The Heels Forward Podcast powered by Montea - Episode 10

On leadership, well-being, and why equity makes societies stronger 

In this new episode of The Heels Forward Podcast powered by Montea, host Francesca Vanthielen speaks with Petra De Sutter — newly elected rector of Ghent University and former Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Civil Service and Public Enterprises — about leading complex organizations, protecting well-being, and the role of equity in a productive society. 

From national politics to the ​“cockpit” of a university 

After five intense years in federal government, Petra chose a new mandate: rector of Ghent University. She describes the step as a shift in working style — representing an entire academic community and ​“capturing what lives there” — but sees clear continuity in the core skills required: people management, negotiation, and clear communication. Leadership, she argues, isn’t about being the deepest expert; it’s about steering the boat, creating enthusiasm, and keeping a diverse group aligned on direction. 

Her mandate is finite — four years — so she brings a strong sense of urgency: set the train on the right track, get key initiatives moving early, and build momentum that lasts beyond a first term. 

The agenda: education, research… and safety 

Petra starts at the core of a university — education, research, and social service — while naming the enabling conditions to make excellence possible: well-being and safety for staff and students. She’s candid about today’s challenges: drop-out, burnout, and a persistent problem of inappropriate behavior across the sector. Priorities include: 

• Making the campus a safe environment with clear expectations of respectful behavior. 
• Training managers to recognize and address inappropriate conduct. 
• Robust procedures for reporting and handling complaints, with legal and psychosocial support for those who come forward. 

Equity vs. equality: why representation at the top matters 

Petra is direct about the need for gender balance where decisions are made. She explains how the ​“core cabinet” — the daily decision-making group in government — shapes outcomes long before formal ratification. When women aren’t at that table, systems miss perspectives that influence both what gets decided and how decisions are made. 

Her broader view: equality opens the door; equity helps people seize the opportunity. Sometimes that means encouraging competent women to step forward, countering the self-doubt that holds many back. For Petra, diverse leadership improves the style and substance of decisions — and, as research shows, contributes to productivity. 

A worldview anchored in solidarity — and science 

Asked about social hardening and realpolitik, Petra returns to first principles: solidarity, equal opportunity, and climate responsibility. Short-term trade-offs may feel costly, she says, but the long-term costs of inaction are higher. 

On the public debate around gender and identity, she emphasizes evidence: scientific and clinical knowledge show that gender adds a dimension beyond biological sex. Legislation has advanced, but ​“minds and hearts” don’t always follow — another reason to keep speaking up, without letting things become overly personal. 

Ethics at the frontier of medicine 

Drawing on her background in gynecology and reproductive medicine, Petra outlines how quickly the field evolves — from preimplantation diagnostics to CRISPR, and even speculative scenarios like solo reproduction. She doesn’t claim all the answers; instead, she calls for societal debate on where to draw red lines, much as was done with reproductive cloning.