During De Speld's closing keynote at NIMA Marketing Day on June 16, 2022, colleague Matt van der Poel won the golden tapir. He was presented with the award by keynotes Rutger Mollee and Michiel Eijsbouts. They closed NMD 2022 with razor-sharp analyses, news flashes, surveys and interviews to provide the marketing industry with much-needed air and witty commentary.
Marketing Tribune spoke to "lucky winner" Matt after the NMD in an exclusive interview:
You won the golden tapir. A huge honor I assume?
Absolutely, especially considering that Sifan Hassan, Jeff Bezos and Tony Chocolonely were the other nominees.
What was going through your mind when you stood on stage and received the award?
An indescribable feeling of bliss.
Until the golden tapir, what was the award/trophy/nomination you were most proud of?
My swimming certificate A that I got after 2 years of toiling in the water out of pity. That's where it ended.
What does this award mean for your career?
Considering that as many as 3 out of 1,500 people in the room sent me a LinkedIn request, I think my career is entering a new "brand life cycle.
Do you have any tips for marketers who also want to win this award?
Just put down a lot of money. As you heard during the ceremony, Gerrit Zalm won it last year. Need I say more?
