How would you describe your job as a trendwatcher?
I start from my intuition. I sense that something might be going on behind the headlines in today’s newspapers. Then I start my research. I have an extensive information network amongst universities, think tanks, companies (from multinationals to small businesses), innovators etc. I try to find research and other information that I can blend into my vision and that can help me to strengthen and prove my intuitive idea, with which I started in the first place.
What is your impression of Norway?
This is my second visit to Norway. I was here before on holidays. I find this a beautiful and well organized country with very friendly and good looking people. I bought a Norwegian mink coat and I wear it every winter in Holland. So at least every winter I think back of lovely Norway, and I stay warm thanks to your furs. But Norwegians can become more entrepreneurial. The oil richness has made Norwegian relaxt, you are after all the Saudi-Arabia of Europe. But I do think Norwegians can and should become more ambitious and more entrepreneurial. Another thing is that I find Norwegians quite naïve when dealing with multiculturalism. That is also something that needs to be adapted to modern times.
What can Norwegian entrepreneurs learn from the Dutch entrepreneurial spirit?
Adjiedj Bakas (NL)
Not all Dutch are entrepreneurial. I spoke to a director of a Dutch ministry who said that 30% of our civil servants are great and ambitious people who help entrepreneurs and citizens tremendously. But another 70% is lazy, lacks ambition and hates citizens and entrepreneurs. That’s true, I’m afraid. The productivity of Dutch nurses is 4 times as low as Belgian nurses. One of the reasons is that they have a separate coffee room in hospitals. They sit there and drink coffee all day and ignore the patients. In Belgium nurses have no coffee room. They drink coffee amongst the patients in the hospital room. We have a lot of great entrepreneurs, small and big. But we also have a lot of entrepreneurs who are established now, are sitting into their comfort zone, and refuse to innovate anymore, refuse to open up to new ideas, new visions, refuse to be crazy. And yet craziness is exactly what we need in these times. Fortunately we have a lot of great entrepreneurs of all generations who dare to be crazy and who come up with amazing ideas and new business models.
How shall governments and officials deal with entrepreneurs?
On one hand we get state capitalism, governments helping entrepreneurs and enabling them to perform well. Like the Chinese government helping Chinese companies, or the American government which forms one power block with American companies, or as we see in France. On the other hand we’ll see governments who don’t see how valuable entrepreneurs are. In these regions and countries entrepreneurs will unite and do their own thing, despite the ignorance of governments. A good and creative entrepreneur always finds his way.
How do you see the entrepreneur of the future?
He is creative, open, uses knowhow from all (inter)national sources, is independent from banks (which will suffer major losses when the Euro inevitably implodes, and also due to Basel III will not be able to fund entrepeneurialship as before). If he does not know anything about finance, he hires financial assistance. He is a networker, connects and is aware of trends. Not everything and everybody is going as fast: and the middle ages are coming back, only technologically more advanced.
Is this a good time to start up a new business?
Crisis times are the best times to start a business. During the Depression of the 1980’s new companies as Google, Apple and Microsoft originated in garage boxes or in attics of houses, they are the multinationals of today. The 1910’s will be like the 1980’s: so entrepreneurs should become really excited.
What is the most important skill to be successful in business?
Passion. If you don’t have any passion for your business, it will never succeed. The E of Economy is the E of Emotion and the E of Energy as well. Positive energy generates a lot of success.
Where do you find inspiration in difficult times?
I meditate, I read a lot, I enjoy art and antiques (I enjoy my art collection in my house and office daily), music and I travel a lot. There are so many beautiful places on earth that inspire me. And I have warm and intimate friends with whom I can share what is needed.
What is the mistake you learned the most of?
You always learn more from mistakes than from successes. I learned a lot from the death of my first husband, who was also my business partner. He died of cancer when I was 29. Our company was only 3 years old then. He tought me never to become bitter, to give disappointments in life a place in your life, and to march on, always forward.
Meet top international entrepreneurs, investors and mentors on 20th October NIEC
(Oslo, Norway)
