Hans Diels
Hans Diels is a future thinker at the entrepreneurial platform ETION, where he passionately explores the realms of cutting-edge technologies and transformative social developments. He writes about new technologies and social evolutions, sharing his expertise through keynotes and engaging workshops on future thinking and trend analysis.
What Hans Diels's clients say
"I had the pleasure of listening to Hans at a joint Brexit event by VIB/PICS/CSCMP Benelux in the Port of Zeebrugge in October 2017. He combines in-depth political understanding with clever business analysis and thus contributed greatly to this event."
"One of the main things I discovered was that the link between geopolitics and potential impact on our companies is becoming ever clearer. Even people who experienced it or knew about it, now clearly see that international politics has consequences for the local entrepreneurial climate."
Available for
Languages:Â
- Dutch ,
- English
Hans Diels's 2024 biography
Who is Hans Diels?
Hans Diels is a future thinker and geo-political expert on business platform ETION. He will talk you through the main trends that are changing the world and take a closer look at the impact they will have on us as citizens and entrepreneurs. He shows how the political, social and technological changes that we are currently facing merely herald an even more turbulent period of geo-political unrest. With passion, he will guide you through a world full of change. In his book, Het Onzekerheidsvoordeel, he offers companies a foothold in today’s world of uncertainty. Currently he’s writing a book on how geopolitical events are disrupting economics.
Before joining ETION, Hans worked at the US Embassy in Belgium, at the Belgian ministry of Foreign Affairs, at the Belgian Parliament and as a researcher at the University of Antwerp. He studied political science, international relations and economics at the University of Louvain, the University of Louvain-la-Neuve and the London School of Economics external program.
Hans Diels's 2024 talks & topics
Strategy in uncertainty
The usual strategy concepts are no longer working in a rapidly changing world. Companies must prepare for various alternative futures. It is an illusion to think that there is just one ideal strategy. Companies that are able to embrace this uncertainty, scan the horizon for rising trends and test their strategy options in various scenarios, tend to be more competitive than their rivals, who still believe in the illusion of certainty.
(Based on my book, ‘Het Onzekerheidsvoordeel’ (The advantage of uncertainty)
Geopolitical disruption
After the (geopolitically) calm ‘90s, we now find ourselves back in a world of increasing political conflict between nation states. With goods, money, data and flows of people increasingly being weaponised. More and more companies are feeling the consequences of economic and financial sanctions, refusal of market access, informal harassment and cyber attacks. This lecture addresses the most recent evolutions in economic warfare, while also examining how companies can better protect themselves against it.
Mega trends
Demographic change, climate change, increased connectivity and a shift in the geo-economic centre of gravity towards the East. What is the impact of these major changes on our world? And what will ever-accelerating technological change mean for us? How will these mega trends influence our world from a living, working and enterprise perspective?
Political volatility: current conflicts and their impact
In this presentation, Hans shows how increasing political volatility is being created and how this is having an impact on markets and the supply chains of companies. He zooms in on the most important trends and their impact on opportunities and risks for companies. He uses vivid examples from recent headlines, and also looks into the future, to illustrate how interaction between politics and markets will only increase and why companies must bear this in mind within their strategies.
The Frontier of Growth
New economic opportunities in the most dynamic parts of the world. In the same way that frontiersmen in the Wild West went looking for spectacular opportunities but also encountered enormous risks, great opportunities are now available in the fastest growing countries in the world. During this presentation, Hans shows how countries such as Ethiopia, Rwanda, Bangladesh, Myanmar and Laos offer great prospects for companies that are willing to move there. He describes how the political environment in these countries still has a massive impact on the economy and how companies can exploit this.
Europe’s Business Model under pressure
Geopolitical shifts are putting pressure on Europe’s way of creating wealth. Evolutions in relations with Russia, China and the US are creating a series of challenges for Europe that, if left unaddressed, will jeopardize our prosperity. In this lecture, Futurist and Expert Geopolitics, Hans Diels, discusses how abundant energy, markets with a level playing field and reliable supply chains will no longer be a matter of course for Europe in the coming years. He outlines the future geopolitical landscape and the impact on our economy.
Hans Diels's 2024 speaking fees
- Belgium
Specific fees fall within the ranges shown. These are presented as a guide only and are subject to change without notice.
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