CATCH YOUR COACH

Are you interested in improving your skills and would like to receive tips and tricks from professionals? Are you more comfortable with discussing these 1-on-1 rather than in front of an audience?

Then catch your coach on 14 November 2025 at TOPX Summit! In these sessions, you can have a 1-on-1 meeting with the present coaches below to ask your questions and get advice!

Coaches Present for catch your coach sessions

Jane Sum | Leadership & Executive Coach, Jane Sum Coaching

Jane Sum is a certified leadership and executive coach with 20 years of international corporate experience. Before founding her coaching practice, she held senior technical and commercial roles in the chemical industry across Europe and Asia, leading diverse teams and working at the intersection of science, business, and people.

Jane works with professionals and leaders navigating change, growth, and complexity - whether in their careers, leadership roles, or personal development. She brings a genuine and insightful approach, helping clients embrace their strengths, build confidence, and make conscious, values-based choices. She supports individuals to overcome self-doubt, reconnect with their purpose, and create meaningful impact in their work and lives.

Her multicultural background - having lived and worked in the Netherlands, China, Thailand, Japan, and Germany - gives her a strong appreciation for different perspectives and the ability to support people in diverse, international settings.

Jane is passionate about fostering inclusive spaces where people feel seen, valued, and empowered to thrive. Alongside coaching, she contributes her expertise to advisory and non-executive roles in both start-up and non-profit sectors. She holds a PhD in Organic Photochemistry and is a Professional Certified Coach (PCC, ICF). Jane is based in The Hague and works in English and Dutch.

Vera Gelissen | NOBCO Senior Coach

Be prepared for action and a laugh if you join Vera at the ‘catch your coach’ session. Vera is passionate about amplifying the potential of women and brings a wealth of experience and expertise to the table.

With an academic background and a CV that includes leadership stints at organizations like Bosch, Coca-Cola, and DAF Trucks, Vera is no stranger to the challenges and intricacies of thriving in male-dominated domains. She also knows about the clear choices you have to make if you combine a fulltime international career with raising a family.

In 2018 Vera’s journey took a pivotal turn when she chose to redirect her energy from shaping corporations to empowering individuals. She became a coach and decided to specialize in guiding ambitious women. Vera earned her badge of ‘certified senior coach’ by spending years of additional training and successfully coaching hundreds of people. Whereas Vera’s workshops are very practical, her coaching sessions are a profound dive into self-discovery.

You will unearth the very essence of your challenges, discover patterns in your behaviour and why it is so hard to change them. If you discover old pain in the process - the path to light often leads through the shadow - then know that you are in safe hands: she is also specialized in dealing with trauma and loss.

You will experience long-lasting transformation. When you are with Vera, expect a blend of warmth, respect, razor-sharp analysis and an occasional hearty laugh. If you did not find the time to connect with Vera during the TOPX summit, then reach out to her for a free intake! As a member of TOPX you will benefit from a special offer: veragelissen.nl

Barbara Rogoski | Executive Communication Coach and Trainer, Successful Speaker Now

Barbara Rogoski is an American executive communication coach for Fortune 500 companies, successful SMEs and female founders. Her focus, through her company, Successful Speaker Now, is to help business professionals to tell their stories with confidence, clarity and impact.

She is a senior TEDx coach and has coached more than 200 TEDx speakers worldwide. Barbara is also a published author of Boring to Brilliant, A Reference Guide for Speakers, a professional speaker, mentor and web shop owner.

Her wide range of knowledge about effective communication, combined with her entertaining and inspiring style of empowerment, makes her a popular speaker, trainer and coach.

Karen Rensma | Advisor & Coach to Female Leaders, Hardhout en Porselein

With a background in chemical engineering and psychology, Karen is advisor and (leadership) coach to female leaders to grow their authentic leadership and bring their full selves to work. So that they confidently, effectively and authentically manoeuvre, flourish and advance their careers beyond the glass ceiling within often masculine organisations.

She is committed to contribute to achieving gender diversity in decision-making in organisations, as she believes this will catalyse thriving and inclusive organisations and society. Characterisation of her advice and coaching approach: she cares and challenges. She uses rationality and intuition. Outspoken and nuanced. She takes both your ambitions and doubts seriously. Honest feedback and not afraid to mention the elephant.

Working with Karen has catalysed many female leaders’ careers and their leadership development: from women taking on their first leadership role who want to explore and define their way of leading, to senior female leaders embarking on the Management Team who want to find their way into leading with impact and authenticity in the new dynamics that come with their new role.

Karen also hosts the podcast Voorbij het Glazen Plafond. She interviews leaders about their personal experience with roadblocks along their career path and how they overcame them, their vision on gender diversity and inclusion plus their tips on what we all can actually do to get there.

Adda van Zanden | Leadership Consultant, Keynote Speaker & Researcher on DEI, EA Inclusion

Based in Amsterdam, Adda van Zanden brings over 20 years of expertise as a leadership consultant, public speaking coach, and facilitator. She collaborates with organizations such as Leeuwendaal (The Inclusive Government), the Dutch Ministries of Infrastructure and Defense, TEDx, and multinational corporations to drive impactful leadership and communication strategies.

As a professionally trained actress, Adda integrates voice and body-language techniques from the Royal Shakespeare Company into her work, enhancing the presence and impact of leaders. She also tours Europe with the play Shakespeare’s Women, exploring female narratives through a theatrical lens.

Her commitment to gender equality is reflected in her leadership roles, including Chair of Women of Volt, where she has championed the advancement of women in European politics. She has designed inclusive communication & leadership programs based on political and behavioral science research, empowering European politicians and corporate leaders alike.

A sought-after speaker, Adda has shared her insights on gender equity, leadership, and overcoming bias at major global platforms.

World Economic Forum: Women in Leadership (Dubai)
Global Mentoring, Coaching, and Supervision Conference (Overcoming Gender Bias)
Global Women’s Club & Women’s Economic Forum (Award-winning speaker)

She regularly delivers lectures and training programs for multinationals such as Royal BAM Group, Rabobank, CGI, and DLL in the Netherlands and the US, focusing on creative thinking, adaptability, and diversity in leadership. With her expertise in public speaking and panel moderation, she ensures meaningful dialogue and high-impact outcomes.

Additionally, she serves as HBA Ambassador Program Advisor, furthering HBA’s mission for gender equality in healthcare leadership.

Dr. Mira Vasic | Senior Partner and Co-owner, In Touch Female Leadership & Career Academy | Founder, femlinq

Dr. Ing. Mira Vasic is a serial entrepreneur, leading corporate trainer, and international keynote speaker with expertise in Diversity & Inclusion and female leadership. She helps individuals develop strategic leadership skills and organizations build truly inclusive cultures.

Mira has taught IEMBA courses at Geneva Business School and Politecnico di Milano Business School, and she is a Senior Partner and co-owner of In Touch Female Career Academy since 2020. She is also the founder of femlinq, a global women's network empowering expat women, and a passionate ambassador for women’s health and endometriosis awareness.

With over 15 years of experience as a researcher and consultant in both the private and public sectors across Serbia, Spain, Greece, Italy, and the Netherlands, Mira brings a unique cross-cultural perspective to her work. She holds a PhD in Structural Engineering from Politecnico di Milano and speaks four languages fluently. Her signature strengths is a contagious enthusiasm, a sharp strategic mind with a great sense of humor.

Shirley Nieman | Coach, HR Leader and Owner of Happy Parents Coaching

Being a working parent in a high-performance environment is no small feat. Shirley Nieman—organisational psychologist, transformation expert and seasoned HR leader—knows this reality. With over 20 years of experience in pharma, food research, corporate and financial services sectors and energy, she supports professionals and organisations in creating space for both growth and wellbeing.

As a mother of two nearly adult children and caregiver to her elderly parents, Shirley understands the real-life complexity of balancing ambition with caregiving responsibilities.

Having lived and worked in the south of France and coaching in both Dutch and English, she understands the nuances of international careers and the personal challenges that come with them. She is also a member of the Dutch Institute of Psychologists (NIP) and has completed NOBCO/EMCC-accredited professional coach trainings, ensuring her practice aligns with leading international standards.

With a combination of sharp insight and deep empathy she supports working mothers in shaping lives filled with purpose, energy and joy.