Hanneke Smits
The Diplomat
People, composure and the difficult conversation held well.
Hanneke Smits presents as a consummate Diplomat, leading through listening, coalition-building, and evidence-based consensus. She describes herself as naturally more observer than talker, prioritising fact patterns over gut instinct before acting. Her stewardship of the 30% Club reflects a career-long orientation toward activating allies across institutional hierarchies rather than imposing mandates.
“I tend to listen first because it's how I learn. It's how I learn about the world of investing and it's also how I learn about colleagues, clients, what motivates them.”
on her core leadership skillundated
“I decided to go left, some of you thought we should be going right. Actually, there wasn't a good decision. Here's what I've learned from it.”
on accountability and vulnerabilityundated
“Don't expect to get to the top and think that you know everything. You don't. You're learning every day and you're learning with your team.”
advice to aspiring leadersundated
Money Maze Podcast: “The 30% Club and the Future of Institutional Investment Management - With Hanneke Smits, Global Head of Investment Management, BNY Mellon”
LISTEN AT THE SOURCE ↗THE RECORD IS CHECKABLE