Design your Business for Purpose
Work alongside other CEOs and experts to explore the mission, structure and governance of your organisation, guided by the Doughnut Design for Business model. You become part of a community of like-minded leaders who, just like you, are committed to building a future-proof business model and creating meaningful change.
Why participate?
Our current economic system is built on a logic that no longer fits the world we live in today. Businesses have grown strong through efficiency, growth and specialisation, but that same logic means we use more resources than the planet can regenerate. This creates tension in raw materials, in biodiversity, in energy, in the availability of talent and in the trust of stakeholders.
The reality is simple: organisations already operate within growing constraints, but their business models are often not designed for them. They face increasing volatility, tighter regulation, shifting stakeholder expectations and a rising need for societal legitimacy. The tension between how we are organised today and what the world now requires lies at the heart of this challenge.
What to expect?
You don’t start from scratch but from your own reality. And you return home to your company with a new language, fresh perspectives and a clear sense of where to begin.
You get to work with solid analysis and make use of a safe space to experiment, reflect and learn directly from peers how to create value for all your stakeholders.
You build a resilient organisation with a long-term perspective, one that is able to anticipate and navigate the crises of tomorrow.
You operate within an international framework such as the Doughnut Economy, which helps you stay ahead of the curve and play a key role in a rapidly evolving ecosystem.
What participants say
Programme
In this programme, you’re given the time and space to dive into the core of your organisation. Across six Thursday sessions, you explore how mission, ownership, governance, finance and networks reinforce one another. You work hands-on, alongside fellow CEOs on a similar journey and with experts who help broaden your perspective.
Each session is hosted by one of the participating organisations, offering new contexts, fresh inspiration and a richer learning experience. Because the network is bilingual, everyone speaks in the language they feel most comfortable with, while presentations are delivered in English.
All sessions take place between 9 AM and 2 PM (lunch included).
| #1 | Thursday 03/09/2026 | Introduction & Mission | Introduction and familiarisation with the core principles of Doughnut Economics. | Barbara Goffin, BeDonut |
| #2 | Thursday 01/10/2026 | Mission | In the second session, we will explore an organisation’s fundamental purpose, its reason for being. We will look at how a mission is embedded in a company’s culture, values, operations, products and services. | Vanessa de Marneffe, Ecores |
| #3 | Thursday 29/10/2026 | Property | Who truly owns a company? Who can transfer or sell ownership, and under what rules? This session explores the core principles of ownership structures and why it is precisely when things are going well that it matters to reflect on them. | Peter Depauw, Steward Owned |
| #4 | Thursday 26/11/2026 | Finance | Here we explore the financial priorities of organisations: what profit margins are needed? How are profits allocated? We also look at returns on investments - financial, social or environmental. We explore the financial priorities of organisations: what profit margins are needed? How are profits distributed? We also look at returns – financial, social and environmental – and reflect on a fundamental question: what is a sufficient level of profit? | Anne Snick, member of Club of Rome, Eva Smets, Oxfam Belgium |
| #5 | Thursday 07/01/2027 | Governance | This session analyses governance structures and decision-making power within organisations: who has a say and is represented in these decisions? We discuss inclusive governance models that align with the mission. | Vincent Truyens,Corporate Regeneration |
| #6 | Thursday 04/02/2027 | Ecosystem | An introduction to systems thinking. We explore an organisation’s networks, from value chains and sales channels to ecosystems of employees, customers and partners. Discover how collective impact can be amplified through sustainable collaboration. | Eddy Van Hemelrijk, Maror |
Impact stories
Mediahuis: media with a mission
What does purpose really mean for a media group? Belgian CEO Koen Verwee shares how Mediahuis is building trust, independent journalism and long-term impact.
Banks: unexpected allies of nature?
How can the financial sector help strengthen biodiversity? In this interview, Ronny Jongen, Senior Impact Manager, explains Triodos Bank‘s role in the shift towards nature-positive investing — and the challenges this brings for banks and their clients.
Finance as a lever for change
What if money isn’t an end in itself, but a way to bring people closer together? For Koenraad Belsack, founder and co-CEO of Upgrade Estate, entrepreneurship starts with that simple idea.
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What we stand for
Members of The Shift pursue an economic model in which success is also measured by positive social impact. They embed mission, long-term thinking and non-financial indicators in governance and ownership, and are committed to investment transparency, with a particular focus on the role of banks.
Join and sign up by 15 August 2026.
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