The power of female leadership: Eefje Albers

9 February 2026

As Managing Director of Bright Alley (part of Conclusion) Eefje Albers works in the world of digital learning. A sector with a relatively balanced male–female ratio. Still, she is aware of the broader context within the IT sector, where men remain the majority.

“To be honest, it’s not something I think about every day,” Eefje says. “For me, it’s mainly about the people I work with and they’re wonderful, highly skilled colleagues.”

Vrouw zittend in stoel en kijkend in camera

From graduation project to managing director

Eefje’s career at Bright Alley (part of Conclusion) began with her graduation project. “I started as a consultant and was given the opportunity to grow. After spending some time outside Conclusion, I was asked to return as Managing Director seven years ago. It’s an opportunity I’m still grateful for.”

Leadership is not about gender

For Eefje, female leadership isn’t about gender, it’s about style. “I know men with feminine leadership qualities and women with a more masculine style. It’s about balance. A blend of styles creates attention for people, collaboration, and decisiveness.”

Over the years, she has developed her own leadership approach. “In the beginning, I placed a lot of value on consensus, but that sometimes slowed down decision-making. Now I work more situationally: I take charge when necessary, delegate, and coach. I work in the open office, without a private room. It lowers the threshold for people to talk to me and that’s important to me.”

“
I know men with feminine leadership qualities and women with a more masculine style. It’s about balance.
”

Eefje Albers

Empathy as strength

Eefje sees empathy and the ability to foster collaboration as valuable qualities, not just for women. “These qualities lead to stronger teams, better networks, and more innovation.”

“I don’t consciously see myself as a role model,” she adds. “But I know people look at me. That’s why I try to set a good example and inspire others to seize opportunities.”

Quotas are not the solution

Eefje does not see female quotas as the answer to increasing female leadership. “The percentage of women at the top may rise, but the question remains whether the right people end up in those positions. Ultimately, we need more women with the right skills in middle management and they must be given the opportunity to grow into senior roles. Inspiring examples, strong coaching, training opportunities, flexible work arrangements and improved childcare provisions in the Netherlands would help.”

Energy from festivals, travel and work

Eefje gains energy from her work, but equally from her social life. “I love going out for dinner, festivals, concerts, and travelling. Sports are part of that too. When I’m off, I delegate tasks and if something urgent comes up, I’ll handle it in between. The flexibility of my work and the strength of the team make it easy to combine.”

“
The world of digital learning is changing rapidly and we are evolving with it.
”

Eefje Albers

What’s next?

For now, Eefje mainly sees opportunities to continue developing Bright Alley (part of Conclusion). “No day is the same, and I still learn something new every single day. The digital learning landscape is shifting fast, and we adapt with it. As long as I keep that feeling, I’m exactly where I need to be. And after that? We’ll see.”

Inspired?

At Conclusion, together with FC Utrecht, we are committed to strengthening the position of women in IT, in leadership roles, and on the field. Discover more about our initiatives and women’s network. Curious about opportunities for you? Take a look at our vacancies.

3 personen die op de fiets mee doen aan tour de Conclusion

Mannelijke collega in blauwe blouse met armen gekruist lachend naar de camera

Twee mannelijke collega's achter computer scherm lachen naar elkaar

Vrouwe collega in donker blauwe blouse met armen over elkaar lachend naar de camera

Twee vrouwen die aan een bureau zitten te lachen naar elkaar

Mannelijke collega in donker rode trui lachend naar de camera

Questions?

Diane Breure

Recruiter