C-suite advisor. Sparring partner. Sustainability guide to entrepreneurs.
Offering strategic insights, fresh perspectives and clarity where it’s needed most. Find out about my advisory roles: from emerging and fast-growing enterprises to corporates, NGOs and public organizations.
Having stood by a range of leaders - from the boards of Ahold Delhaize and Royal DSM to the owner of a media start-up, and from the former Prime Minister of The Netherlands to the founders of an e-commerce scale-up - I have gained valuable insights into what it takes to make sustainable change happen.
STRATEGY & COMMUNICATIONS
Traditionally, companies embraced their role in society in ways that were not directly connected to their core business, i.e., as a side activity. However, the real opportunity is with companies that embrace sustainability as an integrated part of business strategy, brand and purpose. While there’s no single recipe for that, some ingredients are essential. Examples of strategy and communications areas in which I’ve successfully offered advice and guidance include:
Infusion of systems thinking to an organization, and a shared language and/or framework to bring this to life;
Map of drivers and opportunities for a company’s sustainability ambitions to strengthen its brand and overall strategy - and clarifying the risks and opportunities of (not) using them;
Comparative analysis of direct competitors and insight into front runners (both within and beyond the company’s own sector);
Engagement with internal and external stakeholders (through interviews, workshops, or other forms);
Co-creation of a vision or purpose and narrative (whether it’s the first, or an evolved one) - see also the CREATIVE page;
Design and facilitation of leadership conversations that inspire and bring clarity on the preferred strategic direction and its practical next steps (including at C-suite offsites).
organizing for success
In addition, I frequently get involved in the next step, of bringing the strategies I co-create, to life. Examples of areas where I’ve led change, (see also the LEADER page) and advised on:
Prioritization and development of KPIs and targets: whether environmental or social, and whether related to operations, sourcing practices, or (future) products;
Development of enabling governance, such as arrangements around leadership accountability, ownership across functions and geographies, as well as remuneration and incentives of an organization’s associates and/or (top) executives.
Creation of social innovation: whether externally (e.g., campaigns and partnerships with third parties) or internally (e.g., rethinking how internal teams or departments can work together in meaningful ways);
Design of extensive stakeholder engagement plans: with suppliers, co-workers or civil society organizations.
Below (and in the LEADER section) are some examples of how I have put this into practice. My approach is always tailored to the history, culture, size, growth phase and associated ambition level of the organization.
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