ABOUT

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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 award‑winning author, leadership coach, and inspirational speaker. Her first book, Mothers as Leaders (2019), won the WIN Conference Global Award and sparked a thriving international community. During the pandemic, she became a trusted voice for Employee Resource Groups at companies including Microsoft, Renault, Heineken, Shell, and Salesforce. These conversations deepened her belief in the family as a powerful leadership team and inspired her second book, Parentship. As a writer, Steliana blends research with real-life stories. As a speaker, she brings energy, clarity, and relatable examples that stay with her audiences.

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MEDIUM BIO

Steliana van de Rijt-Economu is an award-winning author, leadership coach, and inspirational speaker. She previously authored Mothers as Leaders (2019), which won the WIN Conference Global Award and evolved into a thriving leadership community. During the global pandemic, she became a sought-after speaker for Employee Resource Groups (ERGs) at organizations such as Microsoft, Renault, Heineken, Shell US &NL and Salesforce Benelux. These experiences deepened her understanding of the family as a team, and led to the inspiration behind her second book, Parentship. As a writer, Steliana blends scientific rigor with heartwarming life stories. As a speaker, she brings energy and examples.

With her family, she has lived and worked in four countries including Romania, England, the USA, and the Netherlands. Steliana’s expertise in systemic coaching and her passion for empowering families form the foundation for her 2nd book. Currently based in The Woodlands, Texas with her husband and children, Steliana continues to write, coach, and lead conversations that bridge the gap between professional and family leadership.

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A recognised thought leader, Steliana van de Rijt‑Economu is the best‑selling author of Mothers as Leaders (2019), celebrated by the Women International Network, and Parentship: A Leadership Guide for Families and Teams (2025, Manhattan Book Group). Her work bridges family systems and organisational leadership, offering a fresh, human‑centred perspective on how leaders cultivate trust, clarity, and collaboration.

She began her career in 2001 as an HR and OD specialist at Kraft Foods and Vodafone Romania, later expanding her global perspective through roles at Nike EHQ in Amsterdam and Shell International in London. At Shell, she became a global facilitator for leadership development programmes and held senior roles including HR Manager, Senior Organisational Development Advisor, and Global Talent Lead for high‑potential identification and female senior succession. In these roles, she coached E/VPs, GMs, and leadership teams to strengthen alignment, resilience, and collective performance. Today, she also serves as a mentor and executive coach for Rice University in Houston.

Steliana is an executive coach and systemic team coach specialising in leadership team effectiveness, feminine executive presence, and guiding organisations through complex transitions. Her coaching draws on more than 25 years of international experience across project management, finance, talent management, and organisational development, enabling her to support leaders navigating high‑stakes, multicultural environments.

Committed to servant leadership and social responsibility, she volunteers as VP Mentorship for a Houston Toastmasters club. Earlier in her career, she led AIESEC Romania and served on the board of EUROTIN, the EU Youth Funding Institution. In 2020, she founded her own consulting and coaching practice, partnering with global organisations, ERGs, and senior leaders across Europe and the US.

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.

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