// Production site component — based on Direction 4 (Editorial + Warm content). // Renders as a normal full-page document (native scroll), no artboard chrome. function Site() { const [navSolid, setNavSolid] = React.useState(false); React.useEffect(() => { const onScroll = () => setNavSolid(window.scrollY > 20); window.addEventListener('scroll', onScroll); return () => window.removeEventListener('scroll', onScroll); }, []); const serif = "'Cormorant Garamond', 'EB Garamond', Georgia, serif"; const sans = "'Inter', -apple-system, system-ui, sans-serif"; return (
◆   Strategic & Executive Advisory

Senior counsel for the hard questions — delivered with clarity and calm.

Hi, I'm Kurt Gielen. For more than twenty years I've worked at the intersection of science, business, and strategy — from corporate leadership to building scale-ups. Northbound is where I now bring that experience to leaders navigating growth, transition, and complexity.

Founded by
Kurt Gielen
20+ years · Life sciences & biomedical
{[ ['Direction', 'Clarity of course. Informed choices. Not opinions dressed as strategy.'], ['Stability', 'Twenty years of senior experience across corporate, scale-up, and investor contexts.'], ['Momentum', 'Progress with control — decisions that compound, not headlines that fade.'], ].map(([t, b], i) => (
— {String.fromCharCode(73 + i)}
{t}
{b}
))}

What I do

Three practice areas where senior experience makes the difference — supporting leaders of small, mid-sized, and large companies on strategy, growth, and interim executive roles.

{SERVICES.map((s, i) => ( ))}

A career translating innovation into impact.

Background
{BIO_LONG.map((p, i) => (

{i === 0 && W} {i === 0 ? p.slice(1) : p}

))}
"What drives me is enabling teams and organisations to professionalise, scale, and ultimately deliver innovations that improve lives."
{STRENGTHS.map((s, i) => (
— Core strength
{s.label}
{s.detail}
))}
◆   Next steps

Start with a
conversation.

Thirty minutes, no obligation. We talk about where you are, what you're working on, and whether there's a fit.
Or reach out directly:
{CONTACT.email}
{CONTACT.phone}
Book an introductory call
); } function MergedPortrait() { return (
[ Portrait ]
Kurt Gielen
Drop in 4:5 portrait
Kurt Gielen Founder · Advisor
); } function MergedMeta({ k, v, sans, serif, last }) { return (
{k}
{v}
); } function FolioRule({ label, number }) { const serif = "'Cormorant Garamond', Georgia, serif"; const sans = "'Inter', sans-serif"; return (
{number}.
{label}
); } function ServiceRow({ s, serif, sans }) { const [hovered, setHovered] = React.useState(false); return (
setHovered(true)} onMouseLeave={() => setHovered(false)} style={{ display: 'grid', gridTemplateColumns: '80px 1fr 1.4fr 1fr', gap: 40, padding: '40px 0', borderBottom: '1px solid rgba(59,47,42,0.15)', alignItems: 'start', background: hovered ? 'rgba(176,138,74,0.04)' : 'transparent', transition: 'background 250ms ease', cursor: 'pointer', }} >
{s.num}
{s.title}
{s.blurb}
{s.lines.map((line, i) => (
— {line}
))}
); } const linkReset = { color: 'inherit', textDecoration: 'none', cursor: 'pointer' }; ReactDOM.createRoot(document.getElementById('root')).render();