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What do sustainable change and a summer bike trip have in common?
Just back from a long bike trip, I noted many similarities between that trip and sustainable change projects. This post outlines how common goals, planning, building on what’s there, engagement, momentum, and priority setting all contribute.
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8 things to be grateful for as a board member
Wrapping up my role as chair of the Circle for Sustainability within Nyenrode Alumni VCV is a great moment to reflect. To capture why I enjoyed serving in this volunteer role for nearly 12 years. This goes way beyond the idea of “Giving back” to the alumni community that continues to enrich my life. Here’s…
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Transition: highly systemic and deeply personal
This post on transitions is based on a Dutch article posted on the Change Inc. platform and a lively conversation between Nicolas Chevrollier and Marjolein Baghuis. From the energy transition to the protein transition, we are in the middle of the shift toward a more sustainable world. This calls for a new type of leadership,…
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Giving back vs paying it forward
Early May 2024, I addressed my class at our Northwestern University – Kellogg School of Management reunion. On a panel about the road less traveled by MBAs, focused on my role as a lecturer at UPEACE and Nyenrode Business University. I was honored to be on stage with impressive gentlemen: Milton Liu who leads the…
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Flashing forward with non-executives in a historic place
In May 2024, I had the honor of addressing a group of non-executive directors on how they could integrate sustainability into their supervisory role. Instead of a one-way presentation, we had an inspiring dialogue about the future in a place that breathes the past (Koninklijke Industrieele Groote Club). Here are the key highlights of our…
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How to be a non-executive driver for sustainability
Whether driven by intrinsic motivation or extrinsic drivers like client demands and legislation, sustainability is here to stay for companies. Non-executive directors can play a big role in accelerating the integration of sustainability into corporate strategy and beyond. On October 12, 2023, the Advisory Board Circle convened over female leaders to discuss integrating sustainability into…
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Talent, transition, and time to think big in retail
Everything we buy has an impact on the planet, on society. Perhaps you already eat as much organic food as you can find and only use renewable energy sources to heat and light your house. For other categories – such as fashion, lifestyle and beauty – it is more challenging to find sustainable, circular options…
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The art of exiting a reality
The arts possess immense potential as agents of change, capable of challenging people’s assumptions and worldviews. Artists can use the power of imagination to help us envision a future we want. Some art can even catalyze the behavioral changes needed to build that better future. It helps us let go of our egos and privileges,…
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Key skills for sustainability
Whether you want to become a sustainability manager or contribute to a sustainable future in another role, there are key skills you need to master at three different levels. Ethical leadership The individual level is the starting point. You must understand your own values and motivations to contribute to a better world. This self-awareness helps…
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The discomfort of directors’ responsibility
A group of 38 Dutch executive and non-executive directors spent nearly two years working together on sustainability in the boardroom. In the program, they identified good practices, virtues, and capabilities required for effective leadership in societal transitions. The outcomes of this program – aptly called “Discomfort in the boardroom” – were presented at an event…
