IMAGINE Leaders – Caroline Slootweg

Caroline Slootweg

Kelp Blue Biotech, Co-founder & CEO

I didn’t think I would be working in seaweed 4 years ago, but looking back on my life and career it makes all the sense in the world. I’ve always been a pioneer and a connector of people who literally and figuratively speak different languages. I’m happiest outdoors and firmly believe business can and must be a force for good.

My life before seaweed saw me in roles at WPP & Unilever in marketing and agricultural technology. My career brought me to New York, London, Bangkok, Singapore and Amsterdam. My Dutch-American background means I’m action oriented and communicate clearly, but my time in Asia helped ‘soften the edge’. What I find most rewarding is helping the teams I work with realise their potential, helping people move outside of the comfort zones and showing the world what can be done by working at speed, but with precision & clarity.

Outside the office, I’ve sailed half-way around the world in the Clipper Round the World yacht race, I’m a keen forager, mountain hiker and cook. I’m also Board Chair of the Kelp Forest Foundation, a not-for-profit focused on advancing the knowledge and research of all things related to kelp ecosystems.

I'm interested in a future Oxford Experience