During my recent stay in Rome I had the opportunity to spend some time with Prof. Dr. Roberto Panzarani, who is director of one of a highly successful advisory firms on innovation and creativity located in Rome and Milan. We discussed the sorts of opportunities that have arisen as a side-effect of the financial crisis, such as renewal of standards for corporate governance. We are at one on the point that in today's globalised markets - perhaps more than in the past -  that there is an urgent need for innovation of governance itself.  We don’t need another charismatic leader – we need another way of looking at governance. Together with Roberto, we will be creating opportunities for senior executives in Rome/Milan and Amsterdam/Stockholm to come together and start formulating the ground rules for this form of Governance.

It was a great privilege to be asked by ILA to give an interview on new leadership. Professor. Karen Longman, Ph.D. of Asuza Pacific University (Program Director/Dept. Doctoral Higher Education) kindly agreed to conduct the interview.

Her questions focused on what personal development can bring to leadership development and to what extent women will contribute to the shift in leadership style exercised in companies and in society at large. Read the interview
 

I attended the International Leadership Association's annual conference in London. The theme was: One Planet, Many Worlds: Remapping the Purposes of Leadership

Professor Jonathan Gosling, Chairman of the conference, opened and set the tone: How do we muster the courage and confidence that it will take to make the change happen that we all know is critical for the coming years? Inter-generational empathy, community-engagement, and personal power and integrity to play a greater part -these were themes that resonated throughout the conference. Stef Kranendijk, Desso, made a case for C2C.

Most of all, Polly Higgin’s talk - receiving standing ovations- addressed crimes against the environment, see, http://www.eradicatingecocide.com
Polly Higgins, a barrister, author and international environmental lawyer, spoke about the example we need from ONE person, who shows that it IS possible to put human interests before profit. Slavery was abolished largely by the initiative of one man who said what all knew: "This is not right". Ecocide - her term for the destruction of the planet - can similarly end with one corporate leader making a radical choice. It was an honor to hear her speak!

The theme were later echoed in the key-listeners session - we heard voices speaking of us all facing cataclysmic change within our generation. Many see the uneven distribution of wealth, in conjunction with financial crises as an unprecedented risk for political crises. Karl Popper was cited and his idea that leaders destroy, whilst citizens create. Democracy is a civil matter. Looking to leaders to create the future, is to look in the wrong direction.

Together with Carol Pearson, President of Pacifica Graduate Institute, and Barbara Mossberg, President Emerita of Goddard College, I offered a workshop on archetypes of leadership. How do we understand and wisely engage with the forces of human consciousness that drives us to act according to certain patterns and how do we get the upper hand, so we can influence our own movements consciously - these were the themes we addressed from societal, organizational and personal angles. My colleague Caroline van Frankenhuyzen from de Baak took the picture.

If you would like to read our presentations, click here

The international desk at de Baak has as its purpose to further collaboration and exchange with compatible partners. We are looking to establish solid ground for professional expansion especially in Europe but also in China and India, because we believe that cultural diversity and geography specific assets path the way for future growth. To this end we engaged in conversations with the most prominent counter parties in Spain. At ESADE we had a most inspiring and dynamic conversation with among others Jaume Hugas and Antonia Maria Serra whom we hope to welcome to the pan-European dialogues in January 2012.

For the benefit of 12 senior executives of a large multinational company, Jo Krill, partner at Insights Learning and Development, and I brought together our specific expertise to help develop their leadership capabilities. Jo’s model, based on C. G. Jung’s personality types, identified preferred styles among delegates. My contribution was to unleash hidden talents and those under-developed and sometimes denied qualities of the personality. The result of our joint-focus rests on the group dynamic and the support, challenges and feedback that peers offer each other. It is fundamental leadership development, involving the whole person in action at work. This module will be followed up, reviewed and taken to the next step in a month's time. Then I also work outdoors with the group.

The Europe think tank is one of the most interesting and rewarding projects that I have ever had the honor to lead. A group of 30 thinkers, business leaders, authors, professionals in a variety of disciplines convene. Then things start to happen. It is in this framed-free-form that new ideas are born and nurtured. We reflect on our own process and produce content at the same time: leading principles for a new era. One of the initiatives is the book, a collection of articles authored by the think tank members. We met in Stefan Boëthius offices in Zurich to look at ways of furthering the publication by means of imagery, art and apps.

On this event we explored critical aspects of leadership, entrepreneurship and governance and their interplay in this period of transition on our continent. The diverse group, consisting of delegates to the Annual Dutch Labour Relation's Journeys, members of the Europe Think Tank and faculty from the University of Amsterdam, along with invited experts, meant that significant headway was made towards answering the question: to what extent does Europe have a united vision on these matters?

The case for Europe is by no means a settled matter, and the financial crisis can, without wishing to play down its significance, be seen as just one expression of a far reaching breakdown of existing European socio-economic affairs and policy. That is why, at this pivotal moment, it is essential that we all participate in a process - in an ongoing dialogue - establishing a clear perspective as to the way forward. Read more in the Financial Daily.

Liubava brings a perspective of philosophy and poetry – most enriching!

Liubava Moreva, Moscow

Liubava Moreva is Professor of Philosophy and Chair of the UNESCO Moscow Office. In January 2011, she spoke on Cultural Policy and Policy for Culture. Liubava is a member of de Baak Europe Think Tank.

On June 5, World Environment Day, over 100 electric cars took part in Europe’s first rally for electric cars, the Professional Passionates Electric Rally. The electric cars competed during several stages, starting out in Zaandam, until they reached the finish in Amsterdam.

The goal of the Professional Passionates Electric Rally was to raise awareness and convince as many companies as possible to replace their existing company cars for electric ones. Many Dutch celebrities, such as former Formula 1 driver Jan Lammers and former Dutch Prime Minister Mr. Balkenende participated in this event, which was Chaired by Harry Starren. Read more

When I turned 50, I realised that some things had changed and that there was no going back. From that day, more or less, I was to approach my time on Earth differently. Reaching 50, things may be as real as they are in essence. I had the impression that, finally, I was in synch with time. Even though I have always been on a quest for truth -  preferring reality over its socially agreed-upon editions,  I now know that I can no longer afford the slightest compromise in my choices. I really must speak my mind and heart, come what may. I have no other wish. Simultaneously, I turned towards working with greater impact and towards placing greater emphasis on my heartfelt relationships.  I began nourishing myself on Bach, Purcell and Mahler at the Amsterdam Concertgebouw, diving into Gustave Flaubert and Anna Gavalda whilst greedily re-reading every line written by Ahkmatova. I rediscovered the sensual pleasure of beautifully prepared foods shared with my heart's desire - be it home made bouillabaisse in Amsterdam, or Pesce alla Griglia on the Piazza San Cosimato in Rome, or Paneer Kofta at Karim’s in New Delhi (the Basti one). All of this streamed to the foreground and it seemed to me, this shift of attention from duty to experiential reality happened all by itself.


The fiftieth year of our life is like
the last hour of dusk,
when the sun has set and one turns
naturally toward reflection.
In my case, however, dusk incites me to sin,
and perhaps for that reason,
in my fiftieth year I find myself reflecting
on my relationship with food and eroticism; the weaknesses
of the flesh that most tempt
and are not, alas,
those I have practiced most.

Isabel Allende,
Aphrodite: A Memoir of the Senses

Together with Ed Hagedorn, De Baak, Pim van Tol, Business Contact, and Titia te Dorsthorst, Het Financieele Dagblad I hosted the presentation of my book, De essentie van vrouwelijk leiderschap. It was well attended, with about 100 women from Dutch corporate life as guests. I talked about the seven sins and virtues and why it is important for business leaders to disentangle from attachments that keeps us from moving on. I talked especially about Envy, hence the venue. It was a great honour for me that Dien de Boer-Kruyt accepted to receive the first copy of the book!

Dien de Boer-Kruyt has served as Supervisory Board member for multinationals, including Reed Elsevier and Sara Lee International for more than 20 years. I am particularly impressed by her way of bringing forth a message of service, humanity and compassion. Her ideals are clearly lived ones. She strikes me as a wise woman. Look for instance at: https://www.economist.com/user/3550985/comments

Dutch women in leading positions often experience inner conflict, and therefore renounce their ambitions, says Karin Jironet. In her new book, Female Leadership, she describes how to empower oneself by establishing contact with one’s inner self. Management and Literature talks to Jironet about motivation, dominant culture and, of course, the essence of female leadership. Listen to the interview

Article published in ODE International, July/August 2010 What do Dante and female leaders have in common? The ability to lead others by first understanding themselves.

Read the article
See the video