Rik Vera

A renowned thought leader, Rik Vera advises companies on how to thrive in a world of networks.

As a keynote speaker, Rik draws on years of business experience at C-level in sales and marketing-related functions to discuss the customer-centric strategies and change management in light of major digital disruption.

Rik has been a C-level manager in large international companies for over 25 years, running global sales and marketing divisions, but also as a general manager overlooking all aspects of conducting a successful business. He was known to be a value creator, somebody that was able to turn lost cases into a profitable business, not by cost-cutting, by questioning the status quo of business rules and by being creative.

His career began as Sales Manager at Desso Belgium before moving on to direct competitor Domo. Here, as Business Unit Director and Member of the Board of Directors, Rik revitalized the Contract Flooring Division by expanding globally and launching the architectural high-end brand Modulys.

Rik has always been intrigued by how technology could change the business models and how re-defining the building blocks could re-write the rules of the game rather than just trying to outrun competition. He has always put customer experience at the heart of business and has made maximum use of people and new technologies to build business success. Building FEAST interfaces was the secret he now likes the share on stage, in workshops or in coaching: Fast, Easy, Accessible, Simple and Tempting.

On stage, in his workshops and coaching, Rik blends his vast business experience, with his profound knowledge of all things digital, new business models and the way to organise the company and create the right culture to re-write the rules of the game, with his unique talent to energize people and inspire them so they want to actually move forward and be the change.

He aims to demystify the buzzwords and hypes of the day and to develop custom-made solutions that can be deployed with instant results: his interventions are short, intense, and have long-lasting impact. 

Since 2010 Rik has been traveling the world, performing on large international stages and coaching and consulting companies in all types of businesses, ranging from Microsoft, IBM and Google Mountain View, to BMW, Mercedes, Volvo, Duetto, CitizenM, Swedbank, Inditex, Amsterdam, Antwerp, the Dutch Government, The Belgian Government, Belfius, KBC, ING, Nestlé, Randstad, AssaAbloy, KLM AirFrance, Unilever, Carrefour, AG Insurance, Bol.com, Delhaize, Ikea, Deloitte, EY, KPMG, Baloise, Allianz, Roche, Johnson & Johnson, DSM, PCMA, FAB, STC, Proximus, Telia, KPN, Ziggo, Gartner.

Rik is a guest speaker at many business schools like Vlerick, Neyenrode, Tias, London Business School and Cedep.

Rik has also written ‘Managers The Day After Tomorrow’ and ‘The guide to the Ecosystem’ that will be launched.  He is an active producer of blogs, vlogs and quotes that challenge the status quo.