CSUF Entrepreneurship is proud to announce that its newest board member is J. Alexander “Sander” Pruijs. Welcome aboard, Sander!
To get to know Mr. Pruijs better, please take a look at his impressive bio:
Sander Pruijs is a seasoned global financial services executive with operational and Board experience across the United States, South America, Europe, Asia-Pacific and Africa. A Dutch national and United States permanent resident, he has worked and lived in five countries across three continents during his banking career with two of the leading financial institutions in The Netherlands (ABN AMRO and Rabobank) and currently with Manufacturers Bank.
His track-record comprises of leading start-ups, turnarounds and growth initiatives in both mature and emerging markets. A few such examples include establishing a bank in Vietnam in the early 90s to transforming a bank in Poland and leading initiatives in Agricultural Finance in the United States, Australia, New Zealand and Brazil. Sander has also spearheaded the digitalization, disruption and transformation of traditional businesses with a focus on improving the customer journey as well as the employee experience and looked after Rabobank’s international on-line savings banks. Sander has overhauled and remediated major risk and regulatory infrastructures for complex businesses across the globe.
In the unique dual capacity of Executive-in-Charge and Chairman of the Board, Sander was responsible for the unwinding of multiple acquisitions of Rabobank’s international retail banking: including high-value-at-stake divestitures in Ireland, Poland, the United States (California) and Indonesia.
Sander has a passion for sustainability and innovation and is deeply invested in developing people and teams at different levels of an organization. He is a trusted coach and mentor and brings diversity of thought, experience, and perspective. In 2021, Sander launched his own venture Tulip Bay Advisory, working with individual leaders and teams, in his role as advisor, coach and connector.
Sander served as an advisor to ClimateAI, Future Acres, Graze and Claims Corporation Network, four startups with a focus on innovation, sustainability, and technology. He currently serves as Chairman of the Board and a member of the Audit Committee for KickStart International, a non-profit Social Enterprise focused on lifting millions of African farmers out of poverty by helping them establish profitable businesses.
Sander received his Law Degree from Leiden University in The Netherlands and is a graduate of Harvard Business School’s Advanced Management Program. He is an avid sports fan, which are an inspiration for his leadership style and “taking things through, rather than to, the finish line” personally and professionally.
Sander lives in Los Angeles with his wife Mollie and has three adult sons.