Inside the Boardroom: A Conversation with Rianne Letschert

Why do you do what you do? What drives your behaviour? What gets you out of bed in the morning? These were just some of the probing questions put to the Rector of Maastricht University, Rianne Letschert, in an open and honest conversation with Mariëlle Heijltjes, Executive Director of UMIO. An expert in Managerial Behaviour, Marielle’s questions would have come as no surprise to Rianne, but what Rianne’s answers revealed during the conversation, was a sense of humanity and gratitude at the heart of her leadership.

The experiences people have with leadership, power and politics in different situations can be a rich source of learning, but they can also lead to an ambivalent relationship to the topic. People sometimes feel afraid to step into a leadership role or to engage with the power and politics. The ability to reflect on the learning and to develop and nurture a sense of curiosity about these experiences is part of what fosters great leaders.

This interview took place as part of Fostering Future Leaders; a leadership development programme for employees of Maastricht University with the potential to grow into a managerial position.