Congratulations to ‘Leading ICT Lady of the Year 2025’: Evelien Vanhooren

A recognition with impact

The ‘Leading ICT Lady of the Year’ award is more than just a personal achievement, Evelien emphasizes. “It is a recognition of the hard work that I, together with the #peopleofdelaware at delaware, have accomplished. But above all, I hope it inspires others. Women have an important role to play in IT and can make a positive impact.”

Evelien has over twenty years of experience in the industry and has proven herself as a driven leader in digital transformation and innovative technologies. She combines strategic insights with a people-oriented approach, making her a valued and accessible leader.

Why Evelien?

The jury selected Evelien for her broad experience, innovative mindset, and dedication to diversity. “My leadership style is coaching and supportive. I believe people perform best when they receive the right guidance and opportunities. Authentic leadership is essential: stay true to yourself and your values,” she says.

Additionally, Evelien is a strong advocate for inclusion and diversity. She sees mixed teams as a crucial factor for success and actively promotes leadership programs for women within the company. She also shares this vision in other communities, as board member of Climate Camp and Artevelde Hogeschool. 

From economics to IT

Evelien’s career path is not the typical story of an IT professional. With a degree in applied economics and a year of General Management at Vlerick, she initially did not consider a career in IT. However, when she got the opportunity to start at delaware some twenty years ago, she discovered her passion for technology and the impact she could make with it.

Throughout her career, Evelien has held various roles, from analyst to project and program manager. Today, she takes up a leading role for the Business Applications hub, where she leads a team of around 600 employees. She is also a sponsor of SAP Public Cloud and guides innovative projects within delaware’s incubator unit.

The challenges for women in IT

Although the IT sector is growing rapidly, gender balance remains a challenge. “In Asia, we see far more women in top positions than in Europe. Here, women often get stuck in middle management, partly due to a lack of role models and because they are less likely to take risks,” says Evelien.

She also recognizes the widespread imposter syndrome among women. “Many women doubt their own abilities and underestimate their achievements. I want to show them that they should seize opportunities, even if everything is not perfect.”

For this reason, delaware strongly invests in mentoring and leadership programs for women, giving them that extra push forward.

What's next?

What does the future hold for Evelien? She aims to strengthen international collaboration within delaware and to continue advocating for diversity in leadership. Additionally, sustainability remains a key focus in her vision for the future of IT. Evelien adds, “We aim to support our clients in reaching their sustainability goals by offering the right mix of technologies and approaches.”

Her advice to young professionals, especially women, is clear: “Believe in yourself and step out of your comfort zone!”

With her vision, experience, and drive, Evelien Vanhooren remains a role model for the next generation in IT. Her story proves that authenticity, leadership, and perseverance are the key to success.