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WISE

Women In Strategic Engagements

Empower. Lead. Transform.

WISE is a leadership development programme designed to strengthen strategic confidence, boardroom readiness, and international perspective.

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About the Program

What is WISE?

WISE (Women in Strategic Engagement) is a leadership development programme designed to strengthen strategic confidence, boardroom readiness, and international perspective.

Through expert-led sessions, practical frameworks, and peer exchange, WISE supports women who are ready to step into more visible and influential leadership roles. The programme focuses on how decisions are made, how power and governance work, and how leaders can position themselves effectively in complex organisational and international environments.

WISE is available in two formats:

In-person (Netherlands) – a cohort-based programme with live sessions only
WISE Online (Global) – a flexible blended learning track for international participants

👉 Choose the format that fits your context, without compromising ambition.

Highlights

Comprehensive leadership development
Covering personal leadership identity, strategy, finance, governance and decision-making.
Expert-led learning and peer exchange
Sessions are delivered by experienced professionals and enriched by dialogue with a diverse, international cohort.
Boardroom and strategic focus
Designed to prepare participants for senior leadership, board-level discussions and high-impact roles.

Why choose WISE?

Many talented women reach senior levels with strong expertise, but without the same exposure, confidence, or strategic space as their peers.

WISE is designed to bridge that gap.

The programme focuses on:

Developing a strong leadership identity
Understanding how boards, governance and decision-making work
Building financial and strategic confidence
Navigating power, influence and negotiation
Operating effectively in international and cross-cultural settings

WISE is not about teaching women how to “fit in”; it is about strengthening strategic voice, presence and positioning.

WISE in numbers
Based on participant evaluations

83%

of participants say WISE increased their confidence as a leader

100%

report an improved understanding of governance and strategic decision-making

100%

found the programme useful or extremely useful

This program is for women who know they have a lot to bring to the boardroom and want help making others see it too — while building skills and a strong, supportive network along the way"

What I appreciated most about WISE was the combination of strategic depth, entrepreneurial learnings, and high-quality peer dialogue. The programme reinforced my leadership confidence and sharpened how I approach decision-making in both corporate and entrepreneurial contexts"

My experience with Programme Wise was highly enriching. The expertise of the trainers, the quality of the modules content, and the interaction with my peers made it extremely valuable for both my personal and professional development, and I will actively apply the knowledge gained in my professional life"

medium-image-of-young-asian-business-woman-on-background.png

"I started with dedicated pioneers: we broke the glass-ceiling by creating equality-laws, thus paving the road for female access to top decision-making roles.
This was followed by women who had made it all (industrialists, investors, managers),who decided to mentor female talents in order to help them overcome the obstacles to the top.
And now it is the turn of WISE, offering a program aimed at empowering female talent to excel in leadership.
So: seize the opportunity to make dreams become true!”

Viviane Reding, former First Vice President European Commission has served as an elected member of national and European Parliaments for 25 years.
She was appointed as member of the European Commission for three mandates. First responsible for culture and education, then for telecoms and technological research and finally -as First Vice-President of the Commission- for justice and fundamental rights. In this role, she was the driving force behind the initiative to apply a 40% Gender Diversity Quota for all publicly listed companies, which ultimately led to the EU law on gender balance on corporate boards.
Today she sits on advisory-boards and on company boards of international companies, operating mainly in the field of digitalisation and technology. She is also board member of Foundations engaging in geopolitics, societal and legal affairs. She has been nominated “ambassador” for the development of the Capital Markets Union by the European Banking Federation. She is Vice-President of the executive board of the “World Law Foundation”.

Choose your Learning Path

WISE In-Person

An immersive programme built around live sessions and peer exchange.

Start: 12 March 2026

End: 3 December 2026

Location: the Netherlands

Key features:

15 in-person sessions spread over the year
Interactive discussions, case work and peer learning
Strong cohort experience and trusted learning space
Delivered in the Netherlands
Access to the self-paced e-learning modules (2-3 hours each)

This format is ideal for participants who value face-to-face interaction and a fixed learning rhythm.

WISE Online

A flexible blended learning programme designed for an international audience.

Launch:

E-learning modules available progressively from March 2026
Live online sessions start in April 2026

Key features:

Self-paced e-learning modules (2–3 hours each)
15 live online sessions (approx. 2.5 hours each)
Interactive discussions with an international cohort
Designed to combine structure with flexibility

E-learning modules

The e-learning modules provide strong, structured content that participants can follow at their own pace.

Each module focuses on a key leadership topic and combines:

Clear explanations of essential concepts and frameworks
Practical examples drawn from real leadership and boardroom contexts
Reflection prompts to connect theory to your own role and organisation

The modules are designed to serve as a long-term reference, allowing participants to revisit key insights and tools throughout and beyond the programme.

Live online sessions

Focus on dialogue, application and peer exchange
Scheduled early or late CET to accommodate time zones of international participants.

This format is ideal for participants who:

Are based outside the Netherlands
Combine leadership roles with demanding schedules
Seek international exposure without extensive travel

Programme fees

WISE is a high-level leadership development programme.
Programme fees reflect the scope, quality and intensity of the programme.

WISE In-person (NL)

€2,600 (ICC Members)
€3,200 (Non-members)

WISE Online (Global)

€1,900 (ICC Members)
€2,500 (Non-members)

Fees cover:

All programme sessions
Learning materials and e-learning access
Live online sessions (where applicable)
Programme coordination and support

Travel and accommodation (in-person) are not included.

WISE is designed to remain as accessible as possible.

In a limited number of cases, additional fee reductions may be considered, for example:

for participants based in lower-income countries (in particular for the online programme)
where participants are self-funding and face financial constraints
in specific personal or family situations that may affect affordability

Requests for financial support are reviewed individually, on a case-by-case basis, and are not guaranteed.

For full fee information or to discuss whether you may be eligible, please contact us - info@icc.nl

Programme content (both formats)

WISE combines personal development and leadership knowledge, including:

Leadership identity and self-awareness
Strategic networking and sponsorship
Financial fundamentals for leaders
Governance, boards and responsibilities
Negotiation and influence
Organisational culture and decision-making
Sustainability, geopolitics and international trade dynamics

The learning objectives and ambition are the same in both formats — only the delivery differs.

Meet the Trainers!

WISE brings together experienced professionals from across the ICC network, including:

Senior leaders
Board members
Legal, financial and governance experts
Practitioners with international experience

All trainers combine content expertise with practical insight, grounded in real-world leadership contexts.

Svjetlana Jerkovic

As the Global Procurement Head of Raw Materials at ICL, Svjetlana brings a wealth of expertise from over two decades of leadership roles at Univar (North America, EMEA) and ICL. A seasoned global executive, she has had the unique opportunity to lead strategic commercial initiatives and collaborate across the value chain with partners spanning mining, manufacturing, distribution, SMEs, multinationals, and FMCG companies.

Since joining ICL, Svjetlana has actively participated in transforming the procurement organization from a local to a global operation and continuous to successfully guide global teams through complex market dynamics.

As a co-champion of ICL's Year of Sustainability, Svjetlana has been advancing corporate sustainability goals within Global Supply Chain, Procurement and Capex.

She drives implementation of Together for Sustainability program, promotes Sustainable Procurement practices and plays an active role in Climate Impact and Scope 3 decarbonization initiatives.

Svjetlana holds a Bachelor of Science in Chemistry from McGill University (Canada) and a Global Executive OneMBA from Erasmus University (Netherlands).

She is dedicated to promoting diversity, inclusion and belonging through engagement and collaboration with organizations such as Professional Women International Brussels (PWI), Phoenix Executive, the Erasmus Center for Women and Organizations (EWCO) and European Women on Boards ( EWOB). She serves as an Advisory Board member at Women in Chemicals. She is a member of IMAGINE, a global leadership community for impact, where she contributes to scaling and accelerating systems change.

Pauline Six

Pauline is a seasoned PCC coach specializing in leadership development and career transition. She brings a structured, positive approach, emphasizing active listening and challenging her clients to gain perspective. With extensive international experience in multinational and SME environments, including learning and development, she effectively partners with managers and leaders, empowering them to navigate change and achieve their objectives, even in complex situations. Empowering and coaching leaders is her passion.

Elizabete Kalnozola

Elizabete Kalnozola is the Programme Manager for the International Chamber of Commerce’s Digital Standards Initiative (ICC DSI), based in Singapore. She leads multi-stakeholder programs advancing digital trade interoperability, coordinating pilots and adoption initiatives that harmonize electronic trade documentation and accelerate global digital trade readiness.

With extensive experience in sustainability, governance, and innovation, Elizabete has managed complex cross-regional projects involving governments, industry leaders, and international organizations. Her prior roles include driving impact partnerships and digital transformation initiatives across APAC, forging over 200 collaborations between technology companies and nonprofits to deliver measurable social and sustainability outcomes aligned with the UN SDGs.

Previously, Elizabete directed large-scale AI and cybersecurity skilling programs for Microsoft across Asia, training over 10,000 professionals and scaling diversity-focused initiatives that empowered 50,000+ women in technology. She also founded and grew a women-in-tech community to 5,000 members, influencing policy and inclusion strategies across the region.

Recognized with multiple awards, including UN Women’s Community Engagement & Partnerships Award and Women in AI APAC accolades, Elizabete is a TEDx speaker and an advocate for inclusive innovation. She holds an MBA in General Management from Universiti Putra Malaysia and a BSc in Economics and Business from the Stockholm School of Economics in Riga.

https://www.linkedin.com/in/elizabetekalnozola/

FAQ

Who can join the WISE program?

WISE is open to women with a university degree or equivalent professional experience who hold, or are moving into, senior, strategic or leadership roles.

The programme is designed for participants who want to strengthen their strategic confidence, leadership presence and ability to engage at decision-making and boardroom level.

What formats are available?

WISE is available in two formats:

WISE In-person (Netherlands)
A cohort-based programme with live, in-person sessions.
WISE Online (Global)
A blended programme combining self-paced e-learning modules and live online sessions.

Both formats share the same learning objectives and ambition. The difference lies in the mode of delivery.

What is the time commitment?

WISE consists of 15 modules.

In-person programme
Modules are delivered during full-day sessions, typically covering two modules per day, spread across the year.
Online programme
- Self-paced e-learning modules (approximately 2–3 hours per module)
- 15 live online sessions of approximately 2.5 hours each

The programme is designed to fit alongside professional responsibilities while requiring active engagement.

What topics does the programme cover?

WISE combines personal leadership development with leadership knowledge, including:

Leadership identity and strategic presence
Financial fundamentals for leaders
Governance and boardroom dynamics
Negotiation, influence and decision-making
Organisational culture and power dynamics
Strategic networking and visibility
International and cross-cultural leadership perspectives

When does the programme start?

WISE In-person 2026:
Start: 12 March 2026
End: 3 December 2026
WISE Online:
- E-learning modules available from March 2026

Live online sessions start in April 2026

Where do the sessions take place?

In-person sessions take place in the Netherlands.
Online live sessions are delivered via Microsoft Teams.

Session times for the online programme are scheduled either early or late CET to accommodate different time zones.

Are sessions recorded?

No. Live sessions, both in-person and online, are not recorded. This is a deliberate choice to ensure open discussion, trust and active participation.

What happens if I miss a session?

In-person participants who are unable to attend a session may join the corresponding online live session, where scheduling allows.
Online participants are expected to attend the live sessions at the scheduled time.

E-learning modules remain accessible throughout the programme and can be revisited up to 12 months after the completion.

What support will I receive during the programme?

Participants benefit from:

Expert-led sessions delivered by experienced professionals
Practical frameworks and real-world examples
Interactive discussions and peer exchange
Programme coordination and learning support

WISE does not operate as a mentorship programme.

Some WISE trainers are certified coaches.
Where relevant, individual coaching sessions may be arranged directly with the trainer, subject to availability. Any such sessions are optional and not included in the programme fee; costs are agreed and paid directly between the participant and the coach.

How does WISE support leadership development?

WISE focuses on building the confidence, insight and perspective needed to engage effectively in senior leadership and boardroom environments.

Participants strengthen their ability to:

Contribute strategically to complex discussions
Understand and challenge financial and governance information
Navigate organisational and international contexts
Position themselves with clarity and credibility as leaders

What is the cost of the programme?

Programme fees are:

WISE In-person (Netherlands)
- ICC Members: €2,600
- Non-members: €3,200
WISE Online (Global)
- ICC Members: €1,900
- Non-members: €2,500

Fees include programme participation, learning materials, e-learning access (where applicable) and programme coordination.
Travel and accommodation for in-person sessions are not included.

Is financial support available?

WISE aims to remain accessible.