ABOUT
Short BIO
Steliana van de Rijt-Economu is an accomplished speaker, author and a seasoned leadership (team) coach with 20 years of cross-regional and cross-industries experience with FTSE 500 companies (Shell, Vodafone, Nike).
Steliana van de Rijt- Economu is an accomplished speaker and lecturer with extensive experience across diverse global platforms, from Erasmus Rotterdam University to Women International Network conferences in Tokyo and Athens. She has also spoken at the corporate headquarters of industry giants such as Shell and Heineken. Her expertise extends to notable events like the 2021 Equal Pay Conference in Prague, and presentations for the employee networks of Microsoft Romania and Salesforce Benelux.
View more about Steliana's BIO
Steliana van de Rijt-Economu is an internationally awarded author and seasoned executive team-coach with over 20 years of experience in top-tier companies, including her tenure as an organization effectiveness senior adviser at Shell International.
As the Founder of Mothers as Leaders – learning across borders and generations, she successfully led initiatives that have resulted in major shifts in how teams bring more value by fully unlocking the personal leadership of working parents.
Steliana is a dynamic speaker known for her authentic, humorous and engaging speaking style. Steliana’s presentations are engaging, insightful, and packed with actionable strategies that inspire the audience to dream more, to do more and to act more towards a bigger impact in the world.
As a sought-after author and keynote speaker, Steliana has delivered inspiring talks for industry giants such as Shell, Microsoft, Renault, Salesforce, Heineken, and ING Bank, among others. She spoke at international and regional conferences such as IBM Regional WIN conference in Tokyo (2018, the Global WIN Conference in Athens (2019), the Equal Pay Conference in Prague (2021), TedX in Constanta, Romania and the 20thWomen in Leadership Global energy conference in Houston (2024).
With an academic background in Finance, coupled with an international career in the Organizational Development and leadership field in the Energy, Life Sciences and Academic sectors she has been recognized for Innovation in Entrepreneurship by World Bank Info Dev Agency in 2009 and for contribution to feminine leadership Her debut book, ‘Mothers as Leaders’, earned her the Global WIN award in 2019.
Currently, she serves as executive coach for the Rice Jones Business School Leadership labs and as a guest lecturer for Erasmus University in Rotterdam
She was featured in the Dutch newspaper AD Den Haag ,the Thrive Global magazine and the Institute of Coaching Harvard McLean Revealed Podcast.
Specialties: Keynote Speaking – Women in the Workplace – Parentship – in Families and Teams( upcoming book) – Dare to Dream and Make it Happen(personal leadership), Gender Cultures, Inclusive and Assertive Leadership- Change Management – Talent Management – Leadership Development – High Adding Value Teams -Culture Change through Behavioral Experimentation- Organization Development – Strategic Workplace Inclusion
Coach BIO
Steliana Economu is a seasoned executive coach with over 20 years of experience helping leaders unlock their full potential and enhance their impact. Known for her unwavering belief in people’s ability to change, Steliana works with senior leaders to refine how they lead, empowering them to inspire, influence, and engage with their teams, colleagues, and stakeholders. Her expertise spans managing complex organizational changes and high-stakes employee relations, where she focuses on improving the quality of dialogue and fostering collaboration. Steliana is particularly skilled at guiding leaders through challenging transitions by creating environments where trust and open communication can thrive.
WHY I DO WHAT I DO
I grew up in a small village on the Romanian Black Sea Coast, during the pre-Internet era. After graduating as an Economist, I quickly became frustrated with the limited opportunities in my hometown. At 21, I moved to Bucharest for my first HR job at Kraft Foods. When the chance to intern at Nike’s European HQ in Amsterdam came up, I seized it.
Over the next 20 years, I honed my passion for leadership development through roles at Nike, Vodafone, and Shell International, coaching leaders from over 20 nationalities and delivering more than 10,000 hours of leadership training across the globe, from Lagos to Calgary and London to The Hague.
In 2020, I launched my own coaching and consulting business, and began writing, speaking, and coaching women leaders. I’m driven by helping working parents—especially mothers—rediscover their true essence, dreams, and leadership potential. My book, Mothers as Leaders, is designed to help them make a lasting impact on the world.
To stay in touch and receive valuable insights, join professionals from around the world who subscribe to my e-newsletter, often described as a positive boost.
AS SEEN IN
Reach Us
Mothers as Leaders LLC
9002 Six Pines Dr.
Shenandoah, TX77380
Contact
Contact
Reach Us
9002 Six Pines Dr., Shenandoah, TX77380
United States