Helene van Santen

Innovative, strategic leader with over two decades of experience in the media industry. As the current director of Dag & Nacht at Podimo, I am focussed on the growth of the label, strengthening commercial opportunities and further developing the range of successful podcasts, which engage and inspire our loyal audience. 

In my previous role as editor-in-chief I led several magazine brands, including Margriet, one of the largest and most influential women's weekly magazines in the Netherlands. I have a proven track record of delivering exceptional results and driving innovation. I have succesfully led the digital transformation of Margriet, with the significant growth of the online reach (which almost doubled in two years time) as the main result. Under my direction, Margriet won the Cross Media Brand of the Year 2023 and Mercur Magazine Brand of the Year 2022. I was personally honored with the Mercur Editor-in-chief of the Year 2020. 

In the media, I am often sought after as an expert on topics related to feminism and leadership. This is not only due to my many years of leadership experience in the media industry, but also because of my deep social engagement. With great enthusiasm, I have presented at events (such as the Margriet & Libelle Winterfair) and have been the host of several online series on Libelle TV and Kek Mama TV. I was also the co-host of the Kek Mama podcast "Mama doet ook maar wat."

I grew up in the multicultural area of Amsterdam-Zuidoost and have lived for short periods in Montreal, Paris and London for my studies. These experiences have given me a broad perspective on the world. In my free time, I mainly chase after my twins, practice boxing, eat (too much) chocolate, cheer for Ajax, and enjoy listening to Enrique Iglesias as my guilty pleasure.