Rob-Jan de Jong is a behavioral strategist, author, speaker, business school associate, and boardroom consultant who combines strategy with psychology. As a world-class expert in strategic leadership, he consults, speaks, teaches, and writes on this and related topics, including strategic thinking, transformational leadership, visioning and early noticing, innovation, resilience, and positive leadership. He’s also the founder of the Global Academy for Strategy and Leadership, driven by a mission to make top-notch leadership insights accessible to everyone, empowering individuals everywhere to lead by example and create a more inspirational world.

His first book, "Anticipate – The Art of Leading by Looking Ahead," focuses on the art of future-oriented leadership, guiding leaders to develop their visionary and inspirational selves. It was named Management Book of the Month by Barnes & Noble across the USA and has been endorsed by CEOs like Paul Polman (Unilever) and renowned thought leaders like Michael Maccoby.

Rob-Jan’s forthcoming book, "The Foundations of Modern Strategic Thinking: A Behavioral Approach to the Ultimate Leadership Skill," will be published in early 2025. It addresses the central question: “What is good strategic thinking?” With a keen focus on the psychological pitfalls that can hinder responsible thinking, he explores five foundational qualities that together form the deliberate thinking and reasoning habits essential for tackling complex, high-stakes strategic challenges.

A highly engaging speaker with a deep commitment to human development, Rob-Jan enriches his talks with real-world boardroom experiences and illustrative anecdotes. He values and enjoys interaction, making his talks and workshops fun, energetic, insightful, and responsive to the needs and questions of his audience. He is affiliated with prestigious institutions such as the Wharton School of Business (Philadelphia), HEC (Paris), Thunderbird School of Global Management (Phoenix, AZ), and IE (Madrid), offering a global perspective, original insights, fascinating research, a healthy dose of humor, and, most importantly, a focus on personal growth and practical application.

Currently, Rob-Jan divides his time between strategy consulting, leadership development, and involvement in several innovative companies. He lives with his partner, Inge, and is the father of twin sons—a global citizen with a home base in the Netherlands.

Speaking Topics:

Based on speaker’s book Anticipate, the Art of Leading by Looking Ahead, this session explores what it takes to become a forward-oriented leader who can inspire others with a compelling perspective. Through stories, anecdotes, and original insights, Rob-Jan reveals the mindset needed to develop your visionary side. He discusses a developmental framework based on two critical dimensions and explains practical tools and techniques for experimenting with behaviors that enhance your visionary capacity.