Bring the outside world in. Future proof your business strategy with Thimon de Jong, a strategic foresight expert and passionate, interactive speaker
Examining how human behaviour and societal change influence business has never been more important. Syncing a business strategy with rapid societal changes and dynamic human behaviour is a challenge. Luckily, a new style of expert has emerged, with De Jong proving one of the most successful. Able to use socio-psychological and cultural change to meet the strategic needs of different industries, it is little wonder he is becoming one of the most sought after speakers of his generation.
About Thimon de Jong
Over the past ten years de Jong has worked as keynote speaker and leadership trainer for organisations like Morgan Stanley, Microsoft, HP, Ikea, Vodafone, Tetra Pak, Novartis, Kellogg, Merck & Luxottica.
After studying cultural studies and international business, he wrote his Master’s thesis on subcultures and started his working career in journalism. In his role as editor-in-chief of a youth platform (magazine & website) he discovered his passion for interdisciplinary people research and started working as a youth and media researcher for Science of the Time and FreedomLab Future Studies. In 2007, de Jong took the role of Insights and Strategy director for TrendsActive, an international trend interpretation agency. In this role, he travelled the world consulting and presenting to numerous multinational companies. In 2010 he starred as a jury member in Holland’s Best Idea – a primetime TV-show. In 2011 he co-produced an executive programme for decision makers at Utrecht University on the topic of using sociocultural trends for strategic decision making.
In 2014 he founded Whetston / strategic foresight, a think tank on future human behaviour & societal change and the impact on strategic decision making.
De Jong is determined not only to inform his audience of research, insights and business cases, but also to provide them with practical strategic take-aways on how to utilise the information and help their business grow.
Current Roles & Positions
• Founder/director of think tank Whetston / strategic foresight
• Lectures at the social psychology department of Utrecht University
• Advisory board member of IOT scale-up 30Mhz, IMC Weekend School presentation trainer
Languages
Thimon speaks English and Dutch.
Speaking Style
Charismatic, passionate and interactive. As one of the most engaging speakers in the world, de Jong grabs any audience with a combination of research, visuals, stories and practical business tools. Described by clients as ‘memorable intellectual entertainment.’
Speaking Topics
Digitalisation: The Human Response
The fourth industrial revolution has started and rationally we understand what kind of technology is coming, but are we emotionally ready for it? How can business leaders get their people (and themselves) to embrace all this new technology? The era of using big (people) data has only just started. Are people ready for the technology where our emotions are being monitored in real time (Emotion AI) and used by governments and businesses?
Future Partnerships
A deep dive into how relationships will develop in the 2020’s. How will (future) technology assist in improving partnerships between human beings? And:
Are you ready for a robot or AI colleague? Furthermore, globally we see that personal and business relationships are getting shorter. In what ways can a companies go against the tide and create strong, long-term partnerships?
The Trust Transition
In a low-trust / post-truth / VUCA world with an abundance of choice and unlimited information, trust is slowly, but steadily moving away from the ’formal and institutionalised’ towards the ’personal and informal’. How does this influence (business) decision making? How can leaders enhance trust and build trustful business models of the future?
Future Ethics
This keynote deep dives into the shifting perception of society on ethics. People struggle with the power we have given to laws, rules and numbers to define what is right & wrong. But where to go next? This topic is fueled by the rapid developments in the world of AI (Artificial Intelligence): as the lines between man & machine are blurring spectacularly: how can we program human ethics in there?
Generation Z (born from 1998 – now)
Are you ready for the REAL next generation? Move over Millennials, we have heard too much about you for too long. Welcome Gen Z! And yes, they are different. These modest entrepreneurial teens have entered the world of work years ago. Wise beyond their years, they approach the world with a raw & fresh perspective. Understanding the main characteristics of Gen Z will prove to be a wake-up call to any future-oriented professional that is interested in the next generation of customers ánd colleagues.
Future Human Behaviour in the City of the Future
How will societies and cities develop the coming years and how can we expect people to respond? What will the human response to the (future) digitalisation and automation of society be? With a closer look at the next generations (the Millennials and Generation Z): how do they want to live and what do they want from a future city?
Testimonials
“Both the ACE team as well as delegates that atended abso-
lutely LOVED Thimon’s talk. They really enjoyed hearing about
the next generation and how and trends are moving forward –
with three tangible take-aways afer each section. Thimon is
a very engaging and energized speaker that kicked off our
Friday’s schedule with a BANG.”
Global Investment Forum – Geneva
“His expert views put a totally new light on current reality,
and most importantly, where to go next.”
IKEA
“Wonderful, both on and offstage.”
Swedbank Director Conference – Djurö
“Thimon was great. He scored a 4.95 / 5, which makes him our second best speaker in the history of our event. The students loved his presentation style and way of thinking.”
Economit Mer / Kypä – Helsinki
“Brillant speaker. Intellectual approach & entertaining.”
“One of the best and most meaningful speaker I listened to
over the last months.”
“Exceptional speaker, outstanding and shocking.”
Citywire Fund Selector Events
“Insight, inspiration and wonder.”
Deloitte
“We were thrilled, Thimon was superb.”
IMI Management conference – Dublin
“Loved the passion of Thimon’s presentation!”
World Yacht Racing Forum – Gothenburg
“Best presenter I’ve ever seen or heard.”
Pepsico Russia
“Thimon definitely belongs to the category of excellent
speakers. He grasps the audience from beginning till end with
his lively presentations. These are rooted in solid scientific
research, but made tangible by using great stories and cases.”
Utrecht University
“Only positive feedback from our delegates!”
Randstad Group
“Thimon’s opening keynote presentation was very inspiring
and he set the tone for the rest of the afernoon. He was able
to bring the right energy into room. I would strongly recom-
mend him for a talk about (fact based) change.”
UN World Happiness Event – Amsterdam
“One presentation of Thimon is enough to want you hire him
again! And so did we at Hunkemoller! He is an engaged speak-
er with expert knowledge. Sure to help your business further
and a great opportunity to learn about the world around us.”
Hunkemöller
“At our event, Thimon scored a 9.5 (on a scale from 1-10), which never happened before. He has excellent presentation skills and great content. He is also a very fun, creative and reliable person to work with.”
Events Academy Event
Thimon was highest rated speaker at (i.a.):
Adecco Leaders Conference, Prague – Czech Republic
Design Management Forum, Stockholm – Sweden
Executive MBA Forum, Turku – Finland
Trend Partner Conference, Birmingham – UK
OMD Predicts, Dubai – UAE
Skanska Future Cities Conference, London – UK
BCO Conference, Chicago – USA
Atea Community Tour – Norway
Guldgalan, Ostersund – Sweden
Media Conference, Strømstad – Sweden
Bloomreach Connect, Amsterdam – Netherlands
Luxottica Employee Engagement Day, London – UK
Swedbank Leadership Day, Stockholm – Sweden
BNP Paribas Global Leaders Forum, Ascott – UK
Academi Wales Summer School, Lampeter – Wales
Ericsson Academy Summit, Stockholm – Sweden
RBS Relationship Banking Event, London – UK
Kypä Conference, Helsinki – Finland
23rd Insurance Days, Portorož – Slovenia
Tieto Leadership Forum, Malmo – Sweden
ABTA Travel Convention, Abu Dhabi – UAE
Wolters Kluwer Financial Services EMEA Client Conference, Luxembourg
Skanska BIM & Digital Engineering Conference, Grove – UK
Science of Shopping Conference, Ho Chi Minh City – Vietnam
EY Learning Forum, Rome – Italy
Agrifoodtech Conference, Den Bosch – Netherlands
HSBC Golf Business Forum, Abu Dhabi – UAE
Hay Group HR conference – Employee Value Proposition, Utrecht – the Netherlands
SPOT conference, Oslo – Norway
Sport Marketing Days, Warsaw – Poland
MATCH , Copenhagen – Denmark
Kauppakeskusyhdistys, Helsinki- Finland
