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, 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 founded Whetston / strategic foresight, a think tank on future human behaviour & societal change and the impact on strategic decision making.
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 de Jong’s 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 Style
Charismatic, passionate and interactive. As one of the most engaging speakers in the world, de Jong grabs any audience with a combination of research, visuals, stories and practical business tools. Described by clients as ‘memorable intellectual entertainment.

Thimon de Jong’s 2023 talks & topics
NAVIGATING THE POLYCRISIS
It is time to envision how human behaviour will change the coming years now that society is hit by a so-called ‘polycrisis’: where several crises in a row (Covid, Ukraine, inflation, recession etc. + the long-term climate crisis) shake up society and rattle our mental wellbeing. How does this affect our behaviour? Decision-making? And leadership?
TRUST PENDULUM
In a low trust / post-truth world with an abundance of choice and unlimited information, trust is slowly, but steadily moving away from the ‘formal and institutional’ towards the ‘personal and informal’. How does this influence (business) decision-making? And: how to become a high-trust leader that fosters a high-trust culture in a high-trust-organisation?
THE FUTURE OF THE PLANET
The 2010’s were mostly about raising awareness. Topic #1: the climate crisis (but also BLM, the #metoo movement and Piketty’s inequality). The 2020’s are all about Action with a capital A! So what can organisations practically DO right now – without being cancelled? How should leaders approach this topic? How can an organizational purpose be aligned with the personal purposes of its employees stakeholders and clients?
THE HUMAN SIDE OF FUTURE TECH
How will people respond to (future) technologies? How can leaders get themselves and their people to rationally ánd emotionally embrace new technology? And what is the perfect balance between the virtual and the physical?
FUTURE PROOF LEADERSHIP
What can leaders practically do today to be ready for the future? On how to navigate the polycrisis, ride the next wave of digitalisation, embrace new ways of working, increase trust and take care of the planet and themselves?
THE FUTURE OF WORK
What are the practical implications of the future of work? How much flexible / WFH / remote / hybrid / metaverse work are we going to do? And how to attract the next generation of workers: what does the talent of the future want? How to attract and keep them?
GENERATION Z: COLLABORATIVE ACTION
Gen Z is making quite an impact! How do they differ from older generations? And how to create a thriving collaborative multi-generational work place? We practice what we preach: this topic is often presented in duo-presentation format with two Gen Z’ers or a Gen Z’er with a Gen X’er.
MENTAL SURPLUSV
The topic of mental health is rapidly becoming as ‘normal’ as physical health. Employees are actively looking for mental health resources at work and see their manager as one of these resources. Any future proof leader should start working on a mental surplus today with a focus on empathy skills and emotional intelligence.