Laser satcom | NXTGEN Hightech’s Post

To tackle grand societal challenges, we need to consider transitions AND transformations. In light of this discussion, we have now developed our first piece of thought on the topic of these two concepts and their meaning. Interested to hear your thoughts on the matter!

This made my day. Why did Derk Loorbach never tell me that we were running a covert Maoist rebellion from within the EUR? 😅🤣 Jokes aside though, it's quite obvious by now that in order to maintain a semblance of order in a world at 3 degrees of warming (and to prevent it from getting worse, if that is even possible), some serious planning will have to happen, at every level of governance. This will inevitably trigger existential fears among those who benefitted from "free" market economics and a political system affording the most extensive personal freedoms in History, including freedoms that are detrimental to others in the short and long run. So they will cry "Mao" at the first whiff of a challenge to the status quo. You know what, I get where this impulse comes from. I would consider myself among those who did well in that system, and I'm definitely going to feel the pinch of some of the hard collective choices that need to be made in order to preserve a liveable future. It doesn't help to claim that transitions will be painless, because they won't. I don't subscribe to the philosophy that we should be economical with the truth of our predicament in order not to frighten people. I actually think the most helpful thing to do is to address these people's fears at the trigger point: existential anxiety. I want to talk to people about the heart of their fears, the things they hide behind these strawmen. Not to assuage the fears, perhaps, but to make peace with them, where possible. There's always going to be boys who cry Mao, but I'm hoping their sway will be lessened by creating spaces for people to exorcise their fears and face what's coming with courage and determination.

Change will come, it's the only question when you will start with it. Starting with a clear vision and strategy, is the basis for all further decisions to move towards a more sustainable way of business.

💡 Sustainability and Resilience: The Key to Financial Health💡 During the launch of our CEO, Bram Desmet's latest book, Rethinking Supply Chain, the crucial role of #sustainability and resilience in ensuring the financial health of companies was highlighted. Discover more about this in the article from FDmagazine (in Dutch). 👇

Spannend nieuws ⚡️⚡️Gedreven door onze missie voor een betere toekomst, hebben we de afgelopen 20 jaar organisaties geholpen hun focus te vinden door middel van duurzame strategieën en gedurfde creatieve keuzes 👏 Ons getalenteerde team heeft ideeën verkend en tot leven gebracht die belangrijk voor ons zijn, en daar zijn we trots op. En nu gaat ons volgende hoofdstuk beginnen... Blijf op de hoogte!! #thebestisyettocome

Enabling sustainable and responsible business!

A brief summary of my PhD research on how co-creation can support innovative outcomes with diverse stakeholders. Thanks Elcke Vels for the fun interview!

Inspiring session today organised by DSGCoalition at ESA/ESTEC. Proud that Holland Circular Hotspot could be among 60 Dutch CEO's and leaders of Knowledge institutes, Government and Enterprises to discuss leadership in times of transition. We did not so much discuss the "why, when or who" of a sustainable transition. These are all frontrunners, they know. The question was more on "how" to transition. Professor Jan Rotmans mentioned that of the three levers "Policy, Technology and Behaviour", the importance of the first one, policy, is always overestimated and the last one, behaviour, always underestimated. Authentic and Credible Leadership is more important than ever before. Learn to be courageous, do not put the blame for challenges outside yourself. Be positive, and dare to stick to your sustainable transition. Circular Economy is a key transition. Circularity and sustainability should be an integral part of your strategy and not organised in a separate unit. Involve the passion of your team and your stakeholders and link your sustainable strategy to your core values. Challenging parts remain how you can in parallel built up and finance new desirable Circular activities and break down and phase out undesirable and (for now) profitable linear activities. The government has a role to play to set the ambition, and boundary conditions, give the example and be a reliable partner. Nobody can do it alone, team-up with other frontrunners, invest in value chains and sustainable ecosystems involving all stakeholder groups. A circular transition is 25% technological innovation and 75% social innovation. Some quotes: "Leadership is like brushing your teeth. It needs to be done on a daily basis". "Nature doesn't need people but people need nature". "Talk without Action is Todays Mistake. Action without Talk is Tomorrows Mistake". You should be an environmentalist if you are a capitalist". Well done DSGCoalition! Now let us all walk the talk.