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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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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…
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Al Gore’s call: be inconvenient to drive positive change
Just over 10 years after the award-winning documentary film An Inconvenient Truth, Al Gore is back with a new film. I am very grateful that Triodos bank invited me to the screening of Al Gore’s new documentary film, An Inconvenient Sequel: Truth to Power. Welcome to the Al Gore show I much enjoyed watching the…
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Empowering talent to tackle humanity’s challenges
Meet Annick Schmeddes, the founder of Sustainable Talent, the leading sustainable career agency in the Netherlands. Early 2016, she led a workshop for Nyenrode alumni and we’ve kept in touch since. As talent increasingly includes sustainability performance as a factor in deciding where they want to work, it was high time for an interview about her drivers…
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Why change is all about curves, choices and chaos
Meet Rob Wetzels, an inspiring and highly dedicated coach, teacher, and expert on sustainable development. Rob and I met on the day he retired from Nyenrode’s Center for Sustainability. It was odd that we’d not before, but since then, we – unsurprisingly- keep running into each other at events related to sustainable business. I interviewed him…
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Inspiring action before the flood
Watching movies or documentaries about sustainability by yourself can be quite daunting or even depressing. Nyenrode’s Alumni Circle for Sustainability organizes events in the Netherlands to bring people together to share insights and discuss sustainability topics. So on March 21, 2017, a diverse crowd of students, alumni, as well as other sustainability enthusiasts and professionals watched…
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Navigating the sustainability manager’s roles
In November 2016, I attended the book launch for “MVO doe je zo”“, which roughly translates into “How to get far with CSR” in English. It is written by Carola Wijdoogen, Director of Sustainable Business at the Dutch Railways. After years of roles in procurement and innovation, she was asked to create this new role.…
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Reinventing organizations for purpose
Early July, I had the opportunity to be part of a group of trainers for a full day workshop at Nyenrode Business University. The focus of the day was on so-called teal organizations and new ways of working, inspired by the book “Reinventing Organizations” by Frederic Laloux. The focus of my contribution to the workshop…
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Key steps to integrate sustainability into your career
Looking for top tips on how to make your next career move more sustainable? Here are the key pointers from a workshop I organized at Nyenrode University. The workshop was expertly led by Annick Schmeddes, founder of sustainable career agency Sustainable Talent. Create you own role Research shows that less than 2% of vacancies have a link to sustainability,…
