Amber Valk
Consultant
During my childhood, I lived near Arnhem, but since then I have gradually moved further west. While studying for my bachelor’s degrees in Psychology and Law, I lived in Utrecht. I then moved to Amsterdam to pursue a master’s degree in Employment Law and a master’s in Business Administration, specialising in Human Resource Management.
The broad perspective I gained during my studies serves me well in my work. As a Consultant at Bright & Company (the part of the Galan Group specialising in HR strategy), I take a broad view of clients’ challenges. Before joining Bright & Company, I worked as an HR Manager, gaining hands-on experience across all aspects of HR. This enables me to put myself in my clients’ shoes.
I pay attention to both the ‘hard’, rational side and the ‘soft’, relational side of HR. I see my role as helping organisations turn advice into action. In practice, translating strategic objectives into the optimal deployment of people is often challenging. I enjoy helping organisations translate their strategic ambitions into concrete actions that make a difference in day-to-day practice.
These days, I live in Utrecht with my husband Niek, our son Loek and our cat Jimmy. It is a great central location for work and brings us closer to family and friends. When it comes to sports, you will find me road cycling, playing padel, skiing or practising yoga.
"Coming together is a beginning; staying together is progress; working together is success."
Can you explain your quote?
Teamwork is extremely important. Working together leads to better results: when you look at things together, the outcome is always better.
What makes you stand out?
I know how to stay calm and maintain an overview. This allows me to defuse situations and create the space needed to build trust. I am also analytical, curious, results-oriented and a team player.
What have you achieved that you are proud of?
Together with Professor Wilmar Schaufeli, I conducted research into employee engagement. One of the key findings was that servant leadership has a positive impact on both the working environment and employee well-being. Through this research, I have been able to help organisations move forward. Giving employees greater autonomy increased their engagement and willingness to contribute to the organisation’s objectives. The subsequent reduction in sickness absence also demonstrated that this approach benefited employees themselves.
What trends do you see in your field?
The Dutch labour market is facing unprecedented shortages. Organisations are struggling to find the right people for the right roles. Having highly engaged employees can make all the difference: people who are genuinely willing and able to contribute to your strategic objectives. That is what drives success.
