their dream positions.

That’s why Top Women Academy helps highly educated, ambitious women prepare for the transition to their next leadership role. While other institutions focus on knowledge, Top Women Academy emphasizes skills. Our participants already possess the right qualifications and work experience, but often lack some crucial skills necessary for those highly coveted top positions. Frequently, our female participants also lack the right contacts at the executive level who can act as sponsors and recommend them to key decision-makers.

Experience from selection committees shows that the causes are not related to a lack of knowledge but to unwritten rules, the so-called soft skills. With the right soft skills, a top position is within reach. That’s why the Top Women Academy program offers tailor-made training, focused on raising awareness and mastering the unwritten rules. This enables you to make the most of your potential and be ‘ready to board!’ After completing the program, you will have the skills to successfully transition to your desired position. Additionally, Top Women Academy can assist you by leveraging its extensive executive network.

Order your copy of 'The Secrets of the Old Boys Network'

Carmen Breeveld was elected International Black Businesswoman of the Netherlands in 2003. She grew her own company into a multimillion-dollar enterprise. She holds numerous board positions and plays a leading role in female entrepreneurship. In this book, she shares her experiences candidly, offering practical tips and plenty of inspiration. A must-read for every (woman of color) with ambition.

Order your copy here