ESG & Leadership

Do pension funds have to choose between financial returns and societal impact? According to Professor Stefan Thewissen, this is a false dilemma. In his inaugural lecture on 22 May, he argues that the two do not have to be mutually exclusive. He calls on the sector to invest in societal impact, returns, and the quality of decision-making in a legitimate and professional way.

AI is fundamentally reshaping work, putting employees at risk of losing their sense of ownership, motivation, and professional identity. Dieter Vlaminck emphasizes that organizations should use AI to empower people rather than replace them, so that professionals remain the authors of their own work.

AI isn't just the next efficiency upgrade for accounting. It's a fundamental reshaping of the profession. Prof. Niels van Nieuw Amerongen and Arno Schalck (PIA Group) see five major shifts.

Nyenrode is the number one provider in the Netherlands for customized executive education programs, according to the latest Financial Times Ranking.

Artificial intelligence (AI) changes work, but human capability still drives impact.

Supply chains are at a turning point. For decades, efficiency was the main focus. But regulations, geopolitical tensions, trade shifts, climate disruptions, and AI are forcing organizations to rethink this approach. In his inaugural lecture, Professor Taher Ahmadi presents a new framework for supply chain management, arguing that future-ready supply chains must be collaborative, intelligent, circular, and resilient. They cannot rely on efficiency alone.

Trade conflicts, shortages of raw materials, and increasingly stringent sustainability regulations are forcing organizations to rethink their role within the supply chain. After many years in which companies primarily focused on efficiency and cost reduction, collaboration is now increasingly becoming a strategic prerequisite. In his emeritus speech on 8 May, Professor of Supply Chain Management Jack van der Veen therefore argues for a perspective that transcends individual organizations and focuses on the chain as a whole.

Supply chains are under growing pressure from sustainability demands, geopolitical tensions, scarce raw materials, and regulation. Nyenrode researched a practical methodology that maps the sustainability impact of products across the entire supply chain. The key takeaway: perfection is not a requirement.