Tanya van Biesen
In her role as Senior Vice President, Global Corporate Engagement, Tanya was responsible for a team of 35 Relationship Managers and support staff working with over 500 client companies around the world. She was also accountable for leading and operationalizing Catalyst partnerships in Latin America, the Middle East, and AsiaPac.
Tanya is a recognized and accomplished executive with more than 20 years of experience in the executive search sector. She joined Catalyst in 2016 as Executive Director in Canada and became Senior Vice President, Global Corporate Engagement in 2020. Prior to joining Catalyst, Tanya was at Spencer Stuart, where she focused on search assignments at the board, CEO, and general management levels, and also led the firm’s Canadian Diversity Practice.
A passionate advocate for gender equality as a driver of economic growth and progress, Tanya is a sought-after speaker, thought leader, and architect of change. She has contributed to a number of research studies analyzing leadership trends and attributes and is a frequent contributor to news media on issues related to women’s advancement, leadership, and workplace equality. Tanya holds an MBA from the University of Toronto’s Rotman School of Business and a Bachelor of Commerce from Queen’s University. She speaks English, French, and Dutch.
Tanya's Latest Work
Ask the Experts – Catalyst Town Hall (Webinar Recording)
Listen to this webinar recording to hear Catalyst experts answer D&I questions from the audience.
First Steps – The Business Case for Diversity: Is This a Silver Bullet? (Webinar Recording)
Listen to this webinar recording to hear about the pros and cons of the “traditional business case” and how we are reframing the discussion to advance meaningful change.
International Women’s Day 2017: The Power of Sponsorship (Webinar Recording)
Listen to this webinar recording to hear from a current sponsor and protégé, and to see how sponsorship can provide a win-win-win situation.