About Koen

Guide for boards and executives facing complex organizational challenges

Collaboration can be quite challenging. Doesn’t matter whether you are four or four hundred. It requires agreements and structure, but above all, it’s about people. That makes it complex – and not very predictable. A bit like raising a child. Or growing a garden. When you start to look at collaboration this way, your perspective on structure, leadership, and processes changes. Management takes on a new meaning. Your organization becomes a garden – you, the gardener.

As an organizational coach and guide for executives, I focus less on the content. After all, that is your domain. You’re the expert there, no doubt about it.
The real challenge often lies in the form or structure. That needs to fully support what you’re trying to achieve. Because no matter how competent and engaged your team is: working within a poorly functioning structure is frustrating—and can quite literally make people sick.

Too little structure

“Clients are unhappy - there's no system, and they feel it."

"Colleagues often do not know who is responsible for that one task."

"The constant uncertainty about who does what just drains your energy."

Too much structure

“For everything I have to do in my job, I run into a wall of rules."

“It feels like change is simply impossible in our organization."

"Doing my job feels a bit like slogging through mud."

Searching for that optimal form and structure: that's what gets me going.

When managers tell me about the difficulties in their organization, all my antennas spontaneously go up. Not out of schadenfreude, but out of curiosity and a desire to help solve that often challenging puzzle.

Andsolving it? I don’t do that by clinging to grand theories or models. I have knowledge and experience in abundance, but I prefer to combine them with a large dose of intuition and pragmatism. Whether you hire me for organizational design, as a process facilitator or to deliver an inspiration session: I like to work with what presents itself, and what’s truly possible within the context you’re in. Through dialogue and (self)reflection we untangle complex processes together. Step by step.

From conservatory student to organizational coach

I began my career in 1988 as a classically trained musician. A career on stage and in education seemed the obvious path. But what happened behind the scenes fascinated me even more than my scores. For 15 years I worked as a business manager and director with various professional top ensembles and orchestras across Europe.

This not only gave me a lot of insight into the international cultural sector. I also experienced first-hand how creative organizations function (and what doesn’t work at all).

Along the way I stumbled upon my true ‘why’: guiding organizations toward a healthier way of (co)working. I immersed myself in new organizational forms, systemic approach, team dynamics, strategic thinking, and servant leadership.

As an external coach, I’ve since seen the inner workings of over a hundred organizations – from architectural firms and cultural organizations to non profits in the health sector, government agencies, social profit, and even the Belgian Navy. What strikes me across all these organizations is how essential it is that form and content are aligned.

Of course, leadership, people, purpose, strategy and so much more all play a crucial role in any organization. But without an appropriate structure, everything becomes molasses. Even the best intentions get bogged down in it. That’s why I chose to focus on organizational design, because it is an ironclad lever to set an entire system in motion.

It’s often a bit daunting for everyone involved—including me, still, after all these years.

I see myself as a guide—a compagnon de route—for leaders who want to improve the health of their organization.

Clients often tell me they appreciate the calm and perspective I bring. It helps them to quickly get to the essence, beyond the walls of doubt, egos, and insecurities.

7 reasons why customers choose me

30 years of experience

Guided 150 organizations

Generalist

Inspirational presence

Quick to the essence

Human helicopter

Safe haven

These are the people and organizations I most enjoy working with

If you had asked the younger Koen who my ideal clients were, I would certainly have answered: “they should do something with art and creativity”. Today, that’s less important to me: I’m happy to support anyone whose ambitions reach beyond personal ego, contributing towards a better world.

Given my background in the arts, I still enjoy joining forces with organizations from the (socio)cultural sector, but in truth, I feel at home in any non-profit organization or cooperative.

I’m primarily here for the people at the top of the organization: partners, board members, and other leaders. Because they, through their position, can effectively change the entire (eco)system within which their organization functions.

Furthermore, it is good to know that I:

have a soft spot for innovative start-ups
draw a lot of energy from collaborations with younger generations
find it very inspiring to work with organizations operating in major urban environments or active internationally

Want to zoom out on the broader picture?

I prefer to meet face-to-face, over a good cup of coffee. This way, we can both sense right away if I’m the right person to guide your organization (rest assured: if that is not the case, I will gladly refer you to one of my colleagues).