Start a Food Story

Food Innovation
leadership

Strategic leadership, direction and team development to turn ideas into real impact.

Innovation Leadership - Mary van Hoek-Hendriks

Innovation Trajectories

Lead complex innovation trajectories from start to execution

Strategic Guidance

Provide strategic guidance and decision-making support

Empower Innovation Teams

Train and empower teams for high performance innovation

PROVEN RESULTS ACROSS the food industry

Groente & Fruitbrigade - Ad Hoogsteger

Fruit & Veggie Brigade for Food Banks

Challenge: Increase healthy food access for food banks
Role: Lead strategy, communication, partnerships and execution
Result: Scalable model now used to provice 180+ food banks

HAS Food Experience - Miranda Jonkers

HAS Food Experience

Challenge: Create a cohesive platform connecting students and food innovations to industry
Role: Led strategy, orchestrated complex internal and external partnerships and drove execution
Result: Scalable platform engaging eduction, food businesses and start-up programs

Mary van Hoek-Hendriks - Pijke Driessen

Lotus Bakeries / Kon. Peijnenburg

Challenge: Build a high-performing product innovation pipeline 
Role: Defined the strategy, led execution and coached teams
Result: Established a fully operational innovation pipeline, enabling faster launches and improved ROI

Mary van Hoek-Hendriks - Pijke Driessen

Team development

High-performing teams are the backbone of successful innovation.

What I offer

  • Masterclasses and workshops for senior teams
  • Tailored coaching trajectories for innovation leadership
  • Building internal capability to sustain innovation

Ready to take your innovation to the next level?

Why Innovation leadership?

Organisations often struggle to turn ideas into action. I provide the strategic leadership, decision-making, and team empowerment to accelerate innovation and create real impact.

Discover the proven Food Innovation journey in my book, Mastering Food Innovation. Learn how to turn ideas into impactful products and lasting business results.

From Ideas to Action

Organisations often generate brilliant ideas, but translating them into tangible results can be challenging. I provide the strategic leadership and framework needed to move ideas swiftly from concept to execution. This is the approach explored in my book Mastering Food Innovation, showing how structured guidance accelerates impact.

Empowered Teams

Innovation doesn’t happen alone. I work with teams to build capability, confidence, and ownership, enabling them to lead initiatives internally. Empowered teams sustain innovation long after external support ends.

Strategic Decision-Making

Clear direction and strong decision-making processes are essential for innovation success. By aligning priorities across teams and stakeholders, I help organisations make faster, smarter choices that drive measurable outcomes.

Real Business Impact

The ultimate goal is results that matter: faster launches, better ROI and innovation that aligns with business goals. The structured approach of the Food Innovation Journey ensures your initiatives don’t just exist, they create tangible, scalable impact.

Innovation Leadership - Mary van Hoek-Hendriks