Now that the modern business world is becoming increasingly complex for sales representatives and sales managers, it's time for a new strategy. With consolidated customer data and a successful CI (Customer Intelligence) strategy, sales representatives can establish a closer connection with the customer in order to increase sales revenue. CI has quickly risen to prominence, and sales departments should adapt accordingly. This is one of the conclusions reached by Konstantinos Rigopoulos in his dissertation titled "Customer Intelligence and its Effect on Buyer-Seller Relationships in Business Markets", for which he will receive his doctorate from Nyenrode Business Universiteit on September 17 2018.

Capitalism and market forces have brought us great prosperity and progress. However, our current corporate governance system has compromised the stability and future of our society, explains Prof. Dr. Leen Paape in his speech. Our economy should not just be about profit and shareholder value, but about creating sustainable value, for everyone. According to Paape, it's time to broaden our view and redefine corporate governance. He calls upon society to relinquish the dominant logic and introduce system thinking, to define the long term and look for ways to allow companies to further take their place in society and strive for sustainable value creation.

Wouter Gudde, former professional footballer and now commercial director of the Rotterdam-based Eredivisie club Excelsior. He's taking part in the Sports Leadership Program at Nyenrode Business Universiteit. He is very hopeful that the program will ‘hit the back of the net’ in pursuing its goal of helping participants make a lasting impact in the sports world.