Speaker

Sophie van Gool

Sophie van Gool is an economist and expert on the gender pay gap. As a columnist for Het Financieele Dagblad and author of the widely discussed book Waarom vrouwen minder verdienen, she shares her sharp insights into gender equality, negotiation, and the economics of parenthood. Sophie inspires organizations to work towards equal pay and offers practical tools to break down barriers.

Rate indication: € 3,500 to € 4,999
Available for booking as: Panelist ConversationLeader Speaker Interviewer
Languages: Dutch English

Request a free quote

030-3040025

Sophie van Gool (1991) is on a mission to close the gender pay gap. Through her company Salaristijger, she is committed to equal opportunities and equal pay in the labour market. She is a columnist for Het Financieele Dagblad and co-host of the podcast I’m Speaking.

Book

Sophie's book "Waarom vrouwen minder verdienen – en wat we eraan kunnen doen'' was sold more than 10,000 times and was nominated for several awards, including ‘Het Belangrijkste Boek van het Jaar’ and ‘Managementboek van het Jaar’. In January 2026, her new book Je kind is een goudmijn – iedereen verdient aan je kind, behalve jij was published, exploring the economics of motherhood.

Previous Experience

Sophie previously worked as a management consultant at BCG and holds an MBA from ESADE Business School Barcelona and an MSc in Economics from the University of Amsterdam.

Themes

Sessions

Everyone negotiates their salary at some point. But it can also feel daunting. What can and can’t you ask for? How high should you set your expectations? And how do you make sure it doesn’t turn into a conflict?

We like to think of ourselves as objective and open-minded, but everyone has biases. These biases influence our behavior during job interviews, performance reviews, and salary negotiations. Why does this happen? And what can you do about it? Sophie van Gool explains it using scientific research and real-life examples, and shares practical tips.

Women still earn less than men, even for comparable work. Over the course of their working lives, they miss out on an average of €300,000. And although women are more likely to have a higher education than men, they rarely progress to top positions. In the Netherlands, there are even more directors named Peter than female directors. But don’t women work part-time more often and in lower-paid sectors? Shouldn’t they change first? Sophie van Gool explains the myths and facts and shows how we can genuinely work towards equal pay.

Many people want to start their own business, launch a podcast, or write a book. But where do you start? You’ve never done it before, so can you actually do it? How can you start a business alongside your job? How do you deal with reactions from those around you? And how do you make sure you don’t have to invest all your savings right away? Sophie van Gool has started two businesses, launched a podcast, and written a book. She can inspire you to do the same — by simply taking the plunge and getting started.