< back Wine with a story tastes better Navigating the Red Ocean: Lessons from 14 Years in Wine Entrepreneurship More detailed information Experience the richness of a story-infused wine as Kathleen shares her entrepreneurial journey in the red ocean of the wine industry, in search of blue lagoons. Drawing from 14 years of experience, she imparts invaluable lessons applicable to entrepreneurs across various industries. Join Kathleen as she explores the realms of strategy, marketing, HR, and more—a journey crafted by an entrepreneur for entrepreneurs. Discover how the tales of wine entrepreneurship can inspire and inform your own ventures. Cheers to business with a story Request a quote Submit About Kathleen is an entrepreneur in the wine and tourism industry since 2010, as well as an investor in business ventures. Prior to that, she worked as a construction engineer and later as a strategy consultant for 10 years, providing her with diverse roles and experiences within companies across various countries. Alongside her professional endeavors, Kathleen is a devoted wife and mother, successfully balancing her personal and career goals while nurturing her wonderful family. This broad range of roles and experiences has equipped Kathleen with great comfort in addressing diverse audiences, allowing her to easily relate and adapt to different contexts. She possesses a deep passion for continuous learning and personal growth, as well as a genuine desire to assist others through sharing lessons learned, offering advice, and providing inspiration. Furthermore, Kathleen's love for good wines and enjoyable moments further enhances her ability to connect with people. Kathleen's expertise extends to transforming two wine estates into high-end wine production and tourism ventures, providing her with extensive knowledge of the wine industry. This enables her to host engaging wine tastings on various topics, whether for leisure or educational purposes. Additionally, Kathleen is capable of organizing official wine courses, offering valuable opportunities for individuals seeking to expand their wine knowledge. Kathleen Van den Berghe Passionate entrepreneur in the wine and tourism industry

< back Industry 4.0. as an answer for the customer’s expectations in 2025 ​ More detailed information ACT 1: The changing customer landscape The last best experience your customers had anywhere, becomes their expectation everywhere. As a result, B2B and B2C buyers are becoming ever more demanding about the type of customer service and experience they receive. Already at the start of 2020, three trends were clear, which have only been accelerated by the recent Covid-developments: Know me and what I want: in which companies aren’t just expected to know and predict the individual customer’ s needs, but to address them before they even emerge; Treat me like a human being: in which customers embrace any technology that makes their life easier, but only if it happens naturally/invisibly and doesn’t go at the expense of a human touch; Immerse me: in which customers become ever more selective about the way they spend their time, and will only do so if they feel immersed in a vendor’s retail stores, showroom, offices or digital experience. ACT 2: This is too much to handle Making this transition with a traditional (industry 3.0) mindset is not going to happen. The datasets are too large, sensing is insufficient and the technology just falls short. So to stay up to date with changing customer demand, companies need to level up (to Industry 4.0). ACT 3; Action plan So what should you do? As a business: Build your industry 4.0 capabilities. How do those trends manifest themselves among your customers, and assess the readiness of your business to deal with them. Then improve. As teams: Boldly experiment. Build extreme technology concept experiences and set up red teams to challenge your business to reinvent itself around tomorrow’s customer needs As individuals: Educate yourself by buying and trying different technologies in different environments. You don’t really know how something can work until you’ve tried it. So experiment, fail, learn and get smarter. Request a quote Submit About Alain Thys is a renowned customer-centricity veteran with over 30 years of experience helping large, complex organizations differentiate and thrive. His no-nonsense approach to customer-centricity has enriched the lives of over half a billion customers and 350,000 employees across 100+ countries, creating hundreds of millions in value, and even more smiles. As a hands-on advisor to international leadership teams, Alain’s keynotes and workshops offer bespoke insights and practical strategies that inspire, challenge, and deliver actionable results. His expertise in areas such as customer experience, differentiation, and competitive markets has made him a valued sparring partner for businesses seeking a unique edge in today's crowded marketplace. Get in touch with us to discuss how Alain can inspire and challenge your leadership team to build an edge in a crowded marketplace. Alain Thys Unlock the secrets to profit and differentiation with one of Europe’s top customer-centricity veterans

< back Meet the leader: Parc Solvay La Hulpe What can leaders today learn from past predecessors? More detailed information Ernest Solvay has been one of our greatest entrepreneurs and was a trailblazer as a leader. We discover the magnificent Solvay family estate in La Hulpe and a stretch of the Sonian Forest. The tour also covers the Solvay empire, how the neighbor made his fortune, the biggest real estate operation ever carried out in Belgium, the survival of the fittest under trees, freemasonry and other networks, Steve Jobs' Apple, etc. Practical: distance 8 km, duration 2h45 (possibility to adapt duration and distance) Request a quote Submit About To book Jan as a speaker is offering your team a cheerful moment in nature, incredible stories and time for each other. On his beautiful walks through the Sonian Forest, castle domains and Brussels, he gives his audience a relaxing and enjoyable moment while inspiring with his compelling stories. Jan is a master storyteller who takes you to different worlds, alternating stories about nature (from the baby skin of the beech to the crazy ant) with life stories (from entrepreneurs to painters and horse jockeys) and striking facts about the places we pass. Jan invites you to stand back in the world with wonder and to look at it. His strength is to connect people and tailor his stories to the participants – whether they are managers, HR or construction workers. Jan’s track record is rich. He started his career as the right-hand man of a party chairman, he then was a journalist for many years for newspapers such as De Tijd, De Standaard and television (Panorama - VRT), where he won the Dexia Press Prize for the best journalistic work. In 2011, he became an entrepreneur and founded the speaker agency Read My Lips. In 2019, he sold Read My Lips and after a sabbatical he started offering his walking keynotes in 2021. Jan Puype Entrepreneur and not a typical keynote speaker. He takes you on a walk and tells inspiring stories about people and nature.

< back AI Lives? Navigating the Realities of Artificial Intelligence More detailed information ChatGPT is the buzzword of the past year. Suddenly everyone mentions and everything uses ChatGPT (or so they say). But there is much more to say about AI (Artificial Intelligence). What are the advantages of AI? Are there any disadvantages? Artificial intelligence is maybe offering hackers new sophisticated ways to intrude your systems. However It also allows cybersecurity software to detect suspicious behaviour much sooner. Has cybersecurity entered into a new league with AI? Even more questions will pop up and answered: Will AI fail in ways we do not understand? Will AI models set their own goals? Will AI be able to build better AI models, that people no longer control? What will be more evil: malicious AI or people using AI in an criminal way? What is the greatest threat for AI? And what about your job? 4 decades of security, IT and AI experience bundled in a pragmatic and passionate view about the real dangers and advantages of AI. Request a quote Submit About Eddy Willems is a globally recognized cybersecurity expert from Belgium. He serves as a board member for three prominent security industry organizations: EICAR, AVAR, and LSEC. Additionally, he holds the positions of Resident Security Evangelist and Global Security Officer at G DATA Cyberdefense. Eddy's involvement in the cybersecurity field dates back to 1991 when he became a founding member of EICAR, one of the world’s earliest security IT organizations. Throughout his career, he has held numerous additional roles within various security industry organizations. His expertise is regularly sought after by several CERTs, press agencies, print and online publications, as well as broadcasting media, including CNN. In October 2013, Eddy published his debut book, 'Cybergevaar,' in Belgium and the Netherlands under Lannoo. This was followed by a German translation and an updated English version titled 'Cyberdanger,' published by Springer in 2019. He is also a co-author of the Dutch science fiction cyberthriller ‘Het Virus,’ released in 2020. Eddy is renowned for his engaging speaking style and regularly delivers lectures and presentations worldwide, catering to audiences ranging from children to cybersecurity experts. He has spoken at prestigious events such as TEDx, captivating diverse audiences with his insights and expertise in cybersecurity. Eddy Willems Cyber Security Guru | Inspiring Speaker | Author #Cyberdanger | Security Researcher | Director | Security Evangelist at G DATA CyberDefense

< back How to Be(come) a Customer-centric Leader? The true meaning of customer-centric leadership More detailed information Customer-centric leadership sounds nice in theory. But no one seems to be clear on what it really means. At best, this means that leaders need to improvise. At worst, they fail the business. In this online inspiration session, Alain challenges managers and executives to explore the true meaning of customer-centric leadership. Not in theory, but in practice. So inspect clear suggestions on ‘inspiring teams’, ‘demonstrating personal commitment’ and ‘helping your people do what is right’ for the customer and the bottom line of the company. Optionally, the more traditional keynote format, can be expanded with: • a live assessment of company’s customer-centric leadership behaviours, • bespoke introductory videos that are linked to the company strategy • (online) ‘sparring sessions’ with practical leadership tips & guidance • individual coaching for leaders who want to raise their game Request a quote Submit About Alain Thys is a renowned customer-centricity veteran with over 30 years of experience helping large, complex organizations differentiate and thrive. His no-nonsense approach to customer-centricity has enriched the lives of over half a billion customers and 350,000 employees across 100+ countries, creating hundreds of millions in value, and even more smiles. As a hands-on advisor to international leadership teams, Alain’s keynotes and workshops offer bespoke insights and practical strategies that inspire, challenge, and deliver actionable results. His expertise in areas such as customer experience, differentiation, and competitive markets has made him a valued sparring partner for businesses seeking a unique edge in today's crowded marketplace. Get in touch with us to discuss how Alain can inspire and challenge your leadership team to build an edge in a crowded marketplace. Alain Thys Unlock the secrets to profit and differentiation with one of Europe’s top customer-centricity veterans

< back What can you learn from the top 20 Business Transformation of the past decade? ​ More detailed information What can you learn from the top 20 business transformations of the past decade from 3 angels: effective repositioning of the core business, creation of new growth and attainment of robust financials Deeper zoom on Microsoft, DBS, Netflix, Disney The Microsoft Story – my journey and learning of 22 years @ the company Request a quote Submit About In September 2016 Olivier Van Duüren launched The Dualarity (www.thedualarity.com ), a business and a book, on how to take the pain out of your personal and business transformation, leaving you with a regained sense of spark. After 22 years working in the senior international executive ranks at one of the world's most successful technology companies called Microsoft, he has a unique perspective on the intersection of innovation, transformation, human behavior and societal changes. Olivier has held several senior level global and regional positions at Microsoft spanning sales, operations, marketing, business development, change management, innovation and strategy across consumer, online, retail, advertising, publishing and enterprise crossing all industries (B2C-B2B). He started at Microsoft in 1994 working out of the Benelux to global travelling out of Paris, London, Seattle and New York. He is an active founding investor in 9.5 Ventures (https://ninepointfive.vc/) building tailor-made startups for Corporates. He is a board member or strategic advisor in multiple startups and corporateas. He publishes in Newsweek. Olivier is a professor at the Zigurat Business School (linked to the university of Barcelona) for Technology and Innovation, guest lecturer at different Business Schools, a member of the Professional Speaker Association and Key Person of Influence UK (KPI). As part of The Dualarity Jixso partnership the ‘Visual Senseformers’ he helps organisations to envision and visualise a future proof strategy and culture, ready for the transformational age. Olivier Van Duüren An international public speaker, trend sensemaker, executive whisperer, startup builder, transformer, innovator, active investor and author. Olivier is a thought leader on personal and business transformation advising companies to find balance between performing and transforming. Olivier works with global, regional and local organisations from startups, scaleups, medium to large organisations.

< back Hybrid Work - Working Together Apart Is a Reset Necessary? More detailed information In this captivating keynote, Isabel De Clercq explores the challenges and opportunities of hybrid work, presenting a refreshing perspective beyond the hype . While remote work has brought numerous benefits, it is not all sunshine and rainbows. Recent research reveals that hybrid work brings about digital overload and makes it harder for individuals to disconnect after work. Furthermore, the shift to hybrid work threatens knowledge sharing, especially among younger employees who no longer have access to the rich, informal conversations in the physical workplace. It's clear that a reset is needed. Is it possible for organisations to establish clear guidelines without being overly controlling? How can we ensure lasting connections between individuals who see each other less frequently? What valuable lessons can we learn from other organisations' experiences? In this thought-provoking keynote, Isabel De Clercq empowers organisations, leaders and employees to make hybrid work after COVID a resounding success. Drawing from extensive research, she provides practical insights and actionable strategies, steering clear of clichés and empty buzzwords. Drawing from extensive research, she provides practical insights and actionablestrategies, steering clear of clichés and empty buzzwords. Join us as we embark on a journey to redefine "working together apart" and create a harmonious and productive hybrid work environment. Let's navigate the challenges, seize the opportunities and shape a future where connectivity thrives, fostering true collaboration and engagement. Request a quote Submit About Meet Isabel! She graduated in Romance Philology and after a career at the University Language Centre of Ghent University and Wolters Kluwer Belgium, she has now become a sought-after keynote speaker and consultant. Isabel specializes in advising companies on their quest for sustainable work practices, disseminating her expertise through books, blogs, and podcasts. With a wealth of fresh perspectives, she's poised to revolutionize your approach to productivity in the hybrid workplace. Drawing on the latest research, Isabel adeptly bridges the gap between theory and practice, transforming scientific insights into actionable steps. Her approach is a breath of fresh air, injecting positivity into every step of your journey. Isabel's charisma extends beyond the stage. With a robust workshop background, she understands that the strategies advocated by the world's organizational gurus often clash with the complexities of real-world scenarios. Leveraging her extensive experience, Isabel translates even the loftiest ideals into practical steps tailored to our daily reality. Isabel De Clercq is passionate about the pursuit of good and sustainable work practices. She believes in the pivotal role played by what she terms the Holy Trinity: the individual taking responsibility for their own happiness, teams establishing effective agreements for synchronous and asynchronous collaboration, and organizations unequivocally embracing leadership and focus time. Expect a captivating storyline, firmly grounded in scientific research and always translated into the everyday reality of organizations. Audience members not only leave energized but also armed with a checklist of tips & tricks and a questionnaire to further their engagement. Isabel De Clercq Author and speaker passionate about the pursuit of good and sustainable work practices

< back Time Management How to become insanely productive, sanely More detailed information ‘Busy busy ...' - This is the most common answer when we ask people how they’re doing. The pace of life has increased by trends like globalization and digitalization. Distractions are everywhere and time always seems short. But how can we stay on top of a never-ending stream of requests and tasks? How to keep focus when email and social media fight for our attention? How to handle the related pressure and stress? Time is our most precious resource. We cannot buy it, and it always runs out. Michael will introduce you to the fundamentals of managing your time wisely. How to translate these fundamentals into your weekly plan. How to be highly productive with respect of your human limits. So you regain control of your time. So you work on what matters most. So you become immune to distractions. To move and KEEP moving mountains. To be there for those who matter. To become insanely productive, sanely. Request a quote Submit About In short, he is a passionately curious and globally experienced Change Agent. His mission is to assist organizations in thriving alongside their people. He employs innovative and practical frameworks for Team Development and Knowledge Management, and he delivers talks and training sessions on Leadership, Management, and Personal Productivity. Prior to embarking on his journey as a solopreneur, he gained valuable experience in well-respected international companies. At Punch Powertrain, he established the R&D Department in China, and at ZF Group, he led the transformation of the global Product Validation Department within the Windpower Division. On a personal note, he is happily married and a proud father of two children. He enjoys sports, traveling, and personal development pursuits. Michael Houben Helping you grow a Benchmark Team with inspiring talks and trainings on Knowledge Management, Time Management and Intercultural Cooperation.

< back Regenerative sustainability The new sustainable? More detailed information Do you know what is Regenerative Medicine? Do you know why it is linked to Regenerative sustainability? Do you know why businesses have to and will evolve from "business as usual" to a "regenerative business model"? This TEDx like talk will allow you to understand why these too approaches are linked and what they can learn from each other. The goal of regenerative medicine is to repair and replace damaged tissues and organs so that the body can mend itself and foster long-term health. Regenerative sustainability emphasizes the need to restore and revitalize our ecosystems since, given the appropriate circumstances, they have the capacity to heal and thrive. Both approaches also highlight the importance of proactive and preventative measures. share a common goal of promoting long-term health, well-being, and resilience. By harnessing the innate regenerative capacities of our bodies and ecosystems, we can work towards a more sustainable and thriving future. Request a quote Submit About Dr. Ngomsik holds a PhD in physical and analytical chemistry and is a seasoned strategist specializing in climate change and corporate social responsibility. As the CEO and co-founder of Trianon Scientific Communication, a management consulting firm, Dr. Ngomsik leads efforts to assist businesses with the highest CO2 emissions in harmonizing sustainability with profitability. Over the past two decades, she has collaborated closely with board members and executives to promote awareness, embed CSR principles into business strategies, implement sustainable practices, provide training for decision-makers, and explore innovative green solutions. Dr. Ngomsik firmly advocates for addressing the interconnected pillars of people, planet, and profit to effectively tackle today's sustainability challenges. Recognizing the value of diverse leadership and inclusive environments, Dr. Ngomsik emphasizes their role in driving innovation, problem-solving capabilities, revenue growth, and reducing organizational CO2 emissions. She integrates these principles into her consultancy work, viewing corporate environmental and social sustainability as catalysts for enhanced profitability. Dr. Ngomsik's expertise extends beyond devising strategies for emissions reduction; she actively promotes increased diversity among decision-makers within organizations, both in inherent traits and acquired perspectives. Her engaging keynote speeches are renowned for simplifying complex concepts into relatable anecdotes, fostering inclusive and enjoyable interactions with her audience, and bridging the crucial connection between People, Planet, and Profit (3P). With her unique blend of expertise, communication prowess, and commitment to holistic sustainability, Dr. Ngomsik continues to be a sought-after speaker and consultant, driving positive change and impactful strategies across industries. Dr. Audrey-Flore Ngomsik TEDx speaker, named “most inspiring women in sustainability”, Audrey-Flore uses science to positively influence businesses to take actions to solve climate change challenges.

< back The link between CSR, ESG and SDG Why the "S" in CSR, the "S" in ESG and the "S" in SDG must go hand in hand for successful business practices! More detailed information This talk invites you find out how the S of SDG (Sustainable Development Goals), the S of ESG (Environmental Social Governance) and the S of CSR (Corporate Social Responsibility), are interconnected to do well by doing good. From message to meaning, from silos to systems, from cost savings to value creation; SDG, ESG and CSR are key for business success. SDG brings transparent and specific metrics; ESG is intersectional by nature and requires a system bases approach to management; CSR is a strategic lever to drive business growth and performance. Request a quote Submit About Dr. Ngomsik holds a PhD in physical and analytical chemistry and is a seasoned strategist specializing in climate change and corporate social responsibility. As the CEO and co-founder of Trianon Scientific Communication, a management consulting firm, Dr. Ngomsik leads efforts to assist businesses with the highest CO2 emissions in harmonizing sustainability with profitability. Over the past two decades, she has collaborated closely with board members and executives to promote awareness, embed CSR principles into business strategies, implement sustainable practices, provide training for decision-makers, and explore innovative green solutions. Dr. Ngomsik firmly advocates for addressing the interconnected pillars of people, planet, and profit to effectively tackle today's sustainability challenges. Recognizing the value of diverse leadership and inclusive environments, Dr. Ngomsik emphasizes their role in driving innovation, problem-solving capabilities, revenue growth, and reducing organizational CO2 emissions. She integrates these principles into her consultancy work, viewing corporate environmental and social sustainability as catalysts for enhanced profitability. Dr. Ngomsik's expertise extends beyond devising strategies for emissions reduction; she actively promotes increased diversity among decision-makers within organizations, both in inherent traits and acquired perspectives. Her engaging keynote speeches are renowned for simplifying complex concepts into relatable anecdotes, fostering inclusive and enjoyable interactions with her audience, and bridging the crucial connection between People, Planet, and Profit (3P). With her unique blend of expertise, communication prowess, and commitment to holistic sustainability, Dr. Ngomsik continues to be a sought-after speaker and consultant, driving positive change and impactful strategies across industries. Dr. Audrey-Flore Ngomsik TEDx speaker, named “most inspiring women in sustainability”, Audrey-Flore uses science to positively influence businesses to take actions to solve climate change challenges.

< back Break the ice Laugh, connect and enjoy! More detailed information Now, more than ever, we are hungry for real human to human connection. Times are changing, and so should network events. That’s why we bring you: Charlotte. Charlotte is an entertainer and facilitator. She creates a positive vibe in the audience with her enthusiasm and breaks the ice by inviting the audience members to play interactive games with her and each other, all from the safety of their chair. Do you know those awkward first few minutes of a networking event? GONE. Prepare for a tsunami of energy, optimism, connection and fun and start your event with a BANG. Schedule a dose of Charlotte at the start of your network event, or in the middle of your conference and wake everyone up. Or even at the end of the program, just before the 'networking reception begins' to set everyone in the mood to get to know each other better and break the ice! Request a quote Submit About There are not enough words to capture Charlotte's essence: enthusiasm, energy, humor, flexibility, daring to take risks, creativity, curiosity, cooperation, trust, acceptance, connecting, active listening, and authenticity are just a few of her qualities. Charlotte's passions lie in communication and improvisational theater, two worlds she believes have much to teach each other. She finds strength in combining theater and business, focusing on the overlap between them to guide her work. Her goal is to help companies rediscover the joy of playfulness, laughter, and innocence, while also fostering insights into flexibility, assertiveness, leadership, listening, connecting, and effective communication through theater exercises. Charlotte's team-building workshops unite people through laughter and creativity, creating a unique and memorable experience. Her communication workshops delve deeper into theoretical insights while maintaining a hands-on approach. With a Master's degree in Business Communication, Charlotte seamlessly merges experiential learning from improvisation games with essential communication principles like giving feedback, public speaking, performing under pressure, customer focus, and authentic leadership. Beyond communication and soft skills, Charlotte is passionate about social issues such as society, diversity, and gender awareness. She excels not only as an enthusiastic speaker, trainer, and coach but also as a skilled host and moderator. Charlotte De Metsenaere Communication expert, international improvisational theater teacher and public speaking coach

< back Time for the creative generalist Discover the entrepreneurial jack-of-all-trades in you More detailed information Do others sometimes make you feel like an unguided projectile unable to focus on an idea or project long enough to turn it into something successful? Those around you call you an ambitious jack-of-all-trades, but doubt your perseverance. Too often you are asked to choose, and that's just where you get stuck. You want so badly to do your own thing, but how? What if we told you that you don't have to choose? Our world increasingly needs you, creative generalist. From her own experience as creative generalist and passionate entrepreneur, Suyin Aerts believes that creativity, an uncensored view of the world, an insatiable thirst for knowledge and constantly gaining new experiences are indispensable components for successful entrepreneurship. By sharing with you her atypical story, she also wants to convince you of your power as a creative generalist! Authentic leaders inspire above all by who they are! (The time of specialists only is over) In this keynote Suyin shares five steps that give you the drive, insight and tools you need to finally jump into a bath of challenges as an entrepreneur. Also available to participate in panel and interviews around this theme Request a quote Submit About As a former top athlete, Suyin recognizes a significant correlation between the mindset of an entrepreneur and that of an Olympic athlete. This is why she proudly identifies herself as an "Olympic Entrepreneur." With extensive experience as an entrepreneur and business leader, Suyin understands the importance of motivating and inspiring teams, creating value, and maintaining agility while fostering creativity. Her entrepreneurial perspective provides her with a valuable helicopter view, enabling her to ask the right questions and approach challenges strategically. This breadth of vision makes her a versatile moderator and interviewer, adept at hosting events, moderating debates, and preparing and presenting TV & video shows. Suyin leverages her fluency in multiple languages - including Dutch, French, and English at a native level, and German, Spanish, and Italian at a proficient level - to serve as a valuable bridge, elevating her clients and their businesses to new heights of professionalism and success. Furthermore, as an inspiring keynote speaker, Suyin aims to shift the mindset of her audience, persuading them to consider perspectives they may not have previously encountered or believed. With her compelling presentations, she seeks to ignite change and drive progress within groups of people. Suyin Aerts To get the right answers you must ask the right questions.