Thimon de Jong is an expert in the strategic business impact of future human behaviour and societal change.
He is a world-renowned keynote speaker, leadership trainer and also a workshop facilitator.
Thimon is also a lecturer at the social psychology department of Utrecht University.
Recognised for his entertaining presentations and workshops, Thimon delivers speeches that are both academic and practical.
Thimon de Jong is determined not only to inform his audience of theories and facts but also to provide them with practical advice on how to utilise the information and help their business grow.
Over the past decade, he has presented to a variety of large multinationals including Vodafone, Morgan Stanley, Kellogg’s, EY, Tetra Pak, Microsoft, Deloitte, Citywire, Novartis and Warner.
After studying cultural studies and international business, he wrote his master’s thesis on subcultures and started a career in journalism.
As editor-in-chief of a youth magazine, he discovered his passion for interdisciplinary people research and started working as a youth and media researcher for Science of the Time and FreedomLab Future Studies.
In 2007, Thimon de Jong took the role of Insights and Strategy Director for TrendsActive, an international trend interpretation agency. He travelled the world consulting and presenting to multi-national companies.
In 2010 he starred as a jury member in Holland’s Best Idea – a primetime TV show.
He then co-produced an executive program for decision-makers at Utrecht University on the topic of using sociocultural trends for strategic decision making. De Jong is also one of the main lecturers in this program.
In 2014 Thimon started Whetston a think tank on socio-economic and cultural changes that are relevant for strategic decision making. (other speakers also at Whetston include Monte Königs).
Speaking topics by Thimon De Jong include:
Understanding the New Normal – The Human Perspective
The covid pandemic has changed society almost overnight. It has sped up trends that were already happening (e.g. working from home), but also led to surprising spectacular shifts (the return of trust in institutions). Which of these changes will prove to be ’the new normal’ and which ones are just ’a temporary abnormal’?
In this talk, Thimon will deep dive into the physical and digital transformation of our work and private lives.
- What does this transformation mean for our productivity, creativity and engagement?
- What are the solutions for the downsides (e.g. Work From Home Burnout) and how can we keep the upsides (e.g. productivity increase) when the pandemic is over?
- How do these times affect our mental wellbeing and what can leaders do to help their people – and themselves – thrive?
Digitalisation: The Human Response:
The fourth industrial revolution has started and rationally we understand what kind of technology is coming, but are we emotionally ready for it? How can business leaders get their people (and themselves) to embrace all this new technology? The era of using big (people) data has only just started. Furthermore, are people ready for the technology where our emotions are being monitored in real-time (Emotion AI) and used by governments and businesses?
Future Partnerships:
This is a deep dive into how relationships will develop in the 2020s. How will future technology assist in improving partnerships between human beings? Are you ready for a robot or AI colleague? Globally we see that personal and business relationships are getting shorter. But in what ways can companies go against the tide and create strong, long-term partnerships?
The Trust Transition:
In a low-trust, post-truth, VUCA world with plenty of choices and unlimited information, trust is slowly, but steadily moving away from the ‘formal and institutionalised’ towards the ‘personal and informal’. How does this influence decision making? Additionally, how can leaders enhance trust and build trustful business models of the future?
Future Ethics:
This keynote deep dives into the shifting perception of society on ethics. People struggle with the power we have given to laws, rules and numbers to define what is right & wrong – but where do we go next? This topic is fuelled by the rapid developments in the world of AI, as the lines between man and machine are blurring spectacularly, how can we program human ethics in there?
Generation Z (born from 1998 – now):
Are you ready for the REAL next generation? Move over Millennials, we have heard too much about you for too long. Welcome Generation Z! And yes, they are different. These modest entrepreneurial teens have entered the world of work years ago. Wise beyond their years, they approach the world with a raw & fresh perspective. Understanding the main characteristics of Gen Z will prove to be a wake-up call to any future-oriented professional interested in the next generation of customers and colleagues.
Future Human Behaviour in the City of the Future:
How will societies and cities develop over the coming years and how can we expect people to respond? What will the human response to the future digitalisation and automation of society be? With a closer look at the next generations (the Millennials and Generation Z): How do they want to live and furthermore, what do they want from a future city?
