DialoogHuys

The UK labour market, with over 34 million people in employment, is one of the largest and most diverse in Europe. This scale offers immense opportunities but also presents unique challenges for leaders, particularly in terms of making the right connections and facilitating discussions that lead to impactful outcomes. With the market’s complexity, senior leaders often face common challenges such as navigating economic uncertainty, fostering innovation, and leading diverse teams across multiple sectors. According to recent studies, 81% of UK businesses report a need for greater focus on leadership development to address these issues effectively. In fact, a survey by the CIPD found that over 70% of leaders in the UK express concern about talent retention and employee engagement, key areas that require strong, strategic leadership to drive transformation. In recognising these challenges, we understood the importance of fostering spaces where leaders can come together, share insights, and learn from one another. To facilitate this dialogue, we sought the right person to guide these discussions in the UK. Allister Frost, with his deep understanding of future-ready leadership, was the ideal fit. His approach has allowed us to elevate these evenings, ensuring that leaders in the UK can connect, engage, and find practical solutions to the shared challenges they face. As we move forward, our mission remains focused on creating platforms that empower leaders to not only tackle the issues of today but also embrace the opportunities of tomorrow. #LeadershipDialogue #UKMarket #LeadershipChallenges #BusinessConnections #FutureFocused

Merry Christmas from the House of Dialogue! 🎄 As 2024 comes to an end, we’re looking back on the powerful conversations we’ve shared this year. Together, we’ve dived into critical topics like sustainability, circularity, CO2 reduction, leadership, and the role of technology in enhancing customer and employee experiences. These discussions haven’t just stayed at the surface—they’ve led to actionable insights and innovative ideas that are reshaping industries and driving meaningful change. This year, alongside C-level leaders, we’ve built bridges that connect challenges to opportunities. Through our dialogue evenings and events, we’ve facilitated spaces where leaders have found solutions to pressing issues, formed long-term strategic partnerships, and gained fresh perspectives on leadership and growth. It’s been about what dialogue delivers: clarity, collaboration, and results. What began as DialoogHuys in the Netherlands has now developed into the House of Dialogue, with a growing focus on creating impact across the Netherlands, the UK, and Belgium. This evolution reflects our commitment to expanding the reach of meaningful conversations while staying true to our roots: fostering innovation, connection, and progress through dialogue. From all of us at the House of Dialogue, we wish you a Merry Christmas and an inspiring New Year. Here’s to 2025—another year of dialogue-driven growth! 🎄✨

Laura Bas, a youth researcher and expert on Gen-Z, explores the significant impact this generation will have on the workplace. As the largest generation in history, Gen-Z is not only set to become the largest segment of the workforce but also represents the most influential consumer group for businesses. Throughout this year, Laura has contributed valuable insights at several of our Dialogue Evenings, presenting compelling data that has provided our guests with a deeper understanding of how to effectively engage and retain Gen-Z employees. Her research also offers guidance on preparing this generation for future leadership roles, emphasising both the challenges and opportunities they present in transforming traditional work attitudes. Watch the video below to gain further insights from Laura’s expertise. 🎥✨ If you're interested in joining the dialogue around Gen-Z with Laura and its impact on the workplace, feel free to send us a message! How do you believe Gen-Z’s values and attitudes will influence the evolution of work in the coming years? #GenZ #FutureOfWork #YouthResearch #GenZImpact #DialogueEvenings

Grateful for Allister Frost, our wonderful host in the UK—looking forward to more engaging dialogue evenings in 2025!

At DialoogHuys, we believe the most impactful connections are made when people step away from formalities and have real conversations. Last week, we partnered with Avanade to host a cooking workshop in Brussels, led by the incredible Michelin-starred chef Yves Mattagne and DialoogHuys’ very own Herman Toch. It was a night of laughter, collaboration, and breaking bread—literally and figuratively. What made it special wasn’t just the food or the wine (though both were exceptional), but the genuine dialogue that unfolded. These moments—sharing ideas, finding common ground, and building trust—are where partnerships truly thrive and where strategies take shape in ways they wouldn’t in a boardroom. We don’t just organise events; we foster dialogues. Dialogues are much more than simple conversations. As human beings, we thrive on meaningful dialogues that build trust and create opportunities with a lasting impact. If this sounds like something your business could benefit from, drop us a message!

Yesterday, we had not one, but two Freshworks collaborative evenings happening simultaneously—one in the Netherlands and one in London! 🌍✨ 🇳🇱 Gen Z in the Workplace – The Real Deal In the Netherlands, we dove into a conversation on Gen Z with Laura Bas. A lot of people walked in a bit unsure about how to manage this new generation, but by the end, it was clear. Gen Z’s different approach to work might be a challenge, but there’s huge potential in the way they do things. The takeaway? They’re not just “different”—they bring valuable opportunities to the table. 💡 Innovation & Strategic Forecasting Meanwhile, over in London, Greg Williams, editor-in-chief of WIRED, was unpacking innovation and strategic forecasting in tech. It wasn’t about chasing the next big thing—it was about how innovation is changing industries for the long haul. Big thanks to Carl Maas for hosting in the Netherlands and Allister Frost for hosting at the Conrad London St. James. A special shoutout to Tero Angeria, Koen Rakers, Shoaib Yunus, and Ross Surplice for making the collaboration possible.

Another standout evening in the books! We had the privilege of hosting a table for Team Rockstars IT, whose vision and drive we deeply admire. The night was filled with brilliant minds and industry leaders, and we were excited to welcome a partner who transitioned from speaker to collaborator—a full-circle moment that underscored the impact of shared insights in shaping a better future. Laura Bas, our guest speaker, enriched the evening with her powerful thoughts on building and sustaining relationships with Gen-Z and how the experience of our C-level guests can be leveraged to pass that knowledge forward. Stay tuned, as we’ll be sharing more of Laura’s key insights next week. ✨ A huge thank you to Tessy van Stuijvenberg & Raymond De Looze for making this collaboration a reality, and to Milou Dijkman for hosting. Here’s to more nights brimming with energy, inspiration, and the conversations that push us forward! 💥

On the 9th of October, we had the privilege of hosting an enlightening session, alongside George Schoof from MAAS International BV, focused on social return and its vital role in creating employment opportunities for individuals distanced from the job market. Rodney van den Hengel, along with police officer Marco den Dunnen have built something truly unique with Heilige Boontjes . This initiative isn’t just about offering support—it’s about giving at risk youth a real shot at a fresh start. Their commitment and vision to create a positive social impact shone through in every part of our conversation, leaving us inspired and hopeful for what’s possible when communities rally around change. We believe it’s crucial to support initiatives that bridge the gap between communities and opportunities. By investing in social return, we not only uplift individuals but also strengthen our society as a whole. Supporting these projects aligns with our core mission of fostering meaningful connections and promoting sustainable change, reinforcing our commitment to social responsibility. Thank you for being a part of the evening Patrick Lusink, Martijn Lekx, Eric Otto, Bas Bodzinga RM EMP, Lone Vaerndal, Christian Vader, Marc van Houten, MBA, Patrick Krul, Jeroen Broeksma, Jaap de Bruijn, Esther Liefers, Barbara Maat PhD, Iris de Jongh, Dieuwke Moerman, Ton Wallast, Marco van Esch for putting together this amazing shortfilm and of course Milou Dijkman for hosting!

✨ Spotlight on Our Founders: Frank & Helga ✨ Ten years ago, Frank Louwers (Me), drawing on his insights as an entrepreneur focused on fostering connections, laid the foundation for DialoogHuys with a vision that addressed a common challenge: many companies lacked the network or connections needed to build truly meaningful relationships with clients and often struggled to reach prospects. His idea was simple yet transformative: to create a platform that brings C-level leaders together in exceptional settings to foster valuable relationships, spark healthy dialogue, and inspire lasting change. As some of you may know, Frank recently suffered a stroke and is currently focused on his recovery, but we remain dedicated to advancing his vision every day—and he’s determined to return! Helga Mathu joined Frank in 2016, driven by a shared passion for connection. Helga is dedicated not only to building external connections but also to advancing an understanding of neuroleadership—the essential inner connection. Today’s world calls for a different kind of leader—leaders who place people at the heart of their mission, know how to engage with others effectively, and foster growth. It’s about understanding your strengths and adapting to what your team needs. These are leaders who stand out through values-driven leadership. Yet, the path to becoming such a leader often remains unclear. How do you truly develop new behaviours that endure, even under pressure or during setbacks? How do we use these insights sustainably to build authentic connections that lead to meaningful relationships? Through our extensive network—built on these meaningful connections—we’re able to offer exactly what our clients need. Together, Frank and Helga have created something exceptional: a space where leaders can engage in impactful conversations that help shape the future of the workplace!

We recently hosted a dynamic roundtable event that brought together a diverse group of C-level executives, all eager to exchange knowledge and expertise. Seeing so many new faces emphasised the importance of expanding beyond our usual circle. Building valuable connections with leaders from various industries allows for fresh perspectives and strengthens relationships, driving both innovation and growth. We believe that fostering this diversity is essential to creating meaningful, impactful conversations that benefit everyone involved. With Martijn Aslander as our speaker—an expert in digital transformation and innovation—we were captivated by his fresh approach to navigating the fast-evolving tech landscape. His talk was filled with practical advice and thought-provoking insights, offering a new perspective on how to stay ahead in today's digital world. A big thank you to everyone who attended, including Michel W.R. van der Meulen, Gilles Cleef & Loran Gailliaert, our partners at Zendesk. As always, the sharing of knowledge and expertise was central to the evening, reinforcing the importance of continuous learning and collaboration.