photographer: megan jane simons © | make-up artist: ghenwa kahla from art of colors

rtl nederland

for years, gender representation is one of the priorities within rtl nederland. as one of the biggest media-organisations of our country, we are convinced that it is our responsiblity to represent women in all functions and showcase our female role models for their unique talents and drive: to our colleagues as well as to the broader public. we take this responsibility very seriously and are making good progress, but we can always improve. both on screen and behind the scenes. we see it as a privilige to affirm girls and women how crucial their place is in society and in our company.

ellen van den berghe

cmo at rtl nederland

about

originating from the south of the netherlands (hulst, zeeland), i’ve always had a passion for content. little did i anticipate that this world would one day manifest into my profession. i love to combine my passion for television, series and programming with my analytical and financial skills.

currently, i am part of the board of rtl netherlands overseeing the monetization for all our digital direct to consumer products videoland, buienradar & rtl.nl and all facets of marketing, product and customer care. beyond my professional endeavors, i live in overveen with my partner and two curious sons aged 2 and 4 years.

why do you think it is important to be visible as a role model?

in the past, i’ve been fortunate to receive several biographies of remarkable women as gifts, including katharine graham, michelle obama and neelie kroes. witnessing the journeys of these influential women has been inspiring for me, as it illustrates the possibility to reach those positions (given all challenges you will face). i firmly believe that it’s essential for all of us to see or listen to other people and recognize a part of ourselves in them.

moreover, i have been lucky that i gathered people around me, men and women, who always supported me and consistently gave me the belief that i am able to succeed – also when i started as cmo of rtl. this taught me the importance of paying it forward and give support to the people around me. after all, we all require a helping hand and words of encouragement to navigate in life.

how will you use your influence as role model after international women’s day?

growing up, i was lucky to have the freedom to navigate my own way thanks to the amazing support system i had around me. i am incredibly grateful to my parents and a lot of different people (along the way) for always being there to cheer me on and encourage me to spread my wings.

nowadays, i would like to give support to others to see how much they are capable of even if they don’t realize it (yet). it’s a responsibility i happily take on and therefore i’ve decided to participate in the anne-bo foundation which focuses on girls who want to study but lack the support, network, or means to fulfill their dreams and potential.

why international women’s day is important for you?

international women’s day sparks conversations about the everyday gender inequality that we face and starts initiatives to dismantle barriers for women. besides, it’s a reminder of the work that needs to be done to create a more equal world where all women can thrive and fulfill their potential. that’s still necessary, as too often people don’t acknowledge the full potential of women.

at rtl, during the weeks surrounding international women’s day, we prioritize addressing the negative effects of the online hate directed at our talents, journalists and participants of our content. while this issue remains a year-round concern for us due to its profound impact, internationals women’s day serves as a focal point for spotlighting the specific disproportinate online hate faced by women. it’s important to take stand against online misogyny and look at our own responsibility as one of the biggest media-organisations of our country. days like international women’s day can give a boost to important topics of this nature, for example with the campaign we run with our streaming platform videoland, against online mysogyny.