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ineke@intermanage.nl · +31 6 22 78 40 11
Light at altitude · From the road · 2025
Interim CEO · Strategic Advisor · Operating Partner

Calm at the top. Momentum in the business.

I work alongside founders, boards and investors in the moments that decide whether companies grow, stall, or break. Hands-on. AI-fluent. Built to actually get things done.

Former Group CEO YoungCapital · Circle8 Group Zürich · Commissioner AFAS Software
Strong growth doesn't need more noise. It needs rhythm.
Ineke Kooistra · On leadership in motion
01 · About

Hi. I'm Ineke.

With more than 25 years in management and boardroom roles, I've built my career on transforming businesses and empowering people. From start-ups to billion-euro companies, I've led organisations through growth, transformation and cultural evolution. Always with a focus on creating environments where both people and businesses thrive.

For more than a decade I had the privilege of leading YoungCapital as Group CEO, guiding it from a bold start-up to a European market leader in youth employment. The team grew to 1,300 internal employees supported by over 25,000 flexible professionals, across 50 locations in the Netherlands, Germany and the UK.

I then took on the challenge of scaling Circle8 Group as Group CEO: an IT staffing organisation operating at over €1.3 billion in revenue, headquartered in Zurich. There I was co-responsible for the buy-and-build, the integration of multiple labels across Europe, and the building of strong leadership teams in a complex, multi-country, PE-backed environment.

Most recently I served as interim CEO at a consultancy organisation, turning a 2025–2027 growth strategy into measurable execution across data, AI, pensions, insurance and banking. Alongside this I was a Commissioner at AFAS Software for 2.5 years, and I'm a member of SER Topvrouwen.

Today I bring all of this together through InterManage Ventures BV, alongside founders, CEOs and PE portfolio companies. I also founded ELiN Partners Executive Search, where a dedicated team looks for what someone is when things get difficult, not only what they have done.

The full story →
Ineke Kooistra portrait
Ineke 2026
The line I work by
When it's complex, I simplify.
When it's stuck, I move it forward.
Ineke Kooistra · InterManage
02 · How I help

Four ways to move forward. The brief decides the shape.

01Interim & Fractional CEO

Step in. Lead. Hand over.

Stabilize, realign and lead through succession, acceleration, post-deal integration, turnaround. Clarity where there's drift, rhythm where there's noise.

Read more
02Strategic Acceleration

One day. Sharper decisions.

A focused working day with the founder, CEO or leadership team. Day rate or recurring. The plan leaves the room ready to run.

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03Operating Partner

PE-cycle. Operator's view.

For PE firms and portfolio companies, one to three days a week. Full-cycle perspective, from early growth to European scale.

Read more
04Executive Search · ELiN

Context over pedigree.

Board and C-level search through ELiN Partners. We look for what someone is when things get difficult, not only what they have done.

Read more
03 · AI in the operator's seat

AI-fluent from the inside.

I lead the AI conversation in the C-suite from the operator's chair, not the consultant's pitch. That means using AI day-to-day in strategy, decisions and execution. And helping boards and leadership teams build the same fluency.

Not "AI as a slide". AI as a working muscle.

04 · News

Conversations worth watching.

The latest video, podcasts and press. See all news →

Business Talks2025

Curgoal × Ineke. Let's talk business at your dream destination.

With Chantal JanClaes from Curgoal. Childhood, business journey, sports mindset.

Keynote2026

#Curaçaogroeit. An island on the rise.

Moderating the first edition with Ondernemersreizen.nl. Returning talent and mission-driven entrepreneurs.

Interview2023

Humberto Tan × Ineke at YoungCapital.

A conversation with Humberto Tan on leadership, growth and scaling a 1,300-person organisation.

05 · On Air

Podcasts & conversations.

Feb 2026 · HR Podcast #125

"Rob Jetten's success as a leader depends on how consistent he remains."

With Toine Al and ELiN partner Elbrich Batstra on C-level leadership.

CHRO.nl
Sept 2025 · BusinessWise Weekly

BusinessWise Weekly with Olivier de Neve.

The week scanned from the operator's chair. Iran/Besi, the AI-hack, Redzepi, the Ajax bestuurscrisis.

Apple Podcasts
Mar 2022 · FTF de Podcast · #4

Servant Leadership met Ineke Kooistra.

About my style of leadership, mental resilience and the importance of joy at work, recorded during my YoungCapital years.

Spotify
May 2021 · Next Leadership

YoungCapital × Ineke Kooistra & Mariska Visser.

With Ralf Knegtmans and Remy Gieling on the chemistry at the top.

Spotify
2020 · YoungCapital Podcast

Persoonlijk leiderschap met Arjan Erkel.

With Remy Gieling on staying calm under pressure, trusting yourself, making the most of every situation.

YoungCapital
2018 · KPMG

De 1347 dagen van Ineke Kooistra.

A series on the Dutch average CEO tenure of 1,347 days. My take from the operator's chair.

SoundCloud
06 · The Whitepaper Series · 2026

Two papers. One question about people and growth.

A series on why companies, leaders and teams move through seasons, and why the same strength can fit one season and strain the next. Read them in order, or start with whichever season you are in.

Part III · Coming soon

The Next Season.

On what leadership becomes when the season turns again, and machines change what work even is.

In the works →
07 · The Writing · Two columns / month

Leadership isn't about more noise. It's about making the next step clearer.

Featured · April 2026 · 3 min read

The freedom I wish for you.

"I always sleep well, no matter what happens." I hear it often. And honestly? I don't quite believe it. A reflection on the kind of freedom that matters most. Why it's often the last thing leaders allow themselves. With Corrie ten Boom as the unlikely teacher.

Read the full essay →
From the essay
My greatest wealth is a calm state of mind.
Ineke Kooistra · April 2026
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08 · Let's talk

Let's talk about what's next.

Most introductory conversations take thirty minutes, and clarify more than you'd expect. Call or message me. I read everything personally.

Let's talk