Open up Digitals

Cyril Coste (London) is a French digital expert. Cyril is #1 on the list of 'Most Influential Independent Digital Transformation Experts' and is being named in the 'Global Top 100 Digital Transformation Influencers.' He has been working as Digital Transformation Director for DTX Advisory since 2018 and helps clients achieve business goals through digitization. "I focus on what I can automate, then there is time for my employees to add value. Know how your organization works and make sure you have an internal KPI. Always keep an eye on it: does it contribute to customer service?" "Digital transformation allows you to better understand and serve your customers. AI and machine learning can support you in making your processes more efficient. And how can you better organize things from the inside out? Give your employees the right tools. Then ask yourself whether you have enough data available and how you can analyze it. This does not have to be a major investment, but you do need commitment." Open up Digitals is a Fellow Digitals production.

Ronald van den Hoff (Utrecht) is a trend watcher, public speaker, and the founder of Seats2meet, active in 8 countries as a new kind of meeting, work, and conference space. Ronald has a clear vision on the changes in this society which he calls 'society 3.0.' He is the author of the book Society 3.0: a movement, a guiding light, and a change agent in our ever dynamic world. "People of my generation sometimes say that they 'go online.' But online and offline are one world, you're constantly connected. We realize that we have a choice, you can create value and exchange knowledge in the office, at home, or in another environment. The so-called third spaces. It becomes a mix." "The value chain is vulnerable and is going to disappear, I have always said. It is painfully clear through Corona where our weaknesses lie. All products come from China, when that stopped at the beginning of the year, even the German automotive industry came to a standstill. We need to organize this differently, with value networks. We need to make much more use of collective intelligence, share information and trust each other in this." Open up Digitals is a Fellow Digitals production.

German thought leader Felix Holzapfel (Cologne) is the founder of Quovabiz in Cologne, author of the bestseller ‘Marketing among Friends’ and a member of the 'Top 50 Global Thought Leaders in Digital Transformation.' "Digital transformation? I don't like that term at all. In 1997 we were already talking about the same subjects, it's nothing new. We should talk more about change in general. Corona hasn't changed much. We were already working digitally last year, flight shaming already existed, and we wanted to slow down our lives to focus on what's really important. All this has only accelerated." "Digital transformation is not rocket science. Go to the cause of your problem, share it if it's too big, and involve your employees. Rome wasn't built in a day, take your time. It's less about which people you need, it's about the mindset. Look for the right mix of people and make sure they feel involved. Including the people who are in contact with your customers!" Open up Digitals is a Fellow Digitals production.

Gonny Vink (Utrecht) is an expert on remote work. She advises organizations and teams in sustainable change at the intersection of people, organization, and technology. To be more flexible, faster, and agile. This always starts with people. Gonny is co-author of the book Never Waste a Good Crisis. "Companies will look at how they can best set up their office, so that employees can work well together here. Also make good arrangements with your team, what does it take to be successful? Stay in discussion with each other about that." "What you see is that many companies need to be able to communicate and hold meetings with each other remotely. But now you have to take the next step: how are we going to collaborate smartly, share knowledge, and develop remotely? Tools and technology can help you with this, behavioral change is crucial." Open up Digitals is a Fellow Digitals production.

James Robertson (Sydney) is a keynote speaker, author of three best selling intranet books, and a global expert on intranet strategy and design. He is founder and director of Step Two Designs, a consultancy firm based in Sydney, Australia. In this role, James has helped organizations to develop intranet strategies, both within Australia and internationally. "In this day and age, resilience is needed. Zoom fatigue exists and we miss the micro-interactions at the coffee machine and in the elevator. We do what it takes to be productive and tools can help. But they have to be purpose-driven and tailored to the needs of employees. The danger now is that we put technology back at the forefront, and we have to be vigilant about that." "The digital environments we offer are often too complex. You notice by walking along with your employees for a few days. You'll soon get to know the users of your platform and identify a few things you can tackle right away. But beware: you can't solve everything. Start small, do the right small thing. Tackle something that really helps your employees and take it from there." Open up Digitals is a Fellow Digitals production.

Belgian Jan Bommerez (Santa Barbara), who has been a resident of California for the last 25 years, is a thought leader, trainer, writer, and a much sought-after expert and specialist in the field of transformation processes. "We still look too much from the point of view of linear thinking – cause and effect. We have to think in terms of systems. A system under stress can go in two directions: breakthrough or breakdown. It is an illusion that we can steer this, I think the fear is still greater than the insight that it can be done differently. The breakthrough is in understanding the system, only then you can change." "What you resist, persists. I am optimistic, because the people who are not afraid come up with the new ideas. The hope of the world is in creativity. The breakthrough often comes from young people who are not stuck in paradigms. Where experience used to increase your value, now it's often a problem because you're too much into old thinking. So bring experience and young people together and have a conversation. Then you have the best of both worlds." Open up Digitals is a Fellow Digitals production.

Dr. Cara Antoine (Amsterdam) is president and chairwoman of the Dutch chapter of WOMEN IN TECH - Global Movement, who is committed to strengthening diversity and inclusiveness in the workplace. We talk to Cara about how the current crisis is affecting inclusiveness, diversity, women in tech, digital transformation, and changing business models. "Due to all technological developments, companies are moving more and more towards a platform model. Since Corona, women have also become more present in these communities, such as Women in Tech. And isn't your business digital yet? That's really going to happen." "Digital transformation is inevitable in these times. Keep reminding yourself that it is even more important to have compassion. Don't forget, it's all about people. On such a platform, communities and ecosystems come together. For example, Women in Tech is a place where women can stimulate and empower each other, Corona has brought us together even more here and increased our reach." "There is still a lot of inequality, a 'digital divide.' Technology (tools and connectivity) can help solve that. Just like an agile and digital mindset. Look at what you didn't think was possible before with a positive view. And we don't know how long we'll be in this situation, how many more waves are coming? Don't create a new crisis yourself." Open up Digitals is a Fellow Digitals production.

Jan Tjerk Boonstra (Utrecht) has been a recognized HR thought leader for years. He is Principal Consultant at Human Capital Group and editor in chief of the magazine HR Strategy. Jan Tjerk talks about the future of our workplace. Will we continue to work from home, will we even apply for jobs in cities far outside our hometown? And can COVID negate our HR strategies? Listen to what Jan Tjerk says about this. "HR is fairly conservative and stubborn, somewhat inward-looking. To keep up with the changes now, you have to work more network-like and invite others. Learn from the experiences of others and especially from what is not going well. Also ask your employees: What do you need to be able to do your job well? Actually, we don't do that, we focus more on technological solutions, for example." "A completely different kind of leadership. For the 40,000 employees in HR in the Netherlands, the empowerment of employees should come first. This approach differs per person, we are talking about customization. Many managers do a lot of other things and are constantly in meetings. But if you can ensure that 30 employees experience autonomy and growth and feel a connection with the organization and customers, and can therefore allow 30 people to flourish... Then you're doing great. Then it will be a completely different kind of leadership." Open up Digitals is a Fellow Digitals production.

Kamales Lardi (Zurich) is a prominent digital transformation expert with over 20 years of cross-industry experience, an internationally recognized keynote speaker, CEO of Lardi & Partner, and recently awarded as one of the Top 10 Global Thought Leaders and Influencers in Digital Transformation. "Seize this opportunity to take a fresh look at your business strategy. During the pandemic, companies were forced to come up with new ideas about technology in the workplace. We spend a lot on it. However, some solutions have been implemented that are not always sustainable. My advice: keep looking at how that technology can improve work processes, such as reducing manual work." "Zoom in and take care of the right data. But how do you keep track of the return on investment (ROI)? Look at your objectives (what do you solve for your customer?) and make them smaller. I divide them into: customer experience, product and service digitization, operational excellence, and new business. Zoom in and take care of the right data. Provide a dashboard so you can continue to make informed decisions." Open up Digitals is a Fellow Digitals production.

Arie van Bennekum (Rotterdam) co-authored the world famous Agile Manifesto in 2001, a revolutionary idea which propagates a new 'agile' way of thinking. Arie is a thought leader, trainer, coach, consultant, and entrepreneur – currently he is an agile thought leader at the Wemanity Group. We talk with Arie about the COVID-19 crisis, self-managing teams, flexible and resilient organizations, and of course a new agile way of working. "The world of education is not known as very flexible, working remotely with a class was actually not possible. And behold, since a few months whole semesters are given remotely. The possibilities are there. How do you deal with this in your company and how do you get employees to participate in the change?" "Focus on creating value – Besides giving confidence, it is also important to take small steps. We've never had a course in online banking. But we all understand how it works. Small, technical steps have always been taken in this process and each step brought value. Focus on that." Open up Digitals is a Fellow Digitals production.

Daniel Pink (Washington DC) was called the 6th most influential management thinker in the world in 2019. Daniel is a recognized expert on motivation, timing, and business zeitgeist, has hosted a National Geographic television series on social sciences, served as chief speechwriter for U.S. Vice President Al Gore, and is the author of 6 best selling books that have sold more than 3 million copies. "Empathy in the workplace is now more important than ever. Few leaders manage to motivate their employees remotely: keep giving feedback, informally and on a frequent basis. We've been talking for years about how we work and where we do it. Since Corona, all sorts of things have suddenly become possible. Now more important than ever is the human touch. Taking care of each other and focusing on empathy. My advice for leaders? Give employees autonomy and the feeling that their work matters. Do that by constantly giving them feedback." "When do employees perform optimally? Timing is another important aspect. Keep an eye on what moments of the day your employees perform optimally. Take an example of teachers or crèche leaders, they know very well how to take the rhythm of children into account. The best leaders stand behind their team." Open up Digitals is a Fellow Digitals production.

Steven van Belleghem (Bruges) is a Belgian thought leader on the transformation of customer relationships and the future of marketing. He is a keynote speaker, specialized in the 'future of customer centricity,' writer of 4 best selling management books, and guest lecturer at the London Business School. Stevens talks about the biggest changes in customer behavior, customer contact and the technological opportunities to become truly distinctive. Customer expectations – "I have seen an evolution in customer behavior over the past six months. Customers are used to virtual meetings, use less paper, travel less... We have made a huge digital leap forward and this will continue to be the case. I also see that safety nets have disappeared, for example in the travel sector. Booking a trip has become a lot more uncertain. It would be nice if companies could be that safety net and remove uncertainties. Finally, you see that in the social debate, clients expect more from companies than just a nice purpose talk. They should take a stand." "It's a crazy paradox: for the company that can save the most time for you, you as a customer will spend the most time – Companies are accustomed to focus on their own goals, and then see how these can be delivered to the customer. Turn that around and ask yourself: What is the most scarce good the customer has? Most people want more time, money, energy. If you, as a company, agree with that, then keep asking yourself whether what you offer fits in. Look at new trends and technology, from that perspective you can offer much more value." Open up Digitals is a Fellow Digitals production.

Dion Hinchcliffe (Washington DC) is an internationally recognized thought leader, IT expert, enterprise architect, best selling book author, frequent keynote speaker, analyst, and transformation consultant. He is VP and principal analyst at Constellation Research (Monte Vista, California). In Open up Digitals, Dion speaks about the essence of digital collaboration. "No more defined outcomes – The work environment is different, the tools have been adapted... now we have to help employees with the changes. Planned change has a definite outcome. But it is precisely the unexpected that can lead to beautiful innovations. As long as you are open to continue learning and facilitate this for your employees as a leader. With the focus on that it's a marathon, not a sprint." "Expect unexpected consequences and use them to your advantage – People are most important in your digital organization. Provide Working Out Loud, let employees share what they are doing in open environments so that others can join in. And keep wondering if it's meaningful work, what we're doing together." Open up Digitals is a Fellow Digitals production.

Marianne Sturman (Amsterdam) is a Dutch thought leader who coined the term 'The New Way of Working' in the year 2000. As founder and CEO of her company Moneypenny, she is seen as a pioneer and expert in the field of remote working and the future of work. "Work and life are increasingly intertwined." – Due to an unpleasant reason, we now see that working remotely is normal. Companies had to. For managers, this means that they have to be even more proactive towards their employees. So: call more often, set up meetings differently, and keep all colleagues involved." "Informal contact with colleagues is missing, keep facilitating that." – Not all managers have this in place. As an organization, provide training, and teach the right skills. In addition, keep an eye on the developments within digitization and keep looking at work processes. And get used to the fact that work and life are increasingly intertwined." Open Up Digitals is a Fellow Digitals production.

Greg Verdino (New York) is a highly regarded authority on “the digital now.” He is known for his uncanny ability to forecast trends, and empower organizations to thrive in the face of exponential change. Greg has written several best selling marketing books and as the co-author of The Adapt Manifesto, he is leading a movement to align leaders around a core set of principles that help organizations reliably and repeatedly adapt to the changing environment in which they operate. "We don't go from an old normal to a new normal, we are going to a 'never normal,' in which there is always change – We see 2 years of digital transformation in 2 months. Organizations are forced to implement their plans that lay on the shelf. In those plans you always have to be ready for change, security is lacking. So try to think beforehand about the implications of, for example, unemployment, working from home, and a possible new pandemic." "Throw away the old rulebook, challenge your assumptions. Act like your brand was born today – We have actually relied too much on data in recent years, because the data we collected before the Corona-crisis are now irrelevant. The consumer also wants other things. How do we deal with this creatively?" Open up Digitals is a Fellow Digitals production.