Thimon De Jong, strategic foresight expert and passionate, interactive speaker.
Examining how human behaviour and societal change influence business has never been more important. Syncing a business strategy with rapid societal changes and dynamic human behaviour is a challenge. Luckily, a new style of expert has emerged, with De Jong proving one of the most successful. Able to use socio-psychological and cultural change to meet the strategic needs of different industries, it is little wonder he is becoming one of the most sought after speakers of his generation.
Over the past ten years de Jong has worked as keynote speaker and leadership trainer for organisations like Morgan Stanley, Microsoft, HP, Ikea, Skanska, Vodafone, Tetra Pak, Novartis, Kellogg, Merck & Luxottica.
After studying cultural studies and international business, he wrote his Master’s thesis on subcultures and started his working career in journalism.
In his role as editor-in-chief of a youth platform (magazine & website) 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, de Jong took the role of Insights and Strategy director for TrendsActive, an international trend interpretation agency. In this role, he travelled the world consulting and presenting to numerous multinational companies. In 2010 he starred as a jury member in Holland’s Best Idea – a primetime TV-show. In 2011 he co-produced an executive programme for decision makers at Utrecht University on the topic of using sociocultural trends for strategic decision making.
In 2014 he started Whetston / strategic foresight, a think tank on future human behaviour and societal change and the impact on strategic decision making. His company specializes in keynote presentations and workshops.
De Jong is determined not only to inform his audience of research, insights and business cases, but also to provide them with practical strategic take-aways on how to utilise the information and help their business grow.
Thimon is charismatic, passionate and interactive as a speaker, engaging the audience
with a combination of research, visuals, stories and practical business tools. Described by clients as ‘memorable intellectual entertainment.’
Current Roles & Positions
- Founder/director of think tank Whetston / strategic foresight
- Lectures at the social psychology department of Utrecht University
- Advisory board member of IOT scale-up 30Mhz, IMC Weekend School presentation trainer
Speaking topics
- Future Digitalisation: The Human Response
- The Future of Partnerships
- The Trust Transition
- The Future of Ethics – on Chief Morality Officers, AI ethics & The Quantified Good
- Generation Z (born from 1998 – now)
