Meet Lies Oudemans – Director of VanEck Direct

At Equals, we believe in the power of sharing stories, learning from each other, and empowering women to take the leap into entrepreneurship and leadership. This week, we’re thrilled to highlight Lies Oudemans, the Director of VanEck Direct, a game-changing investment platform designed for the ‘non-investing investor.’

Revolutionizing the World of Investment: What is VanEck Direct?

Lies is the force behind VanEck Direct, a platform that’s making investing more accessible to those who want to make their savings work harder without diving into complex strategies. The platform offers passive investment “baskets” known as ETFs (exchange-traded funds), allowing users to invest without needing to manage the process themselves. After three years of dedication, Lies and her talented team launched the platform in November of this year, aiming to simplify investing for everyone, especially those who’ve never considered it before.

A Legacy of Financial Wisdom: Inspiration from Her Father

Lies’s inspiration comes from someone very close to her—her father. “My father has been a huge inspiration in my life. He always treated me the same as my two brothers and taught me from an early age that girls can be just as good with numbers and money as boys,” she shares. Her father’s lessons on money management and investing were passed down to her from a very young age. In fact, he began investing on her behalf when she was just a baby. “What he started, I’ve continued. I’ve been investing for over 34 years now,” Lies says. It’s this early start that laid the foundation for her passion to empower others to grow their wealth through the easy-to-use VanEck Direct platform.

“What my father started, I’ve continued. I’ve been investing for over 34 years now. Watching how time works its magic on money has been incredible, and it inspired me to help others grow their wealth.”

Rising Above Challenges: Balancing Career and Motherhood

Like many women in leadership roles, Lies has faced challenges along her journey. The past year has been particularly difficult as she navigated the challenges of motherhood while balancing a high-demand career. “Becoming a mother and learning to balance that new role with returning to work has been challenging. Lack of sleep and moments of self-doubt made me feel less confident than I’m used to,” Lies admits.

However, she credits her resilience to showing herself compassion and understanding. “The key has been to show myself—and others—compassion,” she says. Her experience has given her a newfound respect for women who manage to juggle both career and motherhood, and she’s passionate about supporting women in their professional journeys.

Words of Wisdom: Lies’ Golden Career Tip

When asked about her golden career tip, Lies didn’t hesitate:

“Find what truly excites you! If you’re not genuinely passionate about what you do, it will be hard to stay motivated and committed for the long haul.”

For Lies, her work with VanEck Direct aligns perfectly with her values, and that passion has driven her success.

Empowering the Masses: Lies’ Ultimate Career Dream

Lies’s dream is simple but powerful: to make investing accessible to everyone, particularly those who stand to benefit the most. “I want to empower people to take control of their financial future, regardless of their background or experience with investing,” she says. Through VanEck Direct, she aims to break down barriers and encourage more individuals to start investing today for a better tomorrow.

Want to read more about inspiring women in business? Check out our other Founder of the Week blogs and get inspired to take that next step in your entrepreneurial journey!