Feike Sijbesma and Darren Walker share a vision to lead successful companies while improving our global community. Both co-chair the Global Center for Adaptation while Feike sits as honorary chairman at DSM.
Feike transformed DSM during his 13-year tenure as CEO into an innovative Life Sciences and Materials Science company that prioritized nutrition, health and sustainable living by making sustainability its central value and business driver.
Sustainability
One of the key responsibilities of business leaders is ensuring sustainability is at the core of their organisation. Sustainability shouldn’t just be something added on; CEOs need to present it on stage every year! Instead, sustainability needs to become embedded into its very fabric so people can see its positive effect on society and the planet.
Feike Sijbesma has achieved this with Royal DSM, making it into a purpose-driven science company in Nutrition, Health and Sustainable Living. Additionally, he was widely respected for driving climate action into corporate agendas by spearheading the CEO Climate Leaders Alliance and instituting carbon pricing at DSM. Now he serves as Honorary Chairman as well as non-executive member on Royal Philips and Unilever boards and several non-profit advisory councils such as Africa Improved Foods and The Ocean Cleanup.
Feike emphasizes that consumers increasingly expect more responsible companies and will no longer settle for anything less. Furthermore, governments are beginning to pressure businesses into acting on climate change issues, so leaders need to demonstrate there is hope and provide their employees, customers and the world at large with optimism for the future.
Courage to Lead honorees this year all share an immense commitment to improving the state of our planet through their work and leadership. They are taking on some of the world’s toughest problems like inequality, hunger and climate change with bold vision and innovative solutions.
They do not hesitate to speak out against injustice, even at personal risk. They bring fresh ideas and approaches to bear on difficult challenges we all face together – demonstrating what it means to be true change agents.
Innovation
Feike Sijbesma revolutionized DSM during his 13 years as CEO (2007-2010) and over two decades on its Managing Board (since 1992). Repositioning DSM from being primarily chemical to being purpose-led global bioscience company with clear sustainability focus resulted in over tripling share value and made DSM one of the premier companies within its sector – all the while upholding Sijbesma’s core principle that leadership should embrace diversity and inclusion, demonstrated through his family of different nationalities and genders living together harmoniously under his leadership.
He strongly believes that sustainable innovation is integral to success, not only as part of an organization’s business strategy but as an essential core capability as well. That’s why in 2018 he established the Feike Sijbesma Sustainable Innovation Award: it welcomes entrepreneurs worldwide who offer smart, innovative solutions that support climate-resilient food systems while making our planet better places.
DSM has launched this award, with support from an extensive group of partners. It provides winners an incredible opportunity to increase visibility for their work while receiving funding of up to 25,000 euros for further developing it. Furthermore, an accelerator program from DSM’s RD&E Center will assist them with commercializing it faster.
Sijbesma studied medical molecular biology at the University of Utrecht and business administration at Erasmus University Rotterdam. He received recognition as United Nations Humanitarian of the Year and received honorary doctorates from Maastricht and Groningen Universities. Fortune listed him among their World’s 50 Greatest Leaders and Harvard Business Review included him among its 100 Most Successful CEOs. Since 2020, he has served as honorary chairman of DSM as well as chairman of Royal Philips Supervisory Board and Non-Executive Director at Unilever. Together with Ban Ki-Moon he is co-chairing of Global Center on Climate Adaptation while leading its Alliance of CEO Climate Leaders Alliance of CEO Climate Leaders Alliance; additionally he sits on IMF Advisory Board as advisor of Africa Improved Foods and The Ocean Cleanup Initiative.
Diversity
Feike Sijbesma led Royal DSM from bulk chemicals manufacturer to leading life sciences provider during his 13 year term as CEO, successfully shifting it away from bulk chemical sales toward nutrition, health and sustainable living solutions. Under his direction, sustainability became not just a responsibility but an asset and business driver resulting in a 450% increase in total shareholder returns and being awarded both Humanitarian of the Year and Leader of Change by United Nations. Throughout this journey he demonstrated science’s power for innovation that improved lives now and for generations ahead.
He is active in several impact investments and sits on the boards of GASP and the &GreenFund, serving on their advisory councils and frequently speaking at international conferences. Dr. Knaus holds both a PhD in natural resources management and an MSc in business administration from DSM; additionally he founded IDH – The Sustainable Trade Initiative to mainstream sustainability into various supply chains across different sectors.
Dyonne provides public affairs consulting to clients navigating the Dutch political landscape. She advises branch associations, companies, municipalities and entrepreneurs. Dyonne’s passion lies in connecting politics to society; as part of her professional association’s annual event she facilitates an annual event where 10 small charities come together with politicians, policymakers and lobbyists for networking purposes.
Feike Sijbesma, namesake of the Feike Sijbesma Sustainable Innovation Award in The Netherlands, is an inspiring public figure who achieved much during his time as CEO of DSM from 2007-20. As CEO he orchestrated an extraordinary transformation process which transformed DSM from chemical bulk manufacturer into global leader for health, nutrition, and sustainable living – including increasing DSM’s value by threefold during this period. Sustainability was at its core during this time and innovation played a vital role in his business model.
At present, Mr. Foerde is serving on multiple boards (such as Royal Philips and Unilever), WRI Board member, climate leader co-chairing with Ban Ki-moon at Global Center on Adaptation (GCA), special envoy of The Netherlands for COVID pandemic which begins early 2020, special envoy of DSM for COVID pandemic as special envoy and as honorary chair for DSM.
Leadership
As business leaders attempt to meet the mounting challenges posed by a changing climate, vision and leadership are crucial. Leaders need to imagine a world beyond profit margins where they can make real differences; align this vision with their organization so it is lived out by all employees – this will ensure companies futureproof themselves.
Feike Sijbesma has been at the forefront of this change. Between 2007 and 2020, he took on the challenge to transform DSM from an information company into one focused on nutrition, health and sustainable living – becoming its CEO while also leading DSM into becoming the Dutch company with highest corporate social responsibility score (CSR score).
DSM’s transformation means it is working to reduce its footprint and consumption of fossil fuels while making 80 percent of its products eco-friendly. This feat is enabled through its varied business portfolio that encompasses biotech, second-generation bio fuels and green materials such as those used for green materials in cars or paint production. Furthermore, DSM offers bio-based chemicals and materials used in food & drink, livestock feed, pharmaceuticals, automobiles & paint production.
DSM invests heavily in research and development while taking calculated risks to meet its goals, with Sijbesma frequently advocating that long-term vision of sustainability takes precedence over short-term financial returns: as he puts it: “we need to choose between creating value for society and financial success.”
As part of this strategy, companies need a vision that can truly motivate employees. Sijbesma excels at communicating this vision to his staff; thus creating a ‘visionary culture’ within DSM that now forms part of its identity.
Key to his success has been his willingness and openness in sharing information and taking risks, while admitting mistakes and learning from them. For instance, he held funerals for failed innovations such as glass picture frame glasses that allowed more light through for sharper images – one such failure taught him the lesson that customers’ needs and wants need to come first before spending millions on ideas.
