About Dean
About Dean van Leeuwen
Dean is an intellectual adventurer, customer experience alchemist and scholar of the new world of work. He has an insatiable appetite for discovering how businesses can become more successful and increasingly contribute to society. His real gift is an ability to take complex information and present ideas in a way that makes them practical and palatable. Dean acts as a translator between the scholarly world and the practical business world and is a sought after speaker and consultant. (See me presenting http://tiny.cc/4EVca) He is a co-founder of TomorrowToday International, a company that shows businesses how to succeed in the new world of work. He constantly engages with the world’s leading universities and business thought-leaders and at his TomorrowToday lab Dean researches and analyses the evolving world of work sharing his insights with successful business leaders.
Dean’s down to earth and approachable style quickly engages audiences leaving them wanting more. He reveals striking trends and shows leaders what they need to focus on as we crawl out of the Great Recession and discover that there is now a new normal with a new set of rules for success in this Brave New World.
Dean spent 17 years working in marketing, innovation and strategy departments for leading global companies before starting TomorrowToday International. By the age of thirty he was Head of Group Strategy for AXA’s insurance business in Southern Africa. Dean was also a senior consultant on the McKinsey led team managing the largest financial services merger in South African corporate history. Because Dean intimately understands both corporate and entrepreneurial life he relates to a mix of audiences and is happy to tailor his approach to meet your audiences needs.
On completing an MBA from Henley Management College, Dean decided to do something typical of someone from his generation (Dean is a Generation Xer), he went off in search of a new adventure. He bought an around the world plane ticket and became an underwater photographer for a team researching Minke whales off the Great Barrier Reef and later undertook the gruelling task of cycling around Madagascar raising money for charity. In 2003 Dean moved from South Africa to London and now lives in leafy village of Barnes.
This is what people are saying about Dean:
“Dean delivered one of the most thought provoking and innovative presentations that I have seen in a very long time. Genuine new insight is very rare and the ability to draw implementable business conclusions is virtually unique. Dean has that.” Steve Martin, Branch Chairperson – Manchester Institute of Financial Planning http://ow.ly/1tABX
“The presentation was exceptional. The fascinating subject matter was made truly inspirational by Dean’s very professional, entertaining and slick presentation.” Mark Lovell – University of Salford
“Dean is an excellent presenter who kept us captivated with the content of his presentation.” Deborah Avenell – Royal Veterinary College
“Dean’s key contribution is his INGENUITY VALUE – his presentations and workshops made us question our status quo and his ideas bring valuable innovations to our business.” Sharon Kersten Managing Director – Old Mutual Bank