Executive and Leadership Coach
Executive and Leadership Coach
Jane Sum is a certified executive and leadership coach (PCC, ICF) with over 20 years of international corporate experience across technical and commercial roles. She specializes in helping leaders in multinationals lead with clarity, confidence, and impact – especially in complex, matrixed, and cross–cultural environments.
Born and raised in the Netherlands, Jane spent time in the United States during her master’s studies and completed part of her PhD in the UK. She then lived and worked abroad for 16 years in Japan, China, Thailand, and Germany before returning to the Netherlands, where she is now based. Her international journey began as an expat partner and evolved into a senior leadership career – giving her first-hand insight into both sides of the expat experience: the excitement and the pressure, the opportunities and the invisible load.
Jane holds a PhD in Chemistry and has led global teams across industries. Today, she supports mid–to–senior leaders navigating high–stakes environments – where they’re expected to deliver and influence across cultures, functions, and layers of the organization. Many of her clients are also going through transitions, such as stepping into bigger roles, adapting to new contexts, or recalibrating after periods of change.
Her coaching approach is calm, grounded, and trust-based. She blends intuitive listening, practical tools, and deep cultural understanding to help clients reconnect with their strengths, shift limiting patterns, and take aligned, sustainable action. She is certified in the Energy Leadership™ Index, which helps leaders understand how their mindset and energy influence their impact – particularly under pressure – and in Hogan Assessments, which provide insight into day-to-day behaviours, potential derailers, and the values that drive motivation and culture fit.
Jane coaches in Dutch and English and also speaks German, Mandarin, Cantonese, and Hakka – allowing her to connect across cultures and support clients navigating nuance in global environments.
As she puts it: “I know what it’s like to lead and live across cultures – when everything is new, and you still need to show up with clarity and strength. I help my clients find their footing and lead with authenticity, even in complexity.” In addition, Jane serves on advisory and supervisory boards and is a board member and mentor with Global Women Connect. She is passionate about inclusive leadership and creating environments where people can truly thrive.
Languages
Dutch, English, German, Mandarin, Cantonese and Hakka.
Contact information
Website: www.janesumcoaching.com
Contact: info@janesumcoaching.com
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/janesum/X
Jane is member of ACCESS Supportive Networks.
