Kim Heylen, PhD, is an experienced biotech leader with a strong track record in operations, organizational development, and human-centered leadership. With a background in microbiology and a career spanning academia, healthcare, and biotech, Kim brings a unique mix of scientific depth and executive pragmatism. She champions human-centered leadership, nurturing cross-functional collaboration, and leading transformation in knowledge-driven environments. Kim is also known as a persuasive idealist for sustainability,  inclusivity, and building a better world for future generations.

In 2025, Kim founded Shift Happens, a boutique consultancy, offering interim and fractional leadership in the roles of Chief of Staff, Director of Operations, or Change Director. With a strong focus on human systems, operational strategy, and organizational design, Shift Happens bridges the gap between vision and execution—ensuring change not only happens but sticks.