How do you remain true to your values when it truly matters? This final session helps you build the courage and resilience to stay on track, even in challenging circumstances.
What to expect?
In this final module, we focus on ACTING: translating your values and insights into courageous, thoughtful action. What helps you move forward and stay the course, even in the face of resistance or uncertainty?
We take the time to reflect on your next step, personally and within your organisation, and bring the journey to a shared close.
In this session, participants will:
explore what is holding them back from taking action and how they can break through those barriers;
translate their personal motivation and values into concrete, courageous steps;
learn how to navigate resistance and uncertainty without losing their sense of direction;
experience the power of small actions with great meaning, aligned with their intention.
Who is this for?
This session is exclusively available to participants of the full programme Developing Your Inner Skills: a learning network by The Shift, in collaboration with Innerpreneurs.
Speakers
Expert at Entrepreneuriat & Transition
Expert at Entrepreneuriat & Transition
Our partners
Curious about more?
Discover our other communities of practice:
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.
Sustainability challenges require more than technical solutions or systemic interventions alone. They also touch on how we perceive, decide, collaborate and act as human beings. To lead with impact in today’s complex world, we need not only external tools, but also strong inner skills.
What to expect?
Sustainable leadership depends on strong collaboration. The Collaborating dimension of the Inner Development Goals strengthens co-creation, trust and collective impact.
In this session, participants will:
Learn what it truly means to collaborate from a place of equality and trust;
Gain insight into group dynamics, shared leadership and co-creation processes;
Explore tools to organise collaboration in a regenerative way;
Reflect on their own role in collective decision-making and impactful collaboration.
The programme
In this session, we explore COLLABORATING: the art of co-creation, shared leadership and collective intelligence. What does it take to truly work together across departments, sectors or interests? You will reflect on your own collaboration style and discover how to shape collaboration in a more sustainable and equitable way.
Speakers
Who is this for?
This session is exclusively for participants in the full Developing your Inner Skills programme, a learning network by The Shift, in collaboration with Innerpreneurs.
In collaboration with
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.
Koenraad Belsack is an entrepreneur through and through, driven by the belief that smart entrepreneurship can help tackle even the most complex challenges. For Koenraad, money is not a goal in itself, but a means to create wellbeing, connection and sustainability.
Upgrade Estate develops student housing and residential concepts that are not only financially viable, but also create social impact. “Our mission is to bring people together. For us, real estate is the setting that makes that possible. We want everyone who walks into our buildings to leave with a smile.”
To make that possible, a solid financial foundation is essential. “Real estate and energy infrastructure require significant capital,” he explains. “That’s why we’ve chosen a model that actively connects and engages investors. For each project, we set up a separate property company in which real estate investors become shareholders. This approach encourages them to look at their impact investment in a more holistic way, rather than focusing on a single entity. It doesn’t just spread risk, but also responsibility, and a sense of shared achievement. Today, we see others adopting this model as well. For me, that’s a clear sign that its social impact extends beyond our own organisation, and that makes me genuinely happy.”
“For every partner providing services worth more than €20,000, we carry out a Sustainability Due Diligence, using a KU Leuven template, developed in collaboration with The Shift. That also applies to banks.”
Koenraad stresses the importance of keeping each other alert. “We need to take action, share experiences and help one another move forward. That’s exactly what we do within The System Shift, The Shift’s community of practice for CEOs working on system change. Those moments of reflection, those meetings where we exchange ideas, we’re all figuring things out as we go. The only way to make progress is by sharing.”
One moment that particularly inspired him was a breakfast with economist Kate Raworth, organised by The Shift. “The idea of the doughnut economy really fascinates me. That’s why we’ve made our business model circular, with a buy-back system in place.”
The transition doesn’t come without obstacles. “Regulatory overload is one of the bigger challenges,” Koenraad says. “Our society is heavily regulated, and sometimes that’s necessary, but it can also hold back innovation. There’s a real web of rules that makes many processes unnecessarily complex. We need to create room to develop new models, within frameworks that actually allow for that.”
Sustainable finance starts with insight and awareness. “Invest in knowledge,” Koenraad says. “Understand what sustainability really means and involve all your stakeholders. It needs to be a voluntary choice, supported by everyone and fully embedded in how you operate. There is still far too much lack of understanding, even at the top.
“Invest in a forest. The cycle is at least 80 to 100 years. When you walk through it, you can feel what the long term really means. And the long term doesn’t have to be boring.”
More impact stories
Luc De Jaeger (Funds For Good) and Peter Depauw (Steward-owned) show how new ownership models link financial profit to social impact.
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.
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.
With The System Shift, you break away from business-as-usual and work alongside frontrunners, experts and policymakers on solutions to today’s most pressing economic challenges.
How do you develop the thinking skills needed for sustainable leadership? In the third session of the community of practice Developing your Inner Skills, participants will discover how to recognize thinking patterns, look at complex issues differently and make better decisions with an open mindset.
What to expect?
At a time when information is abundant and opinions quickly clash, sustainable leadership requires clear thinking and the ability to keep seeing the whole picture. This third session of the community of practice Developing your Inner Skills therefore focuses on the THINKING dimension.
Participants in this session:
map their thinking patterns and learn to deal with complexity and uncertainty,
practice skills such as critical thinking, perspective switching and systems thinking,
discover how open and constructive thinking contributes to innovation and long-term vision,
are inspired by insights from others about how thinking leads to change.
Speakers
Co-founder of Momentum Facilitation
Who is this for?
This session is part of Developing your Inner Skills, a community of practice around the Inner Development Goals (IDGs), and is open only to participants in the full learning track.
Curious to learn more?
Our partners
Ready for more?
How do you stay grounded in times of uncertainty? During this second session of the Developing your Inner Skills community of practice, you will explore how self-awareness, presence and inner clarity form the basis for authentic leadership.
Inclusive organisations don’t just welcome diversity, they make it their strength. During this online info session, you’ll discover how our new community of practice ‘Embedding Inclusion in Talent Strategy’ will set you on the right course.
The 4th national roundtable of LIFE BE FREE is an unmissable opportunity to find out how smart financing and collaboration can speed up large-scale energy renovations across Belgium. We’re bringing together pioneers and innovators with one common goal: to inspire with practical financing solutions and create space for new partnerships.
How do you stay grounded in times of uncertainty? During this second session of the Developing your Inner Skills community of practice, you will explore how self-awareness, presence and inner clarity form the basis for authentic leadership.
What to expect?
In a complex world full of change, inner stability is an important condition for sustainable leadership. Calmer leaders who act on their values inspire greater confidence, both in their teams and in their own decision-making. The Being dimension within the Inner Development Goals helps you strengthen that inner solidity.
Participants in this session will:
deepen their understanding of how self-awareness, inner peace and personal values are the foundation for sustainable leadership,
learn to deal with stress, pressure and complexity by staying present in the moment,
reflect on their own compass and discover how it guides professional choices,
experience how rest and slowing down create space for more impactful action.
Programme
| 13:30 | Brief check-in |
| 13:45 | Introduction to the Being dimension - Bart Weetjens, Innerpreneurs |
| 14:30 | Reflection and sharing: your inner compass in action |
| 15:30 | Moment of experience: practising presence and attention |
| 16:15 | A final moment of reflection & outlook |
Speakers
Founder of Innerpreneurs and facilitator of leaders and teams in inner development and mindful leadership.
Who is this for?
This session is part of Developing your Inner Skills, a community of practice centred around the Inner Development Goals (IDGs), and is open only to participants signed up to the whole programme.
Want to learn more?
Our partners
Ready for more?
Inclusive organisations don’t just welcome diversity, they make it their strength. During this online info session, you’ll discover how our new community of practice ‘Embedding Inclusion in Talent Strategy’ will set you on the right course.
In this session at the SDG Forum 2025, find out how organisations that put inclusion at the heart of their strategy evolve into resilient, innovative and engaging workplaces where top talent can truly thrive.
Can social loans accelerate energy-efficient renovations in Belgium? This final session on inclusive energy renovations gives you the chance to learn from experts, explore barriers and contribute to building sustainable housing solutions.
Between 2019 and 2023, B Corp Benelux and The Shift joined forces to strengthen the B Corp movement in Belgium. Together, they built a growing community of companies that put sustainability and social responsibility at the heart of their strategy.
Who or what is a B Corp?
B Corps are for-profit companies that use business as a force for good. They meet rigorous standards for social and environmental performance, transparency and responsible governance, showing that business success and positive impact can go perfectly hand in hand.
Our partners
Want to know more?
Does your company want to break the business-as-usual and take structural steps toward a business that goes beyond financial profit? Are you looking for a motivating community of peers and experts that you can work with to embed systemic change into your core business?
Then take a look at the learning networks and inspiration sessions in the Change program The System Shift.
Strong networks make strong organisations. In this session of the community of practice The System Shift, you will explore how to develop sustainable partnerships and collaborations that boost resilience and lead to greater collective impact.
What to expect?
Participants in this session will:
discover how networks create resilience and long-term value,
get practical tools to strengthen partnerships and achieve collective impact, grounded in the internationally recognised Donut theory,
share your experiences with peers regarding practical challenges and solutions.
Who is this for?
This session is part of the community of practice The System Shift. Participation is exclusively for those registered on the full course.
Are you an ambitious leader who wants to make systemic change through your organisation alongside colleagues from different sectors? Then this community of practice is for you.
In cooperation with
Ready for more?
Luc De Jaeger (Funds For Good) and Peter Depauw (Steward-owned) show how new ownership models link financial profit to social impact.
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.
Canopea, an independent and pluralist federation founded in 1974, unites 130 associations active from local to international level. Its work spans spatial planning and agriculture to mobility, energy, environmental health, food and tourism. Known for its educational work, it monitors public policies critically and offers solutions to accelerate the ecological and solidarity transition.
How do you grow as a leader in a world full of complexity? In this first session of the learning journey on the Inner Development Goals, you will explore this science-based framework that supports the development of inner skills for sustainable change.
What to expect?
Find out what the Inner Development Goals are, why they matter and how they complement the Sustainable Development Goals.
Explore how inner capacities such as self-awareness, openness and courage contribute to systemic change.
Reflect on your personal and professional challenges in a safe, inspiring environment.
Connect with peers who, like you, believe that the inner journey is the key to creating lasting impact.
Who is this for?
This session is part of “Developing your Inner Skills,” a community of practice around the Inner Development Goals (IDGs), and is open only to participants of the full learning track.
Curious to learn more?
In cooperation with
Ready for more?
Sustainability challenges are not just technical or systemic – they are deeply human. To lead with meaning in a complex world, we need inner growth. With this community of practice, you’ll gain the tools, techniques and network to strengthen your inner power to make a difference.
What if the green transition starts with leadership from within? The House of Sustainable Transitions connects personal growth and systemic change.
Immerse yourself in the IDG Summit’s Business Deep Dive. Together, we’ll explore how inner growth prepares leaders for real systems impact.
How do you anchor sustainability at the core of your organisation? We look at new, systems-based models that align with your mission and provide a broad perspective inside and outside your organisation.
What to expect?
This session sheds light on possible governance structures and who within organisations makes the decisions. Who has a voice, and who is represented in these decisions?
Actionable insights, concrete goals and, practical advice. We stay alert, ask the right questions and lay a clear path for change.
The right people at the table. With peers from other sectors and experts, you can see and do more. We create a safe environment where experiences about systemic change are easily shared.
Based on the internationally recognised Donut Theory. This framework ensures that you stay ahead and become a cohesive link in the larger ecosystem.
For whom?
This session is part of “The System Shift,” a community of practice for leaders in sustainable economic transformation, and is open only to participants in the full learning program.
Curious about more?
In cooperation with
Ready for more?
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.
Sustainability challenges are not just technical or systemic – they are deeply human. To lead with meaning in a complex world, we need inner growth. With this community of practice, you’ll gain the tools, techniques and network to strengthen your inner power to make a difference.
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.
