photographer: jonne lucia op de weegh © | make-up artist: nicky ruisch from art of colors
elianne anemaat(she/her)
senior manager, public & society at adc consulting
about
as a social-cultural anthropologist with a background in international development, i never thought i would end up working for a data science and ai company. after years of measuring the impact of long-term development programmes, i began exploring automation to reduce repetitive tasks. i noticed a gap between tech and business teams, which sparked my interest in bridging that divide. today, as a senior manager at adc, i lead the development of responsible data and ai solutions for clients in the public and non-profit sector, focusing on how people interact with technology and ensuring that ai serves real-world needs.
why do you think it is important that role models need to be visible?
role models are important because they show that leadership doesn’t look the same for everyone. i used to think that a real leader needed to have natural confidence, strength, professionalism, and a formal title. someone who never doubts. but over time, i realised that – despite not relating myself to any of those qualities – people still approached me for guidance. it made me understand that leadership isn’t just about authority; it’s about strength coming from authenticity. whether you’re highly professional or very relatable. loud, quiet, confident or thoughtful – there is no ‘mold’ for leadership, nor is there for being a role model. that’s why visibility is so important. when we see leaders around us who are genuine and diverse in their styles, it helps others realise they, too, can lead in their own way.