Thank you Inge van Gool for joining us for this inspiring conversation. We hope this dialogue sparks new ideas and fuels others on their own Leaders of Progress Journey.
LEADERS OF PROGRESS SPOTLIGHT #8
INGE VAN GOOL
Program Manager Sustainability, Delicia
She makes sustainability the compass that directs
Delicia’s contribution to a fair, responsible food chain.
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"True leaders are able to navigate complexity.”
In your own words, what does it mean to be a Leader of Progress?
“For me, a Leader of Progress is someone who leads by example, especially when navigating the complexity of sustainability. It’s a broad and sometimes overwhelming field that touches people, the planet, the economy, and ethics, often requiring difficult trade-offs between competing interests.
True leaders are able to navigate that complexity and stay focused on what matters most to their company. They’re driven by a deep, intrinsic motivation to make a positive difference in the world. They don’t see sustainability as a limitation, but as a source of opportunity and innovation. That’s what keeps real progress moving forward.”
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Sustainability by Conviction,
Not Compliance
What is the most important change Delicia has made to truly embed sustainability into its strategy?
“Over the past two years, Delicia has made a real mindset shift. We’ve moved from seeing sustainability as something driven by legal compliance to building a program based on intrinsic motivation.
We’re no longer focused on ticking boxes or meeting regulations, we do it because we believe in it. Sustainability makes us stronger and more future-proof as a company. That shift has helped us connect our values to our decisions and truly embed sustainability into both our strategy and daily operations.”
True Impact isn't about visbility
Can you name one specific project where you made real progress possible?
“One project I’m particularly proud of is our four-year partnership with The Hunger Project in Ghana, which we completed successfully last year. The project supported the Adomfe community on its journey to self-reliance.
What makes this initiative so special is that Delicia decided to invest in the cocoa value chain, even though we don’t source cocoa directly from that region and cannot claim this cocoa in our products. It wasn’t about visibility or following industry trends, it was about taking responsibility for the issues that exist in our value chain.
After completing the Adomfe project, we have now entered into a new partnership with Agriterra. Over the next five years, we aim to build on that foundation and further strengthen our impact where it’s felt most.”
Looking 25 years ahead..
“My dream is to see a fair, just, and healthy cocoa value chain, one where child labor no longer exists, and where a living income for farmers has become the norm.
That dream drives me every day. Because real progress takes courage: the courage to keep going, to work together, and to stay true to your values. I hope that everything we do today will have that lasting impact for future generations.”
My personal advice to companies struggling to prioritize CSR ...
“Always ask yourself, what is our biggest problem, or better yet, our biggest opportunity?
You can’t change the whole world in one day, but you can make a difference where it matters most. Start there.
And don’t get discouraged, the glass is always half full. As Stientje van Veldhoven once said: ‘When climbing a mountain, don’t forget to look down every now and then to see how far you’ve already come.’”
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LEADERS OF PROGRESS
This year marks the 25th anniversary of the United Nations Global Compact. To honor this milestone, we are launching an interview series spotlighting the change makers behind our participating companies in the Netherlands: the Leaders of Progress. By sharing their stories, we hope to inspire bold leadership and spark meaningful change.
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