Arend Ardon (1967) is the co-founder and co-owner of The Change Studio, a consultancy firm specializing in change management.
He is a social psychologist/business administration and, in addition to his work as a management consultant, he teaches at various business schools, including Nyenrode University.
In 2009, he obtained a doctorate from VU University Amsterdam with a dissertation about leadership in complex change processes.
Furthermore, he is a highly sought-after speaker for conferences and seminars.
Arend has published dozens of articles and has various books to his name. His book Doorbreek de cirkel! has meanwhile sold in excess of 45,000 copies and was recently also published in English (Break the Cycle!). Other books include Ontketen vernieuwing! (which translates as ‘Unleash innovation’) and, more recently, with Cynthia van der Zwan, ‘Wat speelt hier? Laat de onderstroom spreken (which translates as: ‘What is going on here? Listen to the undertow’). All books have become best-sellers in the Netherlands.
In partnership with GoodHabitz, Arend developed the online Change & Innovation course, especially for use on smartphones and tablets. The course offers lots of video content, interactive tests, and a vast library of further reading (bit.ly/2qLlDr0).
Arend's PhD Thesis "Moving moments" can be downloaded here research.vu.nl/ws/portalfiles/portal/42174484/complete+dissertation.pdf
Arend can be reached at: arend@changestudio.nl
The website of the Change Studio: www.changestudio.nl/?lang=en
During our conversation, I asked Arend questions about the following topics:
- Why Arend decided to become a management consultant
- To what he contributes his success in implementing changes in large organizations, despite never having worked as a leader in such an environment
- His fascination for change and change management
- Why, in the context of change, we need to adapt a different paradigm than thinking in terms of initiating leaders on the one hand and reactive and dependent employees on the other.
- Why leaders and experts should reflect on their own role in managing change
- Why and how leaders should release control if they want to make things happen
- ‘Creating a sense of belonging’ versus 'Burning platforms' to drive change management
- What the undertow in organizations is, and why leaders should pay attention to this
- Arend's drive for writing
- Why Arend decided to pursue a PhD study
- Why Aren decided to establish his own consulting firm (The Change Studio)
- The type of clients that are attracted by the change studio
- The consultants that like to work for the change studio
- Why Arend Still makes the time available to lecture at universities?
17 сен 2023
