MEET RUUD: For Next-Level Leadership

With over 40 years in executive leadership, at PwC, Amsterdam UMC, Het Financieele Dagblad, and Buma Stemra, I know the pressure and responsibility at the top. I’ve navigated high-pressure decisions, led organizations through transformation, and experienced firsthand the loneliness that leadership can bring.

Despite my success, I reached a turning point. I was still effective and making decisions, but was I truly operating at my highest level? Through reflection and facing my own blind spots, I realized my real impact lay in guiding other leaders through the same process and bring them to next-level leadership. That insight led to Grounding Leadership.

Backed by a Master’s in Executive Coaching from Ashridge Business School and advanced training in Boardroom Dynamics from the Tavistock Institute, I bring a structured yet deeply personal approach to leadership reflection. This isn’t about theory, it’s about real transformation.

40 Years of Boardroom Experience—Now Focused on You

When Leadership Feels Like a Balancing Act, It's Time to Reflect.

You drive business success, but do you feel deeply connected to the decisions you make?
You operate at full speed, but do you have space to reflect on what truly matters? But you sense that you could be operating at a next level?

Leadership isn’t just about moving forward, it’s about knowing when to reflect, recalibrate, and bring and improve you and your team to a next level.

Through GroundingLeadership, I create a safe space for high-level executives to step back, not with theory, but with deep, strategic reflection to support them to improve and expand their capabilities and results. Because great leadership isn’t about doing more, it’s about leading with sharper instincts and renewed energy.

Your presence has more impact than your presentations.

From the Boardroom to the Maasai: Leadership in Motion

Beyond my corporate career, I’ve always looked for experiences that brought me deeper understanding, both mentally and physically. From running marathons and swimming from Asia to Europe, to walking with the Maasai in Kenya and spending 10+ days alone in the vast wilderness of Colorado and Baja California, I have explored the edge between endurance and  presence of body and mind.

These experiences shaped my understanding of leadership:

  • True clarity and insights don’t come from constant action, it comes from stepping back to reflect and listen to your inner voice.

  • Your most important leadership decisions start with internal alignment—understanding where you hold back and unlocking them for the next level of impact.

  • Navigating uncertainty requires not just intelligence, but awareness of body and mind.

Having faced a life-threatening situation and extreme challenges, I’ve gained insights that I now bring into my coaching. Leadership is not about control, it’s about trusting your intuition and aligning your actions with your deeper purpose and be an example for others while guiding them.

The Leaders I Work With

I work with CEOs, founders, and executives, but also with young potentials who:

  • Operate at the highest level and seek the next step in their leadership evolution.

  • Are ready to strengthen their clarity and confidence for the road ahead.

  • Seek a trusted space to step back, challenge their thinking, and gain clarity and impact beyond immediate challenges.

    📩 If this resonates, let’s talk. Book a free intake and experience reflection at the highest level.

Grounding Leadership for Authentic Impact

With Ruud Hopstaken - Grounding Leadership, I offer leaders the opportunity to reflect, and (re)connect with their true purpose. Whether you are at a crossroads or simply looking for a clearer path forward, I provide the support, clarity, and guidance needed to lead authentically and confidently. Let’s work together to navigate you your leadership journey and make the impact you were born to create.

What others say about Ruud

  • "Ruud creates a safe and challenging space where his questions lead me to the questions they came for. He has the ability to make connections between past, present, and future, revealing patterns you may not see yet. He sees a way forward, but lets you discover it yourself. His directness and clarity sometimes lead to discomfort, emotion, and even irritation. But this is exactly how Ruud allows the answers to emerge, guiding you to listen to yourself."

  • "Participating in this program was a transformative experience. Ruud’s guidance helped me uncover deep insights about my role in the family business and my personal aspirations. The two days spent reflecting and discussing were invaluable, leading to a renewed sense of purpose and confidence. I let anxiety take over my life for too long. Now I have the strength to use my emotions and suppressing them. I highly recommend this program to anyone seeking clarity and growth."

  • “

    Participating in this program was a transformative experience for me. Ruud's guidance helped me uncover deep insights about my role in the family business and my personal aspirations. The two days spent reflecting and discussing were invaluable, leading to a renewed sense of purpose and confidence. I highly recommend this program to anyone seeking clarity and growth within their business.

    ”

  • “

    I let anxiety take over my life for too long. Now I have the strength to control my emotions.

    ”

Forty years of boardroom experience taught me: better decisions don’t come from extended meetings but from taking three minutes of silence first and connect with yourself and colleagues at a deeper lever.

Why Grounding Leadership?

  • 40+ years in the top of organizations → I understand your world.

  • Ashridge & Tavistock certified → I bring depth and structure to reflection.

  • One-on-one deep-dive coaching → A tailored, immersive experience.
    Not another leadership course. But a safe space for real clarity.

📩 Let’s talk. Book a free intake and experience leadership beyond the boardroom.