When you meet members of the AspenTech Women’s Leadership Forum (WLF), you’ll find a group of motivated and dedicated individuals who are willing to prioritize being change-makers in our organization as we navigate the sometimes-bumpy waters of diversity and inclusion.

As heads of the WLF Europe chapter, we are proud to be part of this esteemed organization that was initially formed in 2015 after two female employees reached out to HR for support. The original team had five members, all located at the company’s headquarters in Bedford. Today, the WLF has seven chapters on five continents and it’s one of six global Employee Resource Groups (ERGs) at AspenTech. The organization continues to play a crucial role in fostering gender diversity, equity and inclusive leadership, broadly impacting individual women's careers and society as a whole.

The WLF provides a supportive and empowering environment for women, men and nonbinary employees to come together, share experiences and gain confidence in their leadership abilities. For example, activities such as our recent Leadership Communication Workshop and Connect & Engage events equip all employees with vital skills, fostering collaboration and growth throughout the organization.

As we kick off 2025, we are delighted to introduce the Regional Sponsor for the WLF’s Europe chapter, Mark Gaalswyk, Vice President of Professional Services for EMEA and APAC. Mark leads a globally dispersed team across seven countries, focusing on financial stability, operational excellence and organizational transformation. He brings a wealth of knowledge to AspenTech and a strong commitment to advocating for WLF Europe and the global team with company executives and across the entire organization.

“I’m honored to support the WLF and its mission of fostering inclusion, empowerment and professional growth for women in the company,” Mark says. “I believe that companies can empower women by creating opportunities for advancement, providing mentorship and building inclusive leadership programs. Through initiatives like WLF, we aim to inspire and develop women leaders at AspenTech.”

“As a Regional Sponsor, I see the WLF as an important platform to amplify diverse voices and drive meaningful change,” adds Mark. “Supporting this group is about shaping an inclusive culture where everyone can thrive and feel welcome. The WLF vision resonates with my values as a 'people first' leader—empowering individuals, fostering innovation and championing a workplace where leadership is a focus.”

Since its inception, the WLF has delivered networking opportunities, workshops, training and skills development sessions and much more—and 2025 will be no different. "This is a strong group made up of well-intentioned individuals who are genuinely committed to dedicating their time and energy to this effort,” Mark says. “Our ambitions are high, and I believe we have a significant opportunity to make meaningful progress."

“We’re taking actionable steps to highlight diverse role models, share our inclusive culture and connect with female engineers and leaders in the field,” explains Mark. “From social media to direct collaborations, we’re committed to showcasing why AspenTech is a great place to grow. I’m looking forward to what’s ahead and welcome ideas on how we can continue to accelerate action in 2025 and beyond.”

For more information about the WLF and other ERGs at AspenTech, visit our career page today.