Meet the World at De Baak

The Art of Leading in China: Entrepreneurship and Corporate Social Responsibility

2009-05-27T16:04:00.002+02:00

Does doing business in China interest you?
How about Corporate Social Responsbility?

If so, next Tuesday evening, 2 June, 2009, at Pakhuis de Zwijger in Amsterdam might be interesting for you.

De Baak has engaged Mr. Jochum Haakma, the former Consul General of Shanghai, among many other illustrious posts, to speak at our “The Art of Leading in China” series. He is also associated with the NFIA and the NCH, as well as the private sector, and has a good insight into both public and private ventures in China.

See www.debaak.com/theartof for more information.

Pitch: Martien van Steenbergen

2009-01-15T21:35:00.002+01:00

A couple of years ago, I read that to change the flow of a river, you must change its landscape.

Using the same metaphor, in April 2006, I posed myself the following burning question:

What is the most contagious business model that changes the economic landscape in such a way that the rivers of money will flow to a whole world?

And somehow, I feel I am mysteriously guided by it ever since. My life seems to fold itself around this question.

Our current monetary system is the weapon of mass destruction and unprecedented global slavery and it is utterly powerful, as we all experience. Want to destroy a community or society? Introduce a centralized, hierarchical, interest- and debt-based monetary system where money is scarce. Boo.

However, we can direct and focus this very same powerful force to create an all-healing laser beam:

The power instrument of mass healing that puts war, unemployment, poverty, disease and global destruction of spaceship Earth into oblivion is a complementary innovative monetary system. It fosters collaboration and community, and exalts mankind and nature to unprecedented heights. It is incredibly simple and only needs guts, leadership and love.

Money, as a form of energy, as a measurement, as information, should not be scarce.

What if money is created, not in a centralized hierarchical way and based on debt, but exactly at the moment of transaction? This makes money always sufficiently available. We never run out of money, just as we never run out of centimeters or inches.

What if we replaced interest on savings by paying a small fee on any open amount, be it in credit or debit—‘demurrage,’ the French call it? Say, 1% every four weeks. This makes money flow, since you want to direct its force to mainly support your passions and talent. This small fee flows into a community fund to support the commons.

What if we can join forces and synergize the thousands of small and fragment initiatives into an effort that creates some traction, some momentum that makes a difference?

What if we'll change:
- globalism by localism,
- fiat-money by self-money,
- debt by reputation
- interest by flowmoney
- scarcity by sufficiency
- central by peer-to-peer
- savings by streamings
- closed by open
- wages by passion
- grabbing by giving
- dependance by empowering
- co-destruction by co-creation
- battle by cooperation
- slavery by freedom
- burn-out by exaltation
- egocentrism by community
- taking by giving
- us parasites by us symbiotic beings?

Again:

The power instrument of mass healing that puts war, unemployment, poverty, disease and global destruction of spaceship Earth into oblivion is a complementary innovative monetary system. It fosters collaboration and community, and exalts mankind and nature to unprecedented heights. It is incredibly simple and only needs guts, leadership and love.

Saving the world is, literally, incredibly easy. It is, in fact, so easy that you probably do not believe it. There are many alternative monetary systems that foster global collaboration, wealth, and the unfolding of a flourishing, whole Earth.

So, go ahead and don't believe me, and research this for your selves. Do some transformational thinking and acting and being.

Imagine you have the guts to embrace this! I dare you.

Thank you.

Pitched by Martien van Steenbergen during De Baak » Meet The World 2009, January 2009.

Pitch: Cosmas Blaauw, Caroline van der Linden

2009-01-09T06:44:00.001+01:00

My name is Cosmas Blaauw, director of SharePeople.
At the end of last century, far before the current economic crisis, we were all busy to make careers and to make a lot of money. Including myself.
The last couple of years this has changed and now even bankers know that making money is not enough for our well-being. Also in this MTW-conference you can feel that new vibe.

For this pitch, let’s say I am someone else. Let’s call me Bob Jansen. I am a successful consultant, although currently temporarily ‘on the bench’ because of the economic crisis.
Last months were so hectic. I don’t know what the current crisis will bring me.
I want to DO something. I don’t want to quit my job or stop completely whit what I am doing now, but I need a break.
I would like to share my knowledge with an interesting person. Someone in a complete different world in complete different circumstances. I want to learn it the hard way.
Is there someone in need for me?

Hi, I am Caroline van der Linden from the Baak.
Or, for this pitch let’s call me Tsehai Bogale. I am an Ethiopian woman, with a small eco-tourist site with a couple of beautiful lodges. Although I had some succesfull other businesses I don’t have a lot of experience yet to manage these lodges and I don’t know what should work to attract European tourists. Can you work with me, just for a couple of weeks to help me to make some decisions.

SharePeople is working hard to make perfect matches between organizations in Europe that want to share their Human Capital with and entrepreneurs in developing countries that wants to boost their company.
It is of added value for the European organization
It is a once in a live time learning experience for Bob and a lot of other managers and last but not least,
It helped Tsehai enormously to have some sparring partners, that looked from a different perspective to her business. The new Dorze Lodge opened today!

Please join the SharePeople Ambassadors Network to get the same experience as Bob and Tsehai. The larger our network, the better we are able to make good matches!

Pitch: Martien van Steenbergen

2009-01-08T23:21:00.000+01:00

What is the most contagious business model that changes the economic landscape in such a way that the rivers of money will flow to a whole world?

Our current monetary system is the weapon of mass destruction and worldwide slavery and it is utterly powerful, as we all experience. Boo.
However, we can direct and focus this very same powerful force to create am all-healing laser beam:
The power weapon of mass healing that puts war, unemployment, poverty, disease and global destruction of spaceship Earth into oblivion is a complementary innovative monetary system. It fosters collaboration and community, and exalts mankind and nature to unprecedented heights. It is incredibly simple and only needs guts, leadership and love.

Pitch: Aart van den Bos, Managing Director, Soil & More International

2009-01-08T23:04:00.001+01:00

I have 3 beautiful children. It is likely you also have some children. It is our responsibility to take care of eachothers kids and their kids. Not only now but especially for the future.

What do we do with Soil & More International is : 2 years ago we established the company after we developed a unique composting system that complies with standards of the United Nations for carbon emission reduction projects. Meaning that we receive carbon credits for what we do in 2nd and 3rd world countries. Currently we are active in Mexico, Egypt and South Africa.

Achievements 2008:
- We created more than 150 jobs in the countries mentioned
- We helped over 600 farmers with improving their soils and giving them a better future
- We have reduced this 130.000 tons of CO2 emissions
- We saved 20.000.000 liter of water in agriculture, due to increased waterholding capacity of fertile soils
- Prevented 200.000.000 kg. of organic waste of going to landfills

We see organic waste as a valuable material full of nutrients and minerals which should be given back to earth instead of being land filled.

That we are doing a good job was confirmed a couple of months ago when we were approached by the Clinton Climate Initiative. They are very fond of our technology and our way of working. They want us to apply our method in many more countries which includes heavy investments. We cannot do that alone and therefore we want to work with financially strong partners who are not only interested in financial profits but also value social & ecological returns . We want to make our technology available for the whole world. This is how we take global responsibility. Will you join us?

Pitch: Claire de Haan

2009-01-08T23:01:00.000+01:00

Responsibility is the ability to respond. I have the ability to respond. And so do you all. But how? You are most powerful to respond to a social issue, when you use your moral compass and express your talents and passions. If you want to be more in touch with your environment, first be more in touch with yourself. What touches you is what drives you. With these ingredients we can all be sustainable leaders. Just do it

Pitch: Theo van Sprundel

2009-01-08T22:58:00.002+01:00

Re-development Local Economy

I am an ex international manager and consultant. I experienced that today’s economic system left many local capabilities and potentials unused. We cannot afford that. Global solutions requires that we activate all social capital, apply very short local value chains and come to cradle-to-cradle-approaches, starting in the street where we live.

“Global knowledge and experience is good, but welfare starts with your actions in your street”

We should reinvent the local economy. Small enterprises, self employed people, local institutions and volunteers brought together in an self sustainable, low cost, low end economy system. Idealism is not enough. Local entrepreneurship should provide real rewards and get flexibility by lifting much of the government control. This new local economy will start with pilots in many places, and gain gradually better conditions.

The effects of such a local economy expose directly on national and local budgets (f.e. security or senior care) , but there are also substantial indirect effects (f.e. school participation).

De Baak in discussion with Achmea on the topic of sustainability

2008-12-22T13:54:00.002+01:00

Michiel Res, program director, interviews Erwin Heeneman, innovation manager at Achmea.

What is your view on sustainable operations? Is it a necessity or a luxury for companies?
To secure your company’s reputation in the long term, you have no choice but to operate sustainably. Incidentally, Achmea uses the term CSR. CSR means that we use the available resources in a sustainable manner. The “C” in CSR stands for “Corporate”, which means that our business must be economically sustainable in the long term. In other words, our business must be self-reliant. Sustainability is also a trigger for innovation: if there is scarcity, it makes sense to devise innovative solutions. This is how you turn a problem into an opportunity.

Can you give another example of social innovation at Achmea?
Our commitment to voluntary care. You can be a voluntary care provider the moment that someone around you suddenly needs care. According to the Netherlands Institute for Social Research (SCP), 2.4 million people in the Netherlands are voluntary care providers. Voluntary care providers are often unfamiliar with the many facilities available to them. For example, voluntary care providers are entitled to tax breaks, free parking permits and temporary replacement at work. Voluntary care has a positive effect on patients and reduces the costs of care. We want to develop a digital platform so that voluntary care providers will not have to keep reinventing the wheel. The gains of this initiative are undeniable and the business case is sustainable. The only problem is that classical solutions imply that the costs are for the initiators and the benefits are for (the many) receivers. This raises the question of whether you want to go ahead with it. It calls for a different way of thinking, a broader look at your own organization and at society. The benefits that can be obtained are financial as well as social. You cannot multiply unless you can divide, so you would need to find a suitable formula.

You often see that organizations only have a small team that is concerned with sustainability, the so-called greenwash. How do you incorporate sustainability in the genes of Achmea?
Our higher management members, for example, participate in a group training program of almost one year that we refer to as The Challenge. Each Challenger group addresses social issues such as functional illiteracy, diabetes, homeless youth, voluntary care, and safety and youth. Meanwhile, you as an individual manager can formulate your own learning questions and start working from there. The Challenge is also an opportunity to reflect on what you really want and what really motivates you. If you want to be more in touch with your environment, it is important to be in touch with yourself. This will make it much easier for you to use your potential. In other words, it teaches you to use your own resources in a sustainable manner.

One final question: how do you achieve sustainable innovation?
I would prefer to formulate that question differently: how do you allow people to reach their full potential? We believe we can achieve this by connecting people and by having them share their knowledge. Ask your people to what extent they use their capacities and how much untapped potential they have. Then give them the opportunity to use this potential. This will increase the level of employee involvement and that’s where the real power of innovation lies. As a result, employees will navigate much more on their emotional and moral compass, and this is a prerequisite for sustainable innovation.

More inspiration on the topic of sustainability can be found at Meet The World ’09, Taking Global Responsibility, an international conference held on January 9, 2009 at De Baak Management Centrum VNO-NCW.

Workshop statement III

2008-12-17T17:18:00.003+01:00

The question is no longer whether the transition to a sustainable society will take place, but merely when. We have the expertise and we know it needs to happen. After the Renaissance and the Industrial Revolution, this will be the third fundamental transformation in modern human history. But shaking off a system that is so firmly embedded in the way we think and operate requires a combination of personal commitment and the power of a collective group. A broad social movement is needed in order to put the wheels in motion.

-- Ruud Schuurs is an independent strategic and organizational advisor in the area of corporate social responsibility (CSR) and sustainability

Question: Dramatic announcements of new social revolutions have been announced with great regularity ever since the Industrial Revolution in the late 18th Century (peace, digital, information, cultural, silent, price, hippie, green, sexual, etc.). Does the trend towards sustainability represent a true revolution?

Workshop statement II

2008-12-08T14:46:00.003+01:00

Every human being is a global citizen, in that we all share a fragile planet on which we depend for our livelihoods. Those of us privileged enough to have an education and global connectivity have an unprecedented opportunity to take global responsibility to help solve some of the world’s most pressing problems today, such as deeply entrenched conflict. Reducing the level of global conflict is essential if we continue to share this planet, and learning to do so without war or social injustice is a powerful way of taking global responsibility.

Pauline van der Meer Mohr is a social entrepreneur, non-executive director and former Senior Executive Vice President & Head of Human Resources of ABN AMRO Bank.

Questions: One perceives global conflict as Ms. van der Meer-Mohr describes it as war between states. If this is true, how can we as individuals influence how nations interact? Or are there other ways that individuals play a role in global conflict?

Sound like anybody you know?

2008-12-02T11:32:00.003+01:00

Workshop statement I

2008-11-28T17:50:00.008+01:00

'We cannot be successful nor can we call ourselves successful in a society that fails'

With this in mind DSM is implementing an ambitious sustainability agenda. The present ecological and economical climate calls for effective solutions for:

- Health & wellness: addressing hidden hunger, in both developing and developed world, adding functionality to food;

- Functionality & performance: doing more (functionality) with less (material);

- Climate & energy: sustainable energy, alternative (bio-based) production processes, reducing fossil fuel dependency;

- Emerging economies: sustainable growth, assuring wealth creation for a growing world population.

Fokko Wientjes, Corporate Sustainable Development, DSM NV

Question: DSM is a company that develops products and technologies that touch all of our lives. They do so responsibly (see especially here). How does their decision to pursue responsible research, development and worldwide production affect you personally?

Are you doing "good work"?

2008-11-23T06:08:00.003+01:00

According to author Howard Gardner, profiled in last week's NY Times, there are three questions you can ask yourself to see if you're doing "good work":
1) Does it fit your values?
2) Does it evoke excellence; are you highly competent and effective at what you do? and
3) Does it bring you that subjective barometer of engagement, joy?

Are you doing good work?

Welcome to De Baak, Meet the World

2008-10-16T19:52:00.000+02:00

This is the blog page of De Baak, Meet the World. Our intention is to build a community that centers around the yearly Meet the World initiative of De Baak and its annual theme. Come back often to this site for updates, articles, notices and news about Meet the World and this year's theme, "Taking Global Responsibility." And, don't forget, mark your calendars for 9 January 2009!!!