These are highly uncertain times. That can be a threat. But it’s also an opportunity. On 5 Virtual Fridays, Peter Hinssen and 9 of his friends will show you which seismic shocks are just around the corner and how your organization can prepare for the Never Normal of organizing, innovating, operations, consumer behavior, problem solving and communicating. It’s time to prepare for the unpreparable. 


Join the ‘Thriving in the Never Normal’ Virtual Friday series. In only 30 minutes you will learn from ‘top of their field’-experts and have all of your questions answered during a live Q&A session. After each session you will receive a link to the recording.

Your Host: Peter Hinssen

Serial entrepreneur, advisor, keynote speaker and author

A serial entrepreneur, advisor, keynote speaker and author, Peter is one of the most sought-after thought leaders on radical innovation, leadership and the impact of all things digital on society and business. He lectures at various business schools such as the London Business School (UK) and MIT in Boston (US). Peter has founded nexxworks to help organizations become fluid, innovate and thrive in 'The Day After Tomorrow'.

8 May 2020 | 14.00 - 14.45 BST

The Never Normal

On the first Virtual Friday, Peter Hinssen explains why we are entering the Never Normal, a time when nothing but uncertainty is certain and where we will need a VACINE (Velocity, Agility, Creativity, Innovation, Networks and Experimentation) to be able to thrive. 

Pascal Coppens joins Peter to explain what we can learn from China, a country that seems at ease with responding to uncertainty in fast and agile manners. He will offer many inspiring practical examples and cases. 

15 May 2020 | 14.00 - 14.45 BST

Antifragile Operations

On the second Virtual Friday, Peter invites Rik Vera and Adriaan Van Horenbeek to share their vision on 'Antifragile Operations'. Rik explains how we can design our supply chains, production and logistics to become antifragile.

As stated by Nicholas Nassim Taleb, exposure to stressors, shocks, volatility, attacks, or failures only makes them stronger instead of weaker. Adriaan will zoom in on the crucial importance of data and analytics in this process. 

5 June 2020 | 14.00 - 14.45 BST

Math (Wo)Men Saving The World

The world is facing a huge amount of highly complex and intricately connected problems like an ageing population, environmental problems, water problems, migration, terrorism, a new cold war etc. This time Peter invites Ann Dooms, leading the research group of Digital Mathematics at the VUB, to explain how the purest of science can help us solve some of the problems that keep increasing the uncertainty of our environment. 

Cristina Conti, SAS senior manager Artificial Intelligence EMEA, will share cases and examples of data science used in healthcare, (renewable) energy etc. that have helped to create a better world. 

29 May 2020 | 14.00 - 14.45 BST

Customer Experience in Uncertain Times

This week Peter welcomes two CX experts, Steven Van Belleghem and Steven Hofmans. More and more commercial approaches involve filters and subscription models. Think about bots like Alexa and Google Home, or food-box subscriptions. This results in customer relationships becoming increasingly complex and uncertain. 

Steven Van Belleghem explains the three best practices brands should follow to stay relevant and visible: transactional convenience, emotional convenience and helping customers save the world. Steven Hofmans explains how data and analytics can help create this transactional & emotional convenience. 

12 June 2020 | 14.00 - 14.45 BST

Facing or faking reality?

In this last Virtual Friday session, Peter asks two experts, Tom Van de Weghe and Fijoy Vadakkumpadan, to share their view on the current infodemic. Today, even ‘reality’ is increasing in uncertainty. Where (most) media used to inform us, we are now bombarded with disinformation through social media. Tom Van de Weghe, journalist for Belgian national television and AI expert, explains the roots of the problem and how individuals and companies can battle fake news. 

Fijoy Vadakkumpadan, manager Computer Vision at SAS, talks about the interpretation of information and how it can be used for decisioning. He offers cases and examples and shares how organizations have used data science to battle disinformation, inside and outside their structures. 

Peter Hinssen and Friends

Peter Hinssen

Steven Hofmans

Pascal Coppens

Ann Dooms

Rik Vera

Cristina Conti

Adriaan Van Horenbeek

Tom Van de Weghe

Steven Van Belleghem

Fijoy Vadakkumpadan

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