After studying Business Economics (Erasmus University Rotterdam), Monique van den Hoed MSc worked from 1991 in various strategic and managerial positions within profit and non-profit organizations. Her career is characterized by a strong focus on innovation and community involvement. As director of the Southwest Netherlands Chamber of Commerce, she made the transition to the healthcare sector (disability care, hospital care and long-term care) in 2014 and built a broad expertise in program management, strategic thinking and leadership. An MBA in Imagineering at Breda University of Applied Sciences (2019) increased her knowledge in the field of social innovation. Monique is also an experienced supervisor in healthcare, education and culture.

In 2021, she started a full-time PhD program at Maastricht University, at the Living Lab in Ageing and Long-Term. Her research focuses on innovation readiness in long-term care. She investigates factors that support care organizations in getting better at innovating. Monique published on the innovation readiness of care organizations and together with her PhD team developed the Maastricht Innovation Readiness Approach (MIRA©) a methodology that supports organizations in professional innovation. Her research provides practical solutions and insights for the challenges in the healthcare sector. One day a week Monique is active as innovation program manager at Watsnjoe, a partnership of three long-term care organizations aimed at stimulating and coordinating care innovations in Brabant, the Netherlands. In the summer of 2025, Monique will complete her PhD program and remain active as a researcher at Maastricht University to further shape the research line Innovation Readiness.