< back How to be(come) a sage leader? Male leadership is associated with words like strong, dominant, assertive, competitive. Female leadership is associated with words like emotional, empathetic, compassionate, collaborative, intuitive. But what about sage leadership? More detailed information Véronique introduces a new way to look at leadership by using masculine and feminine as approaches instead of male and female. Feminine does not equal women and masculine does not equal men. No woman is exclusively feminine and no man is exclusively masculine. We all have a mixture of masculine and feminine perspectives, values and behaviours. Women can operate in masculine ways and men can operate in feminine ways. What if we understood the difference between the masculine and feminine approach and know how to leverage both. What if we could move along a wide span from masculine to feminine, depending on the circumstance. This would only require recognizing and understanding what is masculine and feminine … Request a quote Submit About Started her first real business at the age of 50 after having traded marketing expertise time for money during 14 years during which she started up, managed and reorganized marketing departments and teams, ranging from 4 tot 40 people, for a wide variety of local and international businesses and sectors. She ventured into the unknown by starting up a wholesale food business. She made – all – the first time entrepreneur mistakes one can imagine, irregardless their age. After three years she sold her start-up, wondering why and how too many female entrepreneurs sabotage the growth of their business. Her research led to the launch of a female-only accelerator programme and a first book ‘The one million euro woman’, in close collaboration with UCLL (KULeuven) where Véronique is a marketing, entrepreneurship and leadership skills lecturer. She talks about scaling your business, self-limiting beliefs and leadership skills. Véronique Bockstal Serial entrepreneur, scaling & fundraising coach, author 'De vrouw van 1 miljoen', lecturer marketing & entrepreneurship and researcher female entrepreneurship

< back Is it safe...to be online today and tomorrow? How to create a secure climate by embracing technology and change More detailed information The global media attention for cybersecurity incidents has an impact on the role of executive management about information security, much more than most executives are willing to admit. Consumers are holding organisations responsible whenever there is a cybersecurity incident that compromises their information and investors are holding organisations responsible when there is a cybersecurity incident because of the financial losses that occur and the devaluation of the organisation on the market. Can any executive honestly claim cybersecurity is not their responsibility? Unfortunately, still too many executives completely delegate the cybersecurity responsibility to IT since they are convinced it contains too many technical elements. This presentation explains how to create a secure climate by embracing technology and change. Executives will learn how to view cybersecurity no longer as an IT expense, but as a critical success factor to long term success. This is done by showing to executive management and CIOs the top 3 internal and external threats on cybersecurity, but also the top 3 cyber resilience solutions for organisations today. Expect actual examples, a related movie, but also practical tools and references to help focus on the essentials in cybersecurity. Request a quote Submit About Marc Vael is a known security and privacy expert from Belgium with 20+ years of experience. He is currently Chief Information Security Officer (CISO) at Esko. Marc has certifications in Infosecurity (CISM/CISSP), IT risk management (CRISC) and is a certified board director (GUBERNA). Marc is a visiting lecturer at Antwerp Management School, Solvay Brussels School, TIAS Tilburg and KdG Antwerp. Marc was elected Fellow of the Hogeheuvelcollege at KUL in 2012 for his contributions to the IT industry. Marc is a popular international keynote speaker and panelist who inspires with practical solutions and examples based on his experiences. He can cover security and privacy from the 10,000 feet level down to a step-by-step process. His talks range from a 30-minute inspirational keynote to a full five-day workshop. His engagements have taken him to 20+ countries around the world speaking to 15,000+ people. Marc Vael Security & Privacy Officer / Mentor / Author using real cases & solutions to simplify information protection

< back Unleashing Leadership Potential Navigating Success Through Self-Leadership More detailed information In the realm of leadership, Julie Brown offers invaluable insights for team leaders seeking not just to inspire, but to actively engage their members toward achieving remarkable outcomes. Anchored in the belief that effective leadership commences with self-leadership and a deep understanding of one's strengths and weaknesses, Julie delves into the essence of successful leadership dynamics. Central to Julie's philosophy is the profound importance of self-awareness and environmental acuity in leadership. Recognizing that anticipation and proactive measures are as crucial as reactive strategies, she emphasizes the delicate equilibrium between self-discipline and calculated risk-taking. Julie's approach underscores the necessity for self-leadership among all team constituents, a philosophy profoundly resonant as she navigates her professional journey following her partner's passing. For Julie, self-leadership extends far beyond professional spheres; it's a mindset cultivated over time, transcending the ice-bound landscapes of polar exploration to permeate every facet of life. By tapping into latent internal reservoirs often overlooked, individuals can unlock the full spectrum of their leadership potential, fostering resilience, adaptability, and unwavering determination. Through her experiences and wisdom, Julie Brown ignites the transformative power of self-leadership, inspiring individuals to chart their course toward personal and professional excellence. Request a quote Submit About Julie Brown, born in 1964 in Detroit, Michigan, USA, is a founding partner and managing director of Polar Circles/Polar Experience expedition activities since 1999. With extensive experience in polar exploration, she serves as a project manager and communications director for her team of polar guides. In addition to expedition management, Julie specializes in developing and delivering corporate activities, including keynote presentations and inspiring motivational speeches to diverse audiences. Fluent in English as her native language, Julie is also proficient in Flemish/Dutch as her second language and conversational in French. Her unique ability to translate the rich metaphors from ambitious polar expeditions into relevant lessons for the business world adds an unexpected spark to any event. With over 20 years of public speaking experience, Julie excels in connecting with live audiences, particularly during spontaneous Q&A sessions, where she shares real anecdotes and visual stimulation from polar expeditions. Julie's journey into polar exploration began under the guidance of Dixie Dansercoer (1962 – 2021) during her first polar expedition to Antarctica in 2000, which included a Mount Vinson ascent. Since then, she has served as the project coordinator for various expeditions, such as the Bering Strait Odyssey in 2005, In the Wake of the Belgica in 2007-2008, Antarctic ICE in 2011-2012, and Greenland ICE in 2014. Beyond expedition management, Julie has also contributed to polar expedition cruises as a lecturer and guide in regions including the Antarctic Peninsula, Greenland, Svalbard, and Norway. Collaborating with Dixie, she has led corporate ICE Campaigns in Iceland, Spitsbergen, and Switzerland. Julie is not only an experienced explorer but also a prolific writer, having published several expedition-related accounts since 1998. In 2014, she co-authored "Surpassing Sastrugi," a book that draws relevant parallels for corporate audiences. Julie also maintains the Polar Experience blog, sharing insights and experiences from her expeditions. Julie was married to Dixie Dansercoer for 22 years until his passing in June 2021. Together, they have four children: Jasper, Evelien, Thijs, and Robin. Recently, they welcomed their first grandchild, Ender Dixie Dansercoer, into their family. Julie Brown Polar expedition coordinator and captivating storyteller, illuminating the parallels between polar expeditions and corporate challenges

< back From Sustainability to Regeneration 8 transformation codes to help you drive positive change More detailed information 8 out 10 people worldwide are seriously worried about the future of our planet and feel brands need to take responsibility. The pressure on people and planet is at an all-time high. The cost-of-living crisis continues to put pressure on budgets and the impact of climate change is becoming more and more visible. This is driving a collective desire for change: how can we move from less harm to more good? How can we move from Sustainability to Regeneration! Whilst we can’t alter the past, we can shape the future. 82% of people in Europe feel brands need to take responsibility to help safeguard the future of our planet. The question is: how and where to start? In this keynote, Tom tells you all about 8 transformation codes that can be leveraged to drive positive change as an organization, together with your customers. Request a quote Submit About With 100 talks every year, Tom De Ruyck’s keynotes have inspired professionals across the globe to future-proof their business and ways of working. He has spoken in more than 50 countries and on 6 continents at major marketing, technology, customer experience and consumer insights events. Next to being Chief Growth Officer and Partner at global consultancy Human8, Tom is a teaching Professor at IESEG School of Management in Paris. He is co-author of 'The Consumer Consulting Board' and published over 80 papers and articles in academic journals and business magazines. Tom was awarded for his work many times, amongst others by the American Marketing Association, the CMO Council Asia and ESOMAR. Tom De Ruyck Tom’s talks will challenge your thinking and spark your view on the future of business & customer experience in this dynamic and high-tech world.

< back Innovation Innovate for what matters most to your customers² More detailed information In this presentation, Christophe explores the idea that every enterprise should, at its essence, prioritize health and happiness. Starting from the shared human goals of health and happiness, he illustrates how businesses are reinventing themselves—whether through their core offerings or supplementary services—to align with these universal human aspirations. He makes the case that there is no more powerful way to connect with customers than by focusing on their most fundamental aspirations. (This presentation can be adapted for various industries, including Retail, Hospitality, Consumer Goods, Pharma, Travel, Food & Drinks, Financial Services, Housing, Telecommunications, etc...) Watch Christophe Speak: Health as Consumer Value Request a quote Submit About Christophe Jauquet is an internationally recognized author and keynote speaker, renowned for his fresh and distinctive perspective on critical topics such as customer centricity, innovation, and emerging trends. His presentations guide businesses towards expanding their horizons by emphasizing health and happiness in customer engagement, innovation endeavors, and future planning. Tailored to suit the specific objectives of each event, industry dynamics, cultural nuances, and audience requirements, Christophe's keynotes are consistently finely tuned and relevant. He has delivered speeches in over 25 countries across a wide range of industries including healthcare, consumer business, finance, travel, automotive, retail, and real estate. Christophe is the author of the book "Healthusiasm," writes a popular bi-weekly newsletter on future scenarios, and hosts a globally popular podcast on the US-based 'Shift Forward Health' Channel. He is recognized as a visionary leader, having been quoted by Deloitte in their 2022 Global Life Sciences Outlook and featured as a guest writer on renowned websites such as Healthcare Transformers by Roche. Before establishing his own business, Christophe held various roles as an intrapreneur at Pfizer Inc., where he received several global innovation awards. He further honed his expertise by collaborating with pharmaceutical companies such as Roche, Takeda, and GSK, as well as consumer brands like L'Oreal, Nestlé, and Pepsi. Today, Christophe Jauquet inspires business leaders about the future of business in a health-conscious world. He has developed innovative tools to efficiently implement his vision, working towards making the world a healthier and happier place, one business strategy at a time. Christophe Jauquet Health marketeer on a mission to make the world healthy & happy.

< back From idea to product-market fit Testimonial of a Corporate Entrepreneur More detailed information Everyone knows that Intrapreneurship and Innovation are key for growth. However, counless questions and opinions on who, how and when create a lot of confusion. For example, is ‘failing fast’ good or bad? How do you know you are doing the right things while the first orders are not in sight, and you are just burning money? How do you combine intrapreneurship in a corporation and at the same time meet the monthly targets? What makes a good intrapreneur? Who from sales should be involved? Should you listen to customers or follow Steve Jobs' way of just showing the customers what they always wanted but didn’t know. Yoav will share from his more than 20 years’ experience as a corporate intrapreneur best practice and lessons learned. Concepts from the startup scene are tuned to the reality of a cooperation and presented with a hands-on approach, memorable stories and examples in a fun and inspiring way. Request a quote Submit About Creative entrepreneur Yoav has an outstanding track record as the inventor of ClickShare and a pioneer in Virtual Reality. He excels at crafting and executing innovative and strategic visions for products and market strategies. Public speaking is his preferred method for sharing his extensive knowledge and over 20 years of experience. Yoav aims to entertain, motivate, and inspire audiences, infusing his talks with his unique brand of dry humor. Drawing from his gut and personal experiences, he covers the full spectrum from theory to reality to best practices. Specializing in topics such as game-changing innovation, creativity, intrapreneurship, and navigating uncertainty with perseverance, Yoav captivates audiences with his insights. Yoav Nir Co-inventor of ClickShare®, Virtual and Augmented Reality pioneer and author of the book Game-changing Innovation

< back Self-Mastery Be excellent in every aspect of your life More detailed information Many people lack Self-Mastery, and that’s why they don’t succeed in life as they’d like to or could. Self-Mastery is not only the ability to control one's desires or impulses or to gain control over the one thing you can control in any situation: yourself. It’s about transcending mediocrity. It’s about practicing being excellent in every aspect of your life. So let Véronique help you in becoming the very best you can be with her #OnToMastery program. Available as keynote, training, but also as individual coaching. Request a quote Submit About Véronique De Prycker is driven by her belief that the economy, health, and education are the three main pillars and driving forces behind a prosperous society. As an experienced keynote speaker, certified trainer, and mentor, it’s her passion to help professionals and B2B companies in achieving their professional & personal success and obtain mastery over their life. Especially the differences between men and women are a great passion of hers. In the workplace, this translates into questions like … Why is it that women in general still have a hard time climbing the Corporate ladder? Why women don't seem to stand up for themselves enough yet? Why is there still a huge gap between men and women? …. These are questions she answers in her keynotes and workshops and she gives women practical advice they can apply immediately. Véronique's career spans more than 25 years of international experience, with previous years as a Financial Manager and CPA at Dredging International (DEME) and Deloitte, where she was a confidant of over 200 CEOs and helped over 300 companies and organizations in many different industries. This expertise in the day-to-day challenges of corporate life combined with her unique strategic and handson knowledge gives her an unusual and visionary approach to what effectively works in today's businesses. Véronique also strongly believes in giving back to society; she's (been) a volunteer in various organizations such as the Red Cross, Cliniclowns, Stop Colon Cancer, and different network organizations. She possesses the ability to translate theoretical models, methodologies, and strategies into practically applicable methods that have an immediate effect on daily results. People who work with Véronique not only immediately know what to do and how to apply new tools, tactics, or strategies, but they are also inspired by her positive and vibrant personality. Véronique De Prycker Helping B2B companies to close the gap between men & women and enhance the performance and impact of women through better leadership, communication, and networking

< back The war for talent; be prepared How to attract the right people and how to determine which talents you need for your business More detailed information Watch the video for more information (Dutch) Request a quote Submit About Saskia leads the National Coalition for Digital Skills & Jobs for Belgium. In this role she focusses to skill/re-skill all talents to maximize the activation of everybody in the changing employment market going forward. As a manager, Saskia Van Uffelen always keeps a keen eye on the human aspects of collaboration in a company. She focusses heavily on ensuring the synergies between the different generations present in the workplace. In interviews, opinion articles and her book ‘Iedereen Baas! – Tous Patron!’ she encourages her colleagues to pay more attention to it as well. The world, our society, is changing and is screaming for a new model. We are living in a digital age, where everyone and everything is connected, where competition is no longer coming from within the sector and customers, users and citizens are in the driver’s seat. Data is gold and sharing is the new having. Dare to help build a new business world, with a balance between results in the short and long term. But dare just as much to help to build another society through personal life choices – a society that is ready for the next generation. ‘Dare for tomorrow’ is the title of her latest book. Saskia Van Uffelen How can we create a new culture in our organisations? Digital Skills Leader Belgium, boosting Future Skills and Jobs for everybody!

< back Career twists Think twice about promotion More detailed information A career does not have to be linearly ascending to be satisfying. Taking a step back now and then to study again, to (re)find the balance between work and life, to regain the feeling that you can handle your job or to be able to make a difference through individual attainments - these are all good reasons to think twice about that promotion. In this session you will learn: That there is a linear career with promotion as ultimate success But there is also a boundaryless career with demotion as an opportunity The win-win of taking a step back Tips and tricks how to handle a step back Request a quote Submit About Tanja is a strong believer in ownership, lifelong learning, and the power of trust. She is author of several books on demotion. Tanja holds a master's degree in communication sciences and a PhD in applied economics. Tanja Verheyen Passionate, driven communication expert, specialised in career twists

< 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.