Women & Work Desk launched: making a difference together for women and organizations

Why a Woman & Work Desk?

We all know it: diversity and inclusion are often on the agenda, but in practice, the approach is still too fragmented. Too many women drop out early or suffer from burnout because systems and work structures are not set up to meet their specific needs. Meanwhile, organizations have so much to gain by keeping women healthy, happy, and sustainably employable.

“What drives me is that I see that absenteeism among women is relatively high and that there are various factors that affect sustainable career growth. Think of additional caregiving responsibilities, work pressure, and issues like pregnancy and menopause, which often don't have much room in organizations,” says initiator Anne Smulders. “This has a huge impact, both at work and at home. That’s why it is so important to make work environments better aligned,” she adds.

For Organizations and Women

The Woman & Work Desk is not only for organizations that want to strategically address this issue but also for women themselves. Do you have questions about health, development, or work-life balance? Or are you looking for tools to further advance in your career? The Desk offers knowledge, inspiration, and advice.

Organizations are supported with a concrete six-step plan, based on four pillars: work environment, job satisfaction, health, and talent development. This way, we take the conversation beyond awareness and ensure that changes are genuinely implemented. “With the Woman & Work Desk, we aim to ensure that women are healthy and happy at work, that career advancement opportunities become truly sustainable, and that work systems better align with women's bodies, talents, and moral compass,” says Smulders. “It is also important to research and understand women as a specific target group in order to realize changes that benefit everyone in the organization.”

Strong Together

The Woman & Work Desk collaborates with research and knowledge partners such as TNO, Tilburg University, and Markteffect, so that insights are directly translated into practice. Additionally, there are powerful connections with initiatives like PSV Women (through Fe+Male Tech Heroes), Strength at Work by the Driessen Foundation, and the Art Route Woman & Work at the Brainport Human Campus in Helmond.

Starting a Movement

For Anne Smulders, this mission stems not only from her professional experience but also from personal motivation. “I am not just a professional, but also a mother of three daughters. I want them to find themselves in work environments where they can be themselves and fully utilize their talents. That is the movement I want to initiate together with organizations now.” The Woman & Work Desk thus serves women who want to grow and organizations that want to strengthen themselves.