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.

Kim currently serves as Director for Scale-up Support at BioLizard, a bioinformatics and data science consultancy.