As the proud first title sponsor of Team Visma | Lease a Bike, we’re dedicated to supporting the team in the best way we know: empowering their excellence with mission-critical business software. Providing them with software for accounting and financial processes, data analysis, HR operations, and contract signing – not to mention our AI solution for nutrition prediction, ensuring the riders get properly fuelled to perform their best – we help the team stay on top of their game at all times.
→ Explore how Visma | Lease a Bike is breaking the barriers for women in cycling
Women in tech meet the women of Team Visma | Lease a Bike
Professional cycling, much like the tech industry, has historically been dominated by men – leaving women to tackle bigger hurdles on their road to becoming champions. Because of this, we decided to gather a group of 40 passionate women accountants and leaders to celebrate the start of the Tour de France Femmes in Rotterdam. We were in for an enriching networking experience filled with connection, inspiration, and team spirit while cheering on the women of Team Visma | Lease a Bike.
By highlighting the parallels between the resilience needed in both professional cycling and leadership, we wanted to encourage the women to push boundaries and challenge the status quo in their industry.
Milan Vaassen, PR, Brand & Sponsorship Manager at Visma Benelux
The event kicked off the evening prior to race day with an intimate dinner, creating a space for everyone to connect and share their experiences as women in the world of accounting. Ellen Sano, Managing Director at Visma company Yuki, and Lisa Miles-Heal, CEO at Visma company Silverfin, gave motivational speeches to set the tone of what was to come. They were in good company by a representative from Team Visma | Lease a Bike and the event organiser from Visma, Milan Vaassen, as well.
“One of our guests, a young partner who had recently taken on a leadership role, shared her experience of navigating the transition with a mix of excitement and self-doubt. Instead of merely offering polite nods, the more seasoned leaders in the group rallied around her, sharing candid advice, offering to be sounding boards, and even exchanging contact details for future mentoring”, shares Milan.
“This spontaneous show of solidarity – women from different firms, regions, and backgrounds coming together to lift up a colleague – was a powerful reminder of the strength in the community. It felt like an impromptu support network was being formed right before our eyes, highlighting the genuine care and willingness to invest in each other’s growth.”
The next day marked the main event: the start of the Tour de France Femmes. In between venue changes we got to cheer on the women of Team Visma | Lease a Bike from the sidelines. Watching the race up close – including behind-the-scenes preparations and teamwork – is a once-in-a-lifetime experience for many, offering a powerful sense of unity and team spirit. The time we all spent together in Rotterdam sparked meaningful reflections on the resilience, determination, and passion that fuel women, both on and off the race track.
Watch a recap of the eventful days we spent in Rotterdam here: