About me
I am Stefan: the force behind Van Woelderen Consulting. I am someone who loves people, the world and a challenge. After a career of over 25 years as an economist, strategist, consultant, social impact specialist, department head and senior advisor to the Board of Directors at and for ING, the Dutch Banking Association and for the United Nations, I founded Van Woelderen Consulting on January 1, 2025.
I was born into a big family. Family, friends and faith are my foundation. I am proud of my family’s history that comes from the Netherlands, Indonesia, France, Germany and Sweden. So proud of what my father and mother established during their lifetimes. nd of my siblings, cousins, uncles, aunts, their relations and descendants and my close friends. The present and the future are even more important, because I bear joint responsibility for them. My wife is from Switzerland and my daughters were born in the Netherlands. Proud of my own little family. Enough, let’s move on.
My social core: I believe in being social, inclusive and respectful of every form of life. My analytical and adventurous core: puzzles, thinking ahead and trying new things. And: other cultures and perspectives.
I love sports because it is about health in a positive way or/and about setting goals, measuring progress and achieving something. I love working together on challenges that make the world a little better, healthier and more kind. And I’m “in it” for the long run.
I bring “all this” together in my company, which aims to help organizations with their strategy and their social goals.
I have a Master of Science degree in General Economics from Erasmus University Rotterdam.
A few positions I’ve had in my career until 2024:
- Financial-economic consultant
- Principal economist
- Team leader and global head of (economic) research on innovation & sustainability
- Senior analyst of various parts of the economy, including sector and strategic analysis of automotive, hospitality, government and social sectors. Innovation, sustainability, social impact, supply chain finance, behavioral economics and consumer economics
- Media spokesperson regarding specific economic sectors and topics
- Global Lead financial health
- Co-chair of one U.N. group, participant in two other U.N. groups and with the Dutch Banking Association
- Senior public relations consultant and ghostwriter for two ING Group CEOs
- Leader of the transition to the first integrated annual report and editor-in-chief of the ING Annual Report
- 1-on-1 consultant for various companies, governments and social sector
- Co-initiator of various meta-organizations / public private collaborations / informal collaborations at the CEO level
My favorite films include the Wizard of Oz, 8½, the Way of the Dragon, Gran Torino, Moneyball and Interstellar.
Free introductory conversation
Let’s talk to make your strategic goals concrete and increase your chances of achieving them through a sound methodology that encourages practical follow-up.