Brazen Leaders - The Human Edge

I was very happy to have a conversation with Rik Vera for my latest episode of People&Digital, the podcast, as he’s such a highly respected customer experience thought leader – in Belgium and beyond. An influential business philosopher, coach and advisor, he inspires people with an approach to CX, disruption, sales and marketing based on culture, curiosity and responsibility.

We spoke about why the customer should always be the centre of your universe, how companies can avoid being the ‘Trumps’ of the business world, and why acting like a surfer is a shortcut to success.

Here are some of Rik’s thoughts on bringing his strategy of ‘extreme customer centricity’ into your working life. 

1. Pay attention to your language
Rik points out that so many companies depersonalise the human being through their language, which makes it harder for them to actually engage with their customers.

2. Assess whether you’re really, truly putting the customer first
Try to gauge whether you’re actually making the customer the centre of your universe or whether you’ve reduced everything to KPIs, Rik says. 

3. Curiosity is the key to bringing value in the Covid-19 landscape
Rik discusses how his idea of a ‘net curiosity score’ could be a way for companies to navigate the ‘new normal’ after the Covid-19 pandemic. 

4. Use new technology to your advantage
You need to make sure your communication tools are working for you, Rik explains. 

5. Embrace the chaos
Chaos isn’t always a bad thing, says Rik. Companies that are open to disruption are often the most successful. 

6. Conquer your overwhelm
There’s no need to be overwhelmed in the fast-paced world of business, according to Rik. Try to see change as exciting rather than stressful.

7. Don’t stick to what you know
Rik explains that the companies that entrench themselves in their older ways of working will fail, while those that “Uberize” their business will succeed.

8. Dive into the surfer mindset
You can only learn to surf by surfing, says Rik. You get better wave by wave by wave – and that’s exactly what you need to do to run a business.

9. Become more agile by practising agility
You don’t need to put into place a plan to become more agile as a company – you just need to start to solve customer frustrations, Rik explains.

Rik had so much more to tell me in the podcast. Make sure to listen if you’d like some extra advice on embracing extreme customer centricity and boosting your business!

Useful links:

• a summarized, quick-read version right here
• Take the quiz! Which book do you need to boost your digital transformation in times of crisis?
• Sign up for the Digital Letters

Every week,  you’ll find a new episode in your favorite podcast player to feed your thoughts.

In the meantime, if you want to discuss, ask me a question or react to a topic, I’m easy to find on ... Linkedin , Instagram, Facebook , Twitter

Don't hesitate to reach out!

Talk to you soon!

The Nerve, my weekly newsletter on transformation under real conditions: https://ameliebeerens.com/the-nerve
Work with me: https://ameliebeerens.com/consulting

This week, we explore the so galvanized concept of Digital strategy with Michel Demoor. A very insightful conversation where we discuss Strategy prototyping, positive&constructive collaboration on digital projects and of course... what's CX strategy!
It's packed with various additional insights and examples.

Useful links:

• a summarized, quick-read version of Michel’s interview
• Sign up for the Digital Letters

Every week,  you’ll find a new episode in your favorite podcast player to feed your thoughts.

In the meantime, if you want to discuss, ask me a question or react to a topic, I’m easy to find on ... Linkedin , Instagram, Facebook , Twitter

Don't hesitate to reach out!

Talk to you soon!

The Nerve, my weekly newsletter on transformation under real conditions: https://ameliebeerens.com/the-nerve
Work with me: https://ameliebeerens.com/consulting

You can have a positive impact and start to boost your digital journey right now.

It’s always a good moment to start.

This week we'll explore the list of the 10 best practices that improve EVERY relationship.

You can also find the summary article right here.

During the episode, I refer to these links:

• Sign up for the Digital Letters
• How to be an agile and resilient manager
• Visit my website

You can find the recap and the full article right here!

Don't hesitate to reach out if you have any questions!

Every week,  you’ll find a new episode in your favorite podcast player to feed your thoughts.

In the meantime, if you want to discuss, ask me a question or react to a topic, I’m easy to find on ... Linkedin , Instagram, Facebook , Twitter

Don't hesitate to reach out!

Talk to you soon!

The Nerve, my weekly newsletter on transformation under real conditions: https://ameliebeerens.com/the-nerve
Work with me: https://ameliebeerens.com/consulting

You can have a positive impact and start to boost your digital journey right now.

It’s always a good moment to start.

This week we'll explore the list of the 7 important things to get in motion to improve your Customer Experience.

During the episode, I refer to these links:

• Get your free guide to create a Customer Journey Map. 
• Build 5 powerful habits to become customer-centric minded.
• Signup for the Digital Letter

You can find the recap and the full article right here!

Don't hesitate to reach out if you have any questions!

Every week,  you’ll find a new episode in your favorite podcast player to feed your thoughts.

In the meantime, if you want to discuss, ask me a question or react to a topic, I’m easy to find on ... Linkedin , Instagram, Facebook , Twitter

Don't hesitate to reach out!

Talk to you soon!

The Nerve, my weekly newsletter on transformation under real conditions: https://ameliebeerens.com/the-nerve
Work with me: https://ameliebeerens.com/consulting

Brooklyn-based UX designer Jonathan Haines specialises in creating seamless user experiences online. But when he’s not working at his day job or spending time running and playing basketball, you can find him figuring out ways to help new UX designers thrive. 

Having worked for an early-stage education tech startup, Jon is passionate about the intersection between education and technology – so he was the first person I wanted to ask for advice on starting out in UX design as a beginner.

Here, Jon shares the info he’s picked up during his UX journey, including why negative feedback always shouts a lot louder than positive feedback, and how UX design can have as much as a 9,900% ROI. 

Or, if you’re short on time, I’ve also condensed all of Jon Haines's key tips – FAQ style – in a summarized, quick-read version right here.

Useful links:

• Take the quiz! Which book do you need to boost your digital transformation in times of crisis?
• Sign up for the Digital Letters

Every week,  you’ll find a new episode in your favorite podcast player to feed your thoughts.

In the meantime, if you want to discuss, ask me a question or react to a topic, I’m easy to find on ... Linkedin , Instagram, Facebook , Twitter

Don't hesitate to reach out!

Talk to you soon!

The Nerve, my weekly newsletter on transformation under real conditions: https://ameliebeerens.com/the-nerve
Work with me: https://ameliebeerens.com/consulting

Learning how to give and receive feedback – without causing any tears! – was a game-changer in my working life. 

Throughout my time in business school, and during the early years of my career, no one explained the importance of constructive criticism to me. 

And the results on both my personal and professional life were damaging. 

I wasn’t able to share information in a constructive way. I started to build up resentment towards my colleagues. I was easily discouraged. And I ended up doing almost everything on my own. 

Basically, all the symptoms of a terrible communication setup.

But then, I finally learned how to give feedback, as well as receive it with grace, and it transformed my way of collaborating.

But I wish somebody had taught me earlier – so here are my 7 secrets to giving feedback, to help you avoid making the same mistakes. 

Or, if you’re short on time, I’ve also condensed all my key tips – FAQ style – in a summarized, quick-read version right here.

Useful links:

• Take the quiz! Which book do you need to boost your digital transformation in times of crisis?
• Sign up for the Digital Letters

Every week,  you’ll find a new episode in your favorite podcast player to feed your thoughts.

In the meantime, if you want to discuss, ask me a question or react to a topic, I’m easy to find on ... Linkedin , Instagram, Facebook , Twitter

Don't hesitate to reach out!

Talk to you soon!

The Nerve, my weekly newsletter on transformation under real conditions: https://ameliebeerens.com/the-nerve
Work with me: https://ameliebeerens.com/consulting

Most product launches fail and more than 80% of startups fail. 

Most of these fold because their creators misread the market demand. 

These numbers are enough to make you dizzy, so I wanted to speak with Yannick Khayati, a digital native who, in his own words, is “somewhere in the field between marketing and innovation”.

Yannick loves innovation, so he decided to combine the two and launch what he calls an 'actionable validation studio'.

“What they do is basically test ideas,” with his agency, Cosmos Collective. 

Yannick’s current motto is ‘test before you invest’. He believes that collecting data to confirm whether ideas have a market allows startups and corporations to make evidence-based decisions on whether to go ahead with – or kill – the projects they're working on. 

Here’s Yannick’s advice on the fascinating topic of idea validation. 

Or, if you’re short on time, I’ve also condensed all of Yannick Khayati's key tips – FAQ style – in a summarized, quick-read version right here.

Useful links:

• Take the quiz! Which book do you need to boost your digital transformation in times of crisis?
• Sign up for the Digital Letters

Every week,  you’ll find a new episode in your favorite podcast player to feed your thoughts.

In the meantime, if you want to discuss, ask me a question or react to a topic, I’m easy to find on ... Linkedin , Instagram, Facebook , Twitter

Don't hesitate to reach out!

Talk to you soon!

The Nerve, my weekly newsletter on transformation under real conditions: https://ameliebeerens.com/the-nerve
Work with me: https://ameliebeerens.com/consulting

Ludovic Delmas and Colton Schweitzer are the brains behind Kickass UX, an awesome company that empowers graphic designers transitioning to the growing field of UX design.

The senior UX designers kept seeing students leave university and bootcamp with the same cookie-cutter portfolios – a paradigm they wanted to change. Now, they help people learn the actual process of UX design from scratch while also encouraging them to produce work that’s completely their own. 

Ludovic and Colton had so much to tell me about UX design during our podcast together, including some other traps to avoid when entering the industry.

Or, if you’re short on time, I’ve also condensed all of Ludovic and Colton's key tips – FAQ style – in a summarized, quick-read version right here.

Useful links:

• Take the quiz! Which book do you need to boost your digital transformation in times of crisis?
• Sign up for the Digital Letters

Every week,  you’ll find a new episode in your favorite podcast player to feed your thoughts.

In the meantime, if you want to discuss, ask me a question or react to a topic, I’m easy to find on ... Linkedin , Instagram, Facebook , Twitter

Don't hesitate to reach out!

Talk to you soon!

The Nerve, my weekly newsletter on transformation under real conditions: https://ameliebeerens.com/the-nerve
Work with me: https://ameliebeerens.com/consulting

Is learning how to pitch can improve your leadership?

If you're in the world of startups, you might know my latest podcast guest, Christoph Sollich, better by his alter ego: The Pitch Doctor. 

True to his name, the German consultant has helped roughly 2,000 fledgling companies learn how to present their ideas better (not to mention countless entrepreneurs and university students).

Christoph says his mission is to make sure that budding businesses fail for good reasons – and that having a bad pitch isn't a good reason. 

Find out why Christoph thinks pitching is like dating – but not rocket science – and how he believes ALL parts of your life will improve if you learn how to deliver your ideas properly.

Or, if you’re short on time, I’ve also condensed all of Christoph’s key tips – FAQ style – in a summarized, quick-read version right here.

Useful links:

• Take the quiz! Which book do you need to boost your digital transformation in times of crisis?
• Sign up for the Digital Letters

Every week,  you’ll find a new episode in your favorite podcast player to feed your thoughts.

In the meantime, if you want to discuss, ask me a question or react to a topic, I’m easy to find on ... Linkedin , Instagram, Facebook , Twitter

Don't hesitate to reach out!

Talk to you soon!

The Nerve, my weekly newsletter on transformation under real conditions: https://ameliebeerens.com/the-nerve
Work with me: https://ameliebeerens.com/consulting

Maeva Cifuentes is a Content marketing expert, founder of Flying Cat Marketing, that you should definitely follow if it’s not done yet, but for this show, I wanted to speak with her about the benefits & challenges of outsourcing 

It’s an entirely different subject to her main expertise.

So why would I ask the head of a B2B marketing agency about hiring external agencies or freelance contractors on this show?

Well, because Maeva has in-depth experience both in outsourcing and insourcing. Companies turn to her for access to high-value content and marketing strategies that they would struggle to implement alone.

The Barcelona-based businesswoman is also currently building an in-house team at her agency while working with expert contractors to help her company’s success 

It’s a pick-and-mix approach that has so far reaped rewards.

In this episode discover actionable advice from Maeva on the top ways to approach outsourcing.

You'll find answers to questions like:

When and why should I outsource tasks?
Do I have to hire a specialist? Can’t I just find someone who can do it all?
What does success look like when outsourcing?
How much money should I be willing to invest in outsourcing?
How do I go about outsourcing?
What’s the most damaging belief when outsourcing?
Which questions should I ask when outsourcing? 
And many more!

Discover actionable advice from Maeva on the top ways to approach outsourcing in this week’s episode of People&Digital. Or, if you’re short on time, I’ve also condensed all of Maeva’s key tips – FAQ style – in a summarized, quick-read version right here

 Useful links:

• Take the quiz! Which book do you need to boost your digital transformation in times of crisis?
• Sign up for the Digital Letters

Every week,  you’ll find a new episode in your favorite podcast player to feed your thoughts.

In the meantime, if you want to discuss, ask me a question or react to a topic, I’m easy to find on ... Linkedin , Instagram, Facebook , Twitter

Don't hesitate to reach out!

Talk to you soon!

The Nerve, my weekly newsletter on transformation under real conditions: https://ameliebeerens.com/the-nerve
Work with me: https://ameliebeerens.com/consulting