Community ShareSphere Intelligent Openness

The future belongs to curious thinkers

Leading change in the age of AI requires new ways of thinking and many leaders are applying the principle of “Intelligent Openness”.

But how can we cultivate this kind of openness in practice?

One approach? Play with the problem!

CIONET invites you to a truly unique experience exploring how leaders can approach complex AI change with childlike curiosity - a mindset that temporarily removes assumptions, encourages fresh perspectives, and explores new solutions to old problems.

Rediscovering Curiosity

In the context of the profound disruption created by AI and other emerging technologies, Lifelong Learning has become essential leadership competency.

One way to rediscover new perspectives is to draw inspiration from the natural curiosity with which children explore the world. Children do not have MBAs but they often bring something equally valuable: an unbiased perspective without the professional filters we accumulate over time.

Our Format

We will work with real cases from CIOs within the CIONET community, reflecting some of the most pressing AI challenges organisations are currently facing.

Participants will also contribute their own perspectives, working together to explore their organisation’s individual AI challenges and develop new ways of approaching them.

The session will be interactive, practical and thought-provoking, designed to break down complex challenges and uncover fresh perspectives - through childlike curiosit.

The session will be led by Bas Warmerdam, founder of ConsultingKids, who has developed a distinctive learning approach for leaders.

Bas has worked with enterprise organisations worldwide, supporting leadership teams (including technology leaders) in approaching complex strategic challenges in a playful and inspiring way.

Some of the key questions we will explore:

What assumptions might we be making about AI that limit our impact?
How can leaders create an environment that encourages curiosity and experimentation in the age of AI?
Are we sometimes overcomplicating AI transformation?
What happens when we remove our professional filters and look at challenges with beginner’s curiosity?

This event is designed for CIONET members as well as digital leaders and change architects from user companies.

As places are strictly limited, we encourage you to secure your place as soon as possible.

Speakers

Find out more about the speakers

Bas Warmedam

Founder

ConsultingKids

A former strategy consultant and founder of ConsultingKids, he helps organizations tackle complex challenges with childlike creativity. His interactive keynotes inspire fresh perspectives, driving innovation, leadership, and collaboration. Trusted by Shell, Philips, and global organizations, Bas delivers powerful, playful solutions that transform businesses.

Bas Warmerdam has built his career on breaking through ingrained thinking patterns. As a former strategy consultant and founder of ConsultingKids, he knows better than anyone how to tackle complex challenges with a fresh, unfiltered perspective. What makes him unique? His ability to help organizations and professionals ‘Think Like a Child’.

For over 10 years, Bas has experienced firsthand how the thinking power of children leads to the most surprising and innovative solutions. After all, children haven’t done MBAs, how refreshing! Their curiosity and creativity form the foundation of his approach, which is now being applied in more than 300 organizations in more than six countries.

During his interactive sessions, Bas demonstrates how to solve organizational challenges using playful yet highly effective methods. Participants are not just inspired but are also actively engaged. Whether it’s change management, leadership, collaboration, or innovation, Bas translates complex issues into simple, practical solutions—ones that even a child could understand. His approach has already helped numerous organizations, from multinationals like Shell and Philips to local governments and non-profits.

Beyond his work as a speaker and consultant, Bas is also the author of the book ‘Little Consultants’ (available in Dutch), in which he shares his experiences and insights on how a child’s fresh perspective can help us see problems differently.

Bas studied Biopharmaceutical Sciences in Leiden and conducted research in gene therapy and comparative genetics in London. He completed his Executive MBA at the Rotterdam School of Management at Erasmus University, further enriched with international experiences at the University of Hong Kong and the University of Johannesburg.

Break free from conventional thinking

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Explore the program

Program

Be part of an exclusive workshop: Experience, discover, and share your expertise!

Frankfurt

           
          16:30  - 17:00 
        
                Check-in & Networking
        
          17:00  - 17:20 
        
                Kick-Off Keynote with Bas Warmerdam, Founder of ConsultingKids
        
          17:20  - 18:00 
        
                Sharing Sessions  & Group Exercise – Inspiration from the Community plus “3 CIOs share their experiences”
        
          18:00  - 18:15 
        
                Translation Exercise with the Entire Audience “How would you explain this to a 10-year-old?”
        
          18:15  - 18:35 
        
                Bio Break
        
          18:35  - 19:10 
        
                Breakouts in Pairs “Having fun with the problem again”
        
          19:10  - 19:25 
        
                Plenary Session, Participants share their stories and insights
        
          19:25  - 19:40 
        
                Closing & Wrap-up - Four child-like thinking mechanisms for practical application
        
          19:40  - 22:00 
        
                Networking bei Fingerfood & Drinks

Speakers

Program

CIONET Germany Premium Business Partners

CIONET Germany Business Partners

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