The Art of Focus and Transformation: Insights from Els de Sweemer’s Career
In the ever evolving of business, strategic leaders must embody adaptability, innovation, and a relentless drive for transformation. Few leaders personify these qualities as effectively as Els de Sweemer, whose 17-year career has spanned continents and industries, shaping her approach to business development, leadership, and organizational transformation.
Key Milestones in a Global Career
Reflecting on the pivotal moments that have shaped her career, Els highlights three transformative experiences: her early days in advertising, her relocation to Hong Kong, and her attainment of executive coaching certification. Each of these milestones profoundly influenced her approach to leadership.
Her journey began in a Belgian advertising agency as an account executive, a role that laid the foundation for her deep understanding of marketing. “It taught me to think strategically about marketing and sales across a wide range of industries,” she explains. From automotive to retail and banking, her exposure to diverse sectors enabled her to gain a holistic understanding of business strategy that would later serve her well in more senior roles.
A move to Hong Kong marked another turning point. “Navigating radical change enhances flexibility,” she emphasizes. Immersed in Asia’s dynamic business environment, Els gained an appreciation for the role that cultural diversity plays in shaping corporate success. “Business transformations must account for cultural differences, as they profoundly impact company culture and overall success.”
Her third significant career milestone was becoming a certified executive coach—a decision that has been crucial to her leadership style. “Coaching helped me manage teams, resolve conflicts, and navigate complex business environments,” she notes. The skills she acquired through coaching have been instrumental in driving her success as a strategic leader and business transformer.
Bridging Business and Technology
Els de Sweemer’s academic background in Business Economics and Management Informatics has given her a distinctive advantage in today’s technology-driven business landscape. “The degree was designed to bridge applied economics and civil engineering,” she explains. This interdisciplinary approach equipped her with the ability to understand and thrive in both business and technical environments, enabling her to lead cross-functional teams with ease.
This combination of business acumen and technical expertise has been key to her success in leadership roles, particularly in steering complex transformation projects. “It has always allowed me to quickly grasp the nuances of any industry,” she adds, a skill that has been critical in her diverse leadership positions.
Leading Through Crisis
One of the most significant challenges of Els’ career came in late 2019 when she was tasked with launching the APAC division for a Swiss company. Just months into the role, the COVID-19 pandemic forced her to adjust her plans drastically. Confined to Hong Kong for over two years, she had to twist her business development strategy. “Instead of building relationships face-to-face, I successfully transitioned to digital networking,” she recalls. Despite the challenges, she exceeded budget expectations by a factor of four in 2020. Her success, she believes, was rooted in maintaining strategic focus while staying agile in the face of uncertainty.
Transitioning to Interim Leadership
In 2020, after nearly two decades in executive roles, Els took a brief career break to reassess her goals. She soon realized that she thrived in environments where she could address challenging projects with clear goals and timelines. This epiphany led her to establish Mink Mojo, a firm specializing in interim and fractional leadership. “I enjoy creating structure where none exists, setting up teams, devising go-to-market strategies, and even defining product roadmaps,” she explains. This ability to bring clarity and focus to complex situations has been central to her success.
Unlike traditional management consulting firms, Mink Mojo takes a hands-on approach. “We don’t just diagnose problems and leave the implementation to others,” Els notes. Instead, her team of interim managers not only analyzes challenges but also implements solutions and sees them through to completion, ensuring long-term success for their clients.
The Importance of Focus and Strategic Vision
For Els, the key to developing successful go-to-market strategies is focus. “A good strategy isn’t just about deciding what to do—it’s also about deciding what not to do,” she emphasizes. Too often, she has seen organizations spread themselves too thin, chasing multiple opportunities without a clear direction. This leads to internal friction and missed chances. Creating focus, both internally and externally, is one of the most crucial tasks of management.
In her work with creative teams, Els has seen the importance of aligning strategic vision with organizational goals. “A strategic vision sets the course for the organization and unites all departments toward a common objective,” she explains. However, fostering innovation within this framework requires cultivating a culture that embraces risk and accepts failure. “Innovation dies in cultures that do not tolerate mistakes,” she observes. For businesses to thrive, they must learn to view failure as a necessary part of the innovation process.
Balancing Work and Life
Despite the demands of strategic leadership, our guest places a high value on maintaining a healthy work-life balance. Having worked in international environments, she appreciates the benefits of remote work, which reduces the need for constant travel and office presence. “The importance of being in the office has been greatly reduced,” she notes. The flexibility of her role allows her to prioritize personal well-being, including exercise and family time, which she credits with helping her maintain a strong sense of equilibrium.
Conclusion
Els de Sweemer’s career reflects the qualities of a modern strategic leader: adaptability, focus, and a deep understanding of both business and the human elements that drive transformation. Whether guiding organizations through challenging transitions or helping them develop focused strategies for growth, she brings a wealth of experience and insight to every role she undertakes. Her journey offers valuable lessons for leaders striving to navigate the complexities of today’s business landscape with clarity, purpose, and resilience.