What Makes a Good Leader? An Interview with Hayley Bakker
In episode four of our Leading People leadership series, we sat down with Hayley Bakker, Head of Customer Journey and Digital Enablement at beqom. We talked about what makes a good leader, the importance of leading through a cultural lens, and the challenges and opportunities facing HR professionals today, including DEI or the EU Pay Transparency Directive.
Guiding principle.Clarity and transparency to build trust.
Main focus.Focusing on diversity of perspective and equity in how we work, and being culturally aware.
Biggest challenge.Leading her team through the sale of her company, balancing honesty with emotional impact.
Interview with Hayley Bakker
This is the full length interview with Hayley Bakker.
Hayley has an entrepreneurial background, having founded and exited two prior businesses. In this interview, she explains how she learned to lead through clarity and transparency, and the importance of providing a safety net for your team—loose enough to allow growth, but strong enough to ensure trust and psychological safety.
“You don’t have to change who you are to be a leader.”
Having lived and worked in many different parts of the world, with international teams, Hayley talks about the importance of always looking through a cultural lens. In an increasingly globalized world of work, being culturally aware allows you to better understand the people you work with and helps create an environment of trust.
Hayley also discusses current shifts in the HR space and how organizations can successfully adapt. For example, she outlines the first key steps to prepare for compliance with the EU Pay Transparency Directive.
Watch the full interview to get all the details!
About Hayley Bakker
Hayley Bakker is the Head of Customer Journey and Digital Enablement at beqom, where she empowers global organizations to implement fair, compliant pay processes. She helps companies achieve pay equity and navigate complex legislation like the EU Pay Transparency Directive. A passionate advocate for DEI, Hayley founded two successful businesses, and brings a wealth of experience in HR solutions across product, engineering, and customer success. She holds a MS in Financial Engineering & Management, and a BS in Industrial Engineering and Management from the University of Twente, The Netherlands.
About the series
This interview is part of the video series Leading People, where we sit down with the minds shaping the future of HR. beqom executives and other industry leaders share their personal journeys, discuss key challenges and successes, and offer unique insights on the evolving role of HR in today’s world. Watch our past episodes now.
Learn more about beqom!
For more information about beqom’s solutions for managing total compensation, performance, and pay equity contact our experts to tell us your challenges or request a demo.
