Turning diverse perspectives into collective action. That’s what I do using improvisation principles. Because complexity demands everyone’s input to keep moving forward.

Interested? Get in touch!
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Teams

I improve team collaboration, uncovering patterns and addressing barriers that get in the way of meaningful contributions to the team’s objectives.

Photo of Ruben during a workshop handing the microphone to someone in the front row

Meetings & conferences

I design and facilitate meetings and conferences known for their engagement, fun, hard work and action-oriented results.

Photo of 5 waste bins next to each other that are striking because they also have eyes and a mouth

Change processes

I design a coherent change process based on improvisation principles, moving forward in short cycles.

I work improvisation-based

  • Start before you’re prepared.
    Getting quickly into action shortens the distance between thinking and doing. Especially helpful in a volatile and changing world that requires more than traditional approaches may provide.
  • Organise around energy.
    Everyone has a propensity for change. Organising around the energy that makes people tick is a great way to organise successful change.
  • After step 1 follows step 1.
    Have a clear vision, but do not overplan. Small experiments, one at a time, will help move forward and let the desired change emerge.
  • Small within big.
    Many experiments in different places are what keep the change going. For that, it’s necessary to connect the dots, to show the small within the big.
  • Minimal structure that allows for maximum flexibility.
    Do not organise more than strictly necessary. It creates ownership and allows for movement.
  • Have fun.
    It’s complex, not easy, but at least try to have fun along the way.

Give me complexity!

Climate Change & Sustainability

Probably the biggest and most complex of our challenges! How to integrate sustainability in a sustainable way.

For the Dutch Branch Association for Thrift Stores (BKN), I led, designed and facilitated a process for the new 3-year strategy. In a multi-stakeholder process with sessions, focus groups and a 2-day writing sprint, most of the 62 members participated actively. Another example: I led and facilitated a leadership retreat for the World Business Council on Sustainable Development (March 2022, 25 participants).

Development cooperation

The soft power of diplomacy or simply humanity at work, because we care about others. Incredibly complex to do well.

Since 2018, I have been supporting Enabel, the Belgian Development Cooperation Agency. I design and lead sessions for all levels, with various internal and external stakeholders. As an example, I led the design and facilitation of the International Conference on Innovation for Agrifood Systems in Africa (May 2024, 100 participants).

Health sector

Where public and private mix in different ways around the globe. Safety, quality, affordability, and accessibility all at once.

For ZonMW, the Dutch research funding agency for health, I led and facilitated an ideation process with stakeholders who were asked to pool research questions together in order to access funding on dementia (Feb 2022, 20 participants).

Portrait of Ruben in a suit where he expressively tells something with his hands

About Ruben

At the weekly staff meeting of my first job, one of my colleagues always took a nap; sometimes short, sometimes for the whole meeting. The boss just let it happen, and so did we, happy to leave the hierarchy do its non-interventionist job. It was an eye-opener for me. Our organisations fail to engage people meaningfully. And that is a major problem when confronted with the increasing complexity and volatility of the world around us. Since then, I started delving into how we design and accompany change.

I unlock collective potential and help groups discover paths to improved cooperation and impactful results. I design online and offline conferences, workshops and change processes.With a strong international background, I am fluent in Dutch, French, and English and proficient in Russian. I work with culturally diverse groups of any size.

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