Nicole Verhoeven
Founder and Managing Director
About
We Shape the Future
Since 2010, We Shape the Future has helped social entrepreneurs, intrapreneurs and changemakers strengthen their organisations and expand their social impact. What began as the first academic programme for social entrepreneurs in the Netherlands has grown into programmes that have been followed by hundreds of participants.
The People Behind We Shape The Future
Our programmes bring together academics, experienced practitioners, trainers and coaches with different expertise and perspectives. Together, they challenge participants to apply new knowledge, explore different perspectives and critically reflect on their own leadership and organisation.
Get to know the people who help shape our programmes, community and direction.
Niels Bosma
Professor of Social Entrepreneurship, Utrecht University
Marlies van Hilten
Chair of the Alumni Board
LSO Advanced Alumna, 2018
Michiel Bodt
Strategic Partnerships & Funding, Alumni Board
LSO Alumnus, 2011
Soraya Mooijweer
Community Engagement, Alumni Board
LSO Alumna, 2025
Erwin van Asselt
Finance, Alumni Board
LSO Alumnus, 2021
Lotje Terra
Social Innovation & Systems Change, Alumni Board
LSO Alumna, 2019
Benyamin van Raalte
Chair of the Strategic Advisory Board
LSO Alumnus, 2022
Arianne de Jong
Secretary of the Strategic Advisory Board
LSO Alumna, 2012
Floris Croon
Chair of the LSO Foundation Board
Pjotr Anthoni
Treasurer of the LSO Foundation Board
Rob Jansen
Secretary of the LSO Foundation Board
LSO Advanced alumnus
Roeland Weebers
Coach
Monique Zandbergen
Coach
Doesje Fransen
Coach
Harvey Lansdorf
Coach
Bartel Geleijnse
Coach
Carolien van Wersch
Coach
Enver Loke
Coach
Margit Sleeuwenhoek
Core faculty
Caroline Olde Rikkert
Core faculty
Oscar Westra van Holthe
Core faculty
Karin Geuijen
Core faculty
Abdulkader Kaakeh
Core faculty
Helen Toxopeus
Core faculty
Leendert de Bell
Core faculty
Jeroen de Jong
Core faculty
Stéphanie van Gerven
Core faculty
Manuel Lokin
Core faculty
Our approach
We bring together academic insights, business knowledge, practical experience and personal development. Participants connect new knowledge to their own organisation, leadership and practice. We look at the entrepreneur or professional, the organisation and the systems in which they work. This also makes visible the patterns that can stand in the way of change.
Faculty & academic partners
Our programmes are developed and delivered by leading academics, experienced entrepreneurs and practitioners, and experts from the public sector and business. This allows us to combine up-to-date academic knowledge with years of practical experience and perspectives from different sectors.
What defines our programmes
Academically grounded and firmly rooted in practice, with room for personal development and learning from each other. What does your organisation need? And what does that ask of you as a leader? Your own practice remains the starting point.
Academic foundation
Work with the latest academic insights and models from our academic partners.
Experienced practitioners
Learn from entrepreneurs, policymakers and experienced professionals who bring their practical knowledge into the programme.
Personal leadership
Strengthen your leadership, deepen self-insight and build the confidence to make choices and lead change.
Practical application
What you learn, you take directly back to your own practice. Apply new knowledge and insights to the challenges and ambitions within your organisation.
Strong learning community
Learn with and from people who bring different experiences and perspectives — during the programme and beyond.
Learning in practice
In masterclasses, workshops, coaching and intervision, you test new knowledge and perspectives against what is happening in your own practice.
Mission & vision
Our mission
We help social entrepreneurs and changemakers build strong organisations, lead change and expand their social impact.
Our vision
We believe a future-proof economy is built by people and organisations that combine business success with social and sustainable progress. An economy in which social value and a healthy business model go hand in hand.