column

Anyone who still talks about digital transformation, is hopelessly behind Digital transformation is an outdated concept. It’s no longer about adopting new technologies, but about the ability to move fast. Yet organisations continue to repeat the same mistakes, writes columnist Simone van Neerven. Instead of trying to create ‘digital people,’ they need to invest in

How to get through 2026: stop complaining, start contributing The constant stream of bad news can easily leave you feeling paralysed. Bibian Mentel’s story shows what can happen when that sense of powerlessness is transformed into action, writes columnist Simone van Neerven. Complaining drains energy; contributing creates it. Bibian Mentel When Bibian Mentel is 20

How to distinguish a toxic instigator from a rebellious dissenter? That employee who constantly asks critical questions may irritate you, but they might not be a nuisance at all. Perhaps they’re actually your greatest talent. Innovation expert Simone van Neerven shares four signs to help you tell the difference. I’ll do it myself Eric Yuan

Fast, faster, fastest? This Nobel Prize winner made her greatest discoveries only after she was no longer allowed to work What do you do when you are suddenly forbidden to work? During World War II, Jewish-Italian neurologist Rita Levi-Montalcini secretly built a laboratory in her bedroom, a decision that would earn her a Nobel Prize

Everyone laughed at his vacuum cleaner; now Dyson is a billionaire He’s been called the “Steve Jobs of home appliances.” And just like Jobs, James Dyson was rejected at every turn. A bagless vacuum cleaner? “Completely ridiculous,” thought the established manufacturers. But Dyson wasn’t discouraged—and he proved them wrong. What entrepreneurs can learn from this

Astrid Holleeder found herself in the clutches of AI, and you are, unknowingly, too After years of isolation, Astrid Holleeder sought solace in ChatGPT. The AI ​​chatbot became her confidante, until it became too scary. Her experience is no exception: research shows that ChatGPT users feel lonelier, writes innovation expert Simone van Neerven. I know

We make fun of the ludicrous ‘sunbed-wars’, but at the office we are no different Hotel guests fighting over a sunbed by the pool: we are quick to condemn such behaviour. But at the office, we do exactly the same, observes innovation expert Simone van Neerven. Asking for too much budget out of fear, claiming

Without these women, we probably would never have heard of Einstein Worldwide, Albert Einstein is celebrated as a genius, but his success was partly due to brilliant women. His story illustrates that innovation is rarely a solo effort but thrives on collaboration, writes innovation expert Simone van Neerven. Iconic photo On March 14, 1951, Albert

Leaving isn’t quitting, it’s evolving. Here are ten signs it is time to go Every day, you drag yourself to the office, feeling out of place and seeing no way out. Your career is at a standstill while frustration is mounting. Do you recognise these warning signs? Then it’s time to write your resignation letter.

Often, the impossible is possible as long as you don’t know it cannot be done A clerk in the U.S. Navy was given an impossible task: design a naval ship in a month. She did it in less than nineteen hours. Her story reveals a problem that every company has, writes innovation expert Simone van

Innovating healthcare? Simple! Embrace your rebellious nurses Sometimes, you must break the rules to achieve better results or… to save a life. That’s precisely what nurse Gayle Kasparian learned when she put two premature twin sisters together in an incubator against protocol. The healthcare sector needs to give such rebel nurses more space, argues innovation

4 simple questions that will make any team more creative In 2023, the Barbie movie soared to box office success, despite nearly being rejected by management. There are lessons to be learned from this story about encouraging creative thinking, says innovation expert Simone van Neerven. Four simple questions can free your team from mediocrity –

One simple question can prevent opportunism from having a devastating domino effect When millions of vultures vanished in India, a 32 billion euro economic disaster followed and hundreds of thousands of people died. We see the same fatal error that caused this disaster daily in Dutch boardrooms, writes innovation expert Simone van Neerven. Disastrous health

8 impossible types at work and their priceless value (you’ll only see it when you get it – johan cruijff) We all know them: that one colleague who says ‘yes, but’ to everything, or that know-it-all who always wants to be right. Annoying? Definitely. But these ‘difficult’ types can be indispensable to your team, writes