KDVI Limited – Code of Conduct

KDVI Limited (KDVI) sets out in this document the basic principles of the expectations and requirements which must be met by KDVI, its employees, associates, affiliates, contractors, sub-contractors and suppliers.

1. What we are committed to

  • We will be reliable.
  • We conduct our business with fairness and consistency.
  • We select our business partners based on the merits of their products, services and business practices. Decisions may be based on a competitive process and, where applicable, any evaluations will be based on defined objective criteria.
  • We respect clear and mutually agreed commercial terms.
  • We respect different cultures.
  • We do not discriminate.
  • We respect human rights.
  • We embrace our responsibility towards the environment.
  • We monitor compliance with this Code of Conduct.
  • We will terminate a business relationship if violations of the law or basic international principles related to labour standards, environmental protection or ethical business practice and this Code of Conduct become apparent.

2. When we work with clients

  • We follow our engagements with integrity, honesty and professionalism, and uphold the reputation of KDVI and the profession.
  • We are committed to the highest quality standards of professional behaviour and take full responsibility for the management and execution of our engagements in the best interests of the client.
  • We only accept assignments for which we possess the necessary experience and competence in order to create value for the client and KDVI.
  • We take a critical look at our own behaviour and continually develop and maintain our professional knowledge and competence. We take regular professional supervision and maintain a record of this.
  • We follow the relevant professional, ethical and behavioural guidelines (e.g. ICF ethical guidelines – coachfederation.org), and ensure that the relevant professional insurance is in place and current.

3. When we work with suppliers

Both the supplier and KDVI shall –

  • Comply fully with all national laws and regulations applicable in the country where the Supplier has its headquarters.
  • Commit itself to countering bribery and corruption.
  • Respect fundamental human rights and treat the workforce fairly and with respect.
  • Fundamental human rights are respected in the pursuit of the business activities.
  • There is no form of discrimination in the workplace.
  • Payment is to be made regularly and in a timely manner and is properly documented.
  • Organisations within the supply chain are to provide safe and healthy working conditions for all workers in accordance with applicable law and other relevant industry standards.
  • Work to reduce the environmental impact of operations.
  • Ensure that the Supplier’s employees, contractors and sub-contractors follow this Code of Conduct.

4. When we work with each other

  • In dealing with each other, we demonstrate respect and fairness. We support each other professionally and personally, and create a collaborative environment.
  • We make the best possible use of the KDVI’s knowledge and its people. Asking our colleagues for help and offering help to our colleagues is part of our habitual behaviour.
  • When we undertake business development activities, we ensure that everyone concerned receives his or her fair share within the system provided by KDVI. We actively address potential conflicts.
  • We are loyal to KDVI.
  • We respect the business connections as well as the knowledge of KDVI and will make use of it in the framework of our business model only. We actively address potential conflicts.
  • We maintain transparency regarding affiliations we have/have had with other leadership organisations and define clear boundaries in order to protect our loyalty to KDVI.
  • We are sensitive to potential conflicts of interest that we or our colleagues might get into. If there is a risk that these will arise, we discuss the issue openly with all parties concerned.

Margot Schumacher:

Senior Associate at KDVI, Adjunct Professor of Leadership Development at TIAS Business School, and executive coach at INSEAD. Margot has coached senior leaders across global organisations following senior roles at Unilever and Kraft Heinz. Since 2010, she has advised multinationals on leadership and organisational development, with a focus on enhancing effectiveness at the top team and board levels. She also serves on the Supervisory Board of Thales Netherlands. Her global perspective is shaped by living and working in Shanghai, Pittsburgh, and London before returning to the Netherlands

Oriane Kets de Vries:

Oriane Kets de Vries is CEO and owner of the Kets de Vries Institute. She leads a global team of coaches, consultants and educators dedicated to developing reflective, emotionally intelligent leaders and cultivating workplaces where people can thrive. In her faculty role, she draws on extensive experience designing and directing leadership programmes for senior executives, contributing her expertise in psychodynamic coaching, organisational culture, and transformational leadership development.

Oriane has served as consultant, coach, and programme director for clients including Pictet, Deutsche Bank, Merck, UBS, Mishcon de Reya, and Engie, and she has taught on open-enrolment programmes with leading institutions such as Cambridge Judge Business School, Oxford Saïd, INSEAD, ESCP, ESMT and CEDEP. Her interests centre on the human side of leadership, particularly identity, creativity, entrepreneurship and gender dynamics. She holds an MBA and Executive MA in Coaching and Consulting for Change from INSEAD, has trained at the Harvard Kennedy School, and brings more than a decade of professional experience in creative and entrepreneurial industries into her work with leaders.

Manfred Kets de Vries:

Manfred Kets de Vries is a pioneering authority in leadership development, coaching, and organisational change. He is a founder and director of the Kets de Vries Institute (KDVI) and served as Distinguished Clinical Professor of Leadership Development and Organisational Change at INSEAD. With academic credentials in economics (University of Amsterdam), management (MBA and DBA, Harvard Business School), and psychoanalysis (trained in Canada), he brings a uniquely interdisciplinary perspective to leadership. His work bridges management theory and clinical insight, establishing him as a global thought leader in executive coaching and transformation. At INSEAD, he founded the Global Leadership Centre and led the flagship programme The Challenge of Leadership for 31 years. He also served as scientific director of Coaching and Consulting for Change, an 18-month Executive Master’s programme that has shaped over 3,000 senior leaders and executive coaches worldwide. He has advised and coached senior executives at global firms including Goldman Sachs, BP, Shell, Unilever, McKinsey, and Volvo. A prolific author of over 60 books and 400 articles, his work appears regularly in The Financial Times, The Economist, and Harvard Business Review. Recognised by Le Capital, Wirtschaftswoche, and The Financial Times as one of the world’s top 50 management thinkers, he is widely regarded for advancing more human-centred approaches to leadership.

Yulia Chupina:

Senior Adviser (Luminary) at Accenture and executive coach with over 12 years of board experience. Formerly a banker and McKinsey consultant, Yulia has led banking transformations in digital, agile, organisational change, and talent development. Her coaching spans the finance, tech, and consumer goods sectors, blending technological insight with emotional intelligence to guide leaders through transformation. Recently, she advised BBVA on agile methodologies and senior talent development. Influenced by thought leaders such as Manfred Kets de Vries and Gabor Maté, Yulia brings an analytical, reflective approach to leadership. She has lived and worked across the UK, Spain, the US, and Russia.

Elizabeth Florent:

Elizabeth has worked closely with Manfred Kets de Vries for many years and has served as a Senior Lecturer and Research Fellow at INSEAD. Her extensive background in leadership development spans organisational consulting, executive coaching, and academic research. She holds advanced degrees in Organisational Development and Clinical Organisational Psychology and is a certified Coaching Supervisor through the Tavistock Institute. Her doctoral research explored experiential domains in executive education, and she has authored or co-authored numerous academic articles, case studies, and books on leadership and organisational dynamics. Elizabeth led the development teams behind KDVI’s diagnostic instruments, including the GELM, OCA™, and ITI. Drawing on her diverse training and global experience, she brings deep cross-cultural insight to her work with leaders worldwide. Originally from California, Elizabeth has made France her home for over 30 years.