Meet the team

Founder & CEO

Founder and CEO of SportsInQ and the Sports Leadership Institute. A leadership expert and PhD researcher at Nyenrode Business University, he combines academic insight with Olympic experience to help leaders and organizations perform with purpose, clarity, and impact—in sport, business, and beyond.

Double Olympian & Strategy Advisor

An Olympic water polo medalist and world champion. She is currently working toward the next Olympics in Los Angeles 2028. Alongside her athletic career, she also serves as a strategy advisor, leadership ambassador, and team-collaboration expert at SportsInQ. Known for her precision, resilience, and team spirit, she brings the mindset of elite (team) sport into leadership, inspiring others to perform with confidence and purpose both in and beyond the pool.

Triple Olympian & Strategy Advisor

Olympic hockey player, entrepreneur, and Corporate High Performance lead at SportsInQ. Combining over 15 years at the top of international sport with a sharp business mindset, he helps leaders and teams translate elite performance principles into lasting success.

Programme Manager SLP

With 25 years of experience facilitating high-performance athletes — Olympic and Paralympic — around the world, Maurien embraces the philosophy that ‘perfect performance requires perfect preparation.’ This is the same approach she is bringing to the Sports Leadership Programme by SportsInQ.

Marketing Manager

Nicky Heijda leads the marketing and brand strategy of SportsInQ, combining creativity with a sharp strategic mindset. With a strong passion for sport and the outdoors, she brings energy and authenticity to everything she does. As one of the driving forces behind the brand, Nicky translates the DNA of SportsInQ into reality — turning ideas into stories, and stories into movement.

Co-founder of SportsInQ and part of its legacy of performance with purpose. With over 50 years of international coaching experience, including Olympic gold with the Dutch women’s hockey team at Paris 2024, he brings world-class expertise in leadership, team dynamics, and high-performance culture to sport and business.

Conny Wenting is a leadership expert and former CEO of the Dutch Invictus Games Netherlands team, with 30 + years of experience in strategy, operations and people-focused performance in sport and business.

Niels bridges the worlds of business and sport. With a background in corporate leadership and years of experience coaching endurance athletes, he helps teams translate high-performance principles into daily practice — creating clarity, trust and energy in how they work together.

Former professional basketball player and Dutch international, now lecturer at the Amsterdam University of Applied Sciences and PhD candidate in talent development. As an ESPN basketball commentator, he brings academic insight and elite sport experience together to inspire the next generation.

Former Olympic hurdler and leading voice in sports innovation and performance culture. Gregory combines his elite athletic experience with deep expertise in talent development and mental resilience. As a presenter, coach, and advisor, he inspires organizations to unlock their potential through discipline, adaptability, and purpose — values at the heart of SportsInQ.

Professor of Finance and Director at Nyenrode Business University, renowned for his expertise in corporate and sport finance, governance, and strategic decision-making. He bridges academic insight with boardroom practice, helping leaders create sustainable value and performance in sport and business.

Professor of International Sport Business and Director at Victoria University, Melbourne. A global authority on sport leadership, innovation, and digital transformation in sport, he bridges research and practice to shape the future of high-performance management worldwide.

Rick Cost is one of Europe’s leading performance experts. Currently Head of Performance at Olympique Lyonnais, and formerly in charge of performance at both US Soccer and Feyenoord, he combines global expertise with a sharp, practical coaching style. As a core teacher in the Sports Leadership Programme, Rick translates elite performance principles into powerful lessons for leaders and teams. At SportsInQ he helps organisations understand what truly drives high performance — and how to apply it in their own environment.

Claudia Bokel is a leading voice for athlete representation and integrity in global sport. Her experience bridges elite performance, governance, and leadership on the world stage.

Myron Walraven is a renowned sport marketeer and innovator with experience at global brands such as Heineken, Red Bull, and Shimano. He combines creative brand thinking with a deep understanding of athlete storytelling and performance culture. As founder of ATLEAD and alumnus of the Sports Leadership Programme, Myron helps athletes and organizations connect purpose, identity, and impact — both on and off the field.

Programme lead at the Amsterdam University of Applied Sciences – Sport Studies, and co-founder of the Master in Sport Business & Leadership. A passionate advocate for cycling and active urban living, she connects sport, education, and city innovation to inspire healthier, more sustainable communities.