Linda Van Niekerk Strydom
About Linda Van Niekerk Strydom
Linda Van Niekerk Strydom is a Human Resources Manager at Viking, with over 20 years of experience in the cruise and hospitality industry.
Current Title
Linda Van Niekerk Strydom is currently serving as the Human Resources Manager at Viking, where she operates remotely in the United States. In this role, she is responsible for providing shipboard leadership with direction on all employee-related issues.
Previous Positions
Linda Van Niekerk Strydom has a robust career history in human resources, particularly within the cruise industry. She previously worked at Celebrity Cruises, Inc. from 2022 to 2023 as both Human Resources Manager and Human Resources Director. She has also held positions at Silversea Cruises, Princess Cruises, Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings Ltd., and Regent Seven Seas Cruises, where she accumulated extensive experience in managing HR functions on board.
Education and Qualifications
Linda holds a Bachelor of Arts (B.A.) in Psychology from Nelson Mandela University. Additionally, she completed her high school education at Cillie High School, where she studied subjects including Economics, Geography, English, and Afrikaans, achieving her Grade 12 (Matric) between 1983 and 1987.
Human Resources Expertise
With over 20 years of experience in the Cruise and Hospitality Industry, Linda specializes in compliance and auditing, specifically with MLC and ILO standards. She is knowledgeable in ITF, CBA, POEA, and Nautilus contracts and acts as the vessels' ethics officer, handling progressive discipline and conflict resolution. Her comprehensive understanding of shipboard HR includes employee relations, performance management, organizational development, and more.
Strategic Business Partnerships
Linda has demonstrated expertise in forming strategic shipboard business partnerships. Throughout her career, she has played a crucial role in aligning HR strategies with broader business goals, focusing on learning & development, recruitment, promotions, succession planning, and employee orientation to ensure optimal operational efficiency aboard the vessels she has managed.