George Kohlrieser
Distinguished Professor of Leadership & Organizational Behavior, IMD | Hostage Negotiator | Bestselling Author of Hostage at the Table & Care to Dare
Gillian Tans
Former CEO & Chairwoman of Booking.com | Founder of Diversity Hero | Board Member & Investor | Expert in Scaling, Digital Travel & Transformative Leadership
Speaker Gillian Tans scaled Booking.com from an Amsterdam start-up into one of the world's largest digital travel platforms, serving as its first female CEO and later Chairwoman. Founder of Diversity Hero and an active investor and board member, she shows leaders how to grow teams, culture, and revenue together. Audiences gain field-tested insight on scaling, innovation, and inclusive leadership from someone who has done it at global scale.
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Gillian Tans biography
Speaker Gillian Tans stands out as one of Europe’s most accomplished business leaders, known for turning bold ideas into global-scale success stories. She began her career in hospitality, studying at the Hotel Management School in Middelburg and gaining hands-on experience with Hershey Entertainment & Resorts in the United States. Those early roles shaped her people-first approach and her focus on operational excellence.
In 2002, she joined Booking.com, then a small but ambitious start-up in Amsterdam. Recognizing the internet’s potential to revolutionize travel, she took on leadership roles across global sales, operations, IT, content, and customer service, consistently driving innovation while protecting the company’s energetic start-up culture.
Her impact accelerated when she became President and Chief Operating Officer in 2011, and later CEO in 2016, the first woman to lead the company. Under her leadership, Booking.com grew into one of the world’s largest digital travel platforms, operating across more than 220 countries and territories.
Beyond Booking.com: Boards, Investing, and Inclusion
After stepping down as CEO in 2019, Gillian continued to shape Booking.com’s long-term strategy as Chairwoman. She went on to serve as President of VanMoof, the Dutch e-bike maker, applying her operational expertise to sustainable mobility, and founded Diversity Hero, an initiative advancing diversity, equity, and inclusion across the tech industry.
Today, she advises, invests in, and sits on the boards of several forward-thinking companies, and remains a sought-after voice at leading travel and technology conferences. She speaks English, Dutch, German, and French, reflecting the global mindset that has guided her career.
As a speaker, Gillian Tans ranks among the most compelling leadership speakers for senior audiences, sharing real-world insight on scaling companies, building inclusive cultures, and leading through rapid industry change.
Gillian Tans Speaking Videos
Gillian Tans (Booking.com) on Running A 15000+ Employee Business
Gillian Tans - Diversity in Tech – From the Why To the How
Gillian Tans Keynote Topics
Gillian Tans brings a rare blend of foresight and decisive action to every stage. At Booking.com, she shaped a long-term vision that turned a small start-up into a global travel leader, anticipating industry shifts and building a culture of continuous reinvention. Her keynote reveals how leaders can stay ahead of change, make confident choices, and convert big ideas into scalable results.
Tans guided Booking.com through years of rapid growth and international expansion with exceptional strategic discipline. She understands customer behavior, industry dynamics, and emerging technologies at a deep level, and uses that knowledge to craft strategies that deliver. In this keynote, she breaks down how high-growth companies can spot opportunities, manage uncertainty, and make disciplined decisions that compound into long-term success.
Gillian believes great companies grow from great teams. Throughout her career, she has championed workplaces where people feel empowered, included, and inspired to innovate, building one of the most diverse, high-performing workforces in tech at Booking.com. Her keynote explores how leaders can attract top talent, sustain collaboration at scale, and create environments where individuals thrive and organizations outperform.
Speaker topics
FAQs on Booking Gillian Tans
Why Gillian Tans?
Few executives have actually scaled a company from start-up to global category leader. Gillian Tans did it at Booking.com, where she helped grow a small Amsterdam team into one of the world's largest digital travel platforms operating in more than 220 countries and territories. As the company's first female CEO and later Chairwoman, she speaks with firsthand authority on hypergrowth, culture, and inclusive leadership, giving senior audiences honest, field-tested lessons rather than theory. Book Gillian Tans through Aurum Speakers Bureau for your next event.
Who is Gillian Tans?
Gillian Tans is a Dutch business leader best known as the former CEO and Chairwoman of Booking.com. She joined the company in 2002, became President and COO in 2011, and served as CEO from 2016 to 2019. She later served as President of e-bike company VanMoof and founded Diversity Hero, an initiative advancing diversity, equity, and inclusion in tech. Today she is an investor, advisor, and board member at several companies.
Was Gillian Tans the first female CEO of Booking.com?
Yes. Gillian Tans was the first woman to lead Booking.com when she was appointed CEO in 2016, after five years as President and Chief Operating Officer. Under her leadership the platform expanded to more than 220 countries and territories and grew into one of the largest digital travel companies in the world.
What topics does leadership speaker Gillian Tans cover?
Her keynotes cover scaling companies and teams, visionary leadership, strategy in high-growth markets, digital transformation in travel and beyond, and building diverse, high-performing cultures. Each talk draws directly on her Booking.com journey and her current board and investment work. Contact Aurum Speakers Bureau to bring Gillian Tans to your stage.
How to book Gillian Tans as a keynote speaker?
Aurum Speakers Bureau can help you book Gillian Tans as a speaker for your next event, conference, or board meeting. Simply fill out our contact form to inquire about Gillian Tans's availability for a speaking engagement. One of our booking agents will respond to your request immediately and contact the speaker to let them know you want to hire them. We will assist you with obtaining speaking fees, booking information, and confirming availability for Gillian Tans or any other top keynote speaker or celebrity of your choice.
How much is Gillian Tans speaking fee?
Gillian Tans speaking fees are determined by several factors, including the event's date, whether it's a virtual or in-person event, the duration, format, preparation required for their speech, and more. The same applies to the cost to hire any other top expert speakers and celebrities. The Speaker Fee Range listed on our website is simply a guideline and is subject to change without notice. If you would like to hire Gillian Tans to deliver a keynote speech for your event, please fill out the contact form or email us at info@aurumbureau.com with as much detail as possible. One of our experienced agents will get in touch with you and let you know exactly how much it will cost to book Gillian Tans.
How can I contact Gillian Tans?
We only work with Gillian Tans on paid speaking engagements. Aurum Speakers Bureau can assist you in booking Gillian Tans and will handle all negotiations, contracts, and logistics associated with having Gillian Tans speak at your event. We will be your sole point of contact throughout the process. Get in touch with Aurum Speakers Bureau today, and we will reach out to any motivational speaker or celebrity you want to enquire about speaking at your event. If you wish to contact Gillian Tans for any other reason, we will be unable to assist you as we are not authorized to provide personal contact information.
Can I book Gillian Tans for a virtual keynote?
Yes, Gillian Tans is available for virtual keynotes and webinars. To book Gillian Tans for a virtual event, please complete the contact form or send us an email to inquire about the special fees for virtual engagements.
