What we learned in the Business Circle
Imagine this: you have a group of people with diverse backgrounds together, from a marketer in construction to a strategist in FMCG. What happens when they think together about the future of communities? Exactly: you get surprising insights, sharp questions and ideas that you can really use.
How do you build communities as an organization in this day and age?
Business Circle participants meet three times a year to work through the lens of our Futurise®-trend model to look at trends and developments and how they affect our business. Our last meeting of 2024 was all about building communities. Niels gave a presentation on Community paradoxes, in which he addressed how the spirit of the times affects the way we work together its and together work. We discussed how to build strong communities while responding to apparent contradictions.
We dove into the 5 key paradoxes:
- Global vs local
- Diversity vs like-mindedness
- Renewal vs preservation
- Autonomy vs authority
- Collectivity vs individuality
These insights have been compiled into a Futurise® Trend report, which, of course, we'd love to share with you. Want to learn more about how to build communities that stay relevant in these complex times? Download the report here.
We love both theory and practice. That is what we combine in our meetings. Community participant Karen Pasman, manager Marketing and Communication at construction company van Wijnen, shared her experiences with building a community. She talked about a specific project that works well and what she ran into. And she immediately asked the group to think with her about a specific issue she is currently working on.
What makes our meetings valuable?
- From Fresh Forward, we share our knowledge about our Futurise®-trend model: participants learn to understand trends and developments and translate them to their own organization. So it's not just about inspiration, but also practical applicability.
- We learn from each other: no one-way traffic or just networking drinks. We really go into depth, interactively and openly, with practicalcases and insights that extend beyond the meeting itself.
- It's also just plain fun: we are a fun, diverse group of people who share their curiosity about the future and enjoy getting together.
One participant articulated this aptly:
"Building communities is more than sharing words; it's building bridges between ideas and people. The real added value lies in creating connections that inspire, strengthen and enable change. That's what excites me enormously about this wonderful group of people at the Business Circle!" - Chris Vedder, CycloVriend/Bike Supply Shop
And 2025?
Also next year we will meet three times to explore trends that make an impact on your work and business. Whether you work in sports, finance, mobility, government or food: in the Business Circle you will discover how social developments affect our business and our work and can strengthen them.
Are you connecting?
The Business Circle is for curious strategists, innovation managers and marketers who want to learn, share and discover. Participation is free, but we count on your involvement. Curious? Call or email Niels And join us one time without obligation. At worst, you'll go home with new ideas AND an enjoyable evening.
Hilversum, December 16, 2024
By Niels Hansen
