Summer reflections, pt. 1
Summer has a strange kind of rhythm. Things tend to slow down – the world gets quieter, inboxes emptier, and there's suddenly more room to think. I’ve been taking that space this season to look back a bit, especially at the past half year. Because while it feels like not much is happening in the moment, there’s actually a lot going on elsewhere. Especially in tech.
Technology doesn’t really do "summer mode". It keeps pushing forward at breakneck speed. In just the past six months, we’ve seen an avalanche of tools, capabilities, breakthroughs. This morning alone, I read that Figma is heading for its IPO – with a valuation of 16.6 billion. That’s a number so big it feels almost unreal. For the founders, it must be beyond anything they could’ve imagined.
And yet, we’ve seen this story before, haven’t we? Companies building something sleek and scalable, lifted up by the incredible momentum of AI. That’s the backdrop to almost everything in tech now: AI is the enabler, the driver, the one common denominator behind so many of these valuations. And some of it is, undoubtedly, impressive.
Still, I find myself feeling a bit... split. These are great tools – but are they really that great? I don’t love Figma. I don’t love Lovable. I do like Replit, I’ll admit – it just suits me better. But that’s the point: taste matters. Design matters. Fit matters. Not everything is for everyone.
There’s also a question of value. These tools can speed things up – writing, designing, coding – but are they actually making us better? Are we thinking more clearly, writing more meaningfully, creating with more intent? I’m not convinced. Speed is useful, but it’s not the same as quality. And just because something is faster doesn’t mean it’s better.
As H1 draws to a close and H2 begins to warm up, it’s the perfect moment to pause and take stock. Personally, I find myself circling back to my time at university. That’s where a lot of this started for me – the fascination with how tech could reshape communication. I was studying digital marketing, already wondering why our methods felt so outdated, even as new possibilities were everywhere.
When I wrote my bachelor’s dissertation, I was focused on programmatic advertising. Back then, it was still gaining traction, especially outside of digital-native spaces. I remember thinking: why aren’t we applying this in more innovative ways? Everything is digital now – so why are we still treating content like it’s static? Why not tailor ads based not just on who someone is, but how they’re watching? What time of day, what kind of show, what kind of mood?
It wasn’t about hyper-personalisation for its own sake. It was about flow. About experience. What if advertising didn’t interrupt the viewing experience, but integrated into it in a way that made sense? What if it was additive instead of disruptive?
These ideas still follow me. The tools may change, but the core challenge doesn’t: how do we use them to create things that are not just quicker, but better? How do we respect the person on the other side of the screen?
Intelligence, Communications, and Risk:
It all begins with an idea.
How Investors Can Protect Their ROI in foreign markets
Investing in businesses always involves uncertainty. However, smart investors understand that leveraging intelligence, mastering communications, and proactively managing risks significantly impacts their return on investment (ROI). Let's explore this critical connection using real-world cases from recent developments in the Netherlands.
Why intelligence matters
Good intelligence means staying ahead of potential issues by understanding the broader social, political, and economic context. For example, the recent investment by KKR in major Dutch festivals, including Zwarte Cross, led to significant backlash, public outrage, and ticket cancellations due to fears of excessive commercialization (BNR) - alongside defense investments in Israel.
Had KKR proactively gauged public and community sentiment before making their investment public, they could have better anticipated and managed this reaction, potentially avoiding reputational damage and safeguarding their investment. We’ve seen similar controversies leading the Amsterdam city council to go against Blackstone due to real-asset investments in the capital (Volkskrant).
Communications as a critical financial shield
Effective communication isn't merely about reputation management; it's directly tied to financial outcomes. Consider Hooghoudt's decision to leave Groningen, which created significant turmoil and negative publicity because of poorly managed communications. Employees and the local community felt blindsided, resulting in long-term reputational damage that could affect future sales and business relationships (RTV Noord).
Contrast this with ASML’s proactive communications in response to geopolitical tensions and restrictions (NOS). By clearly articulating the situation and their mitigation strategies early, ASML preserved investor confidence and minimised potential negative impacts.
Risk management as strategic opportunity
Effective risk management transforms potential threats into opportunities for strategic advantage. The nitrogen crisis impacting Dutch construction projects underscores this point clearly. Companies unprepared for new regulatory demands faced project delays, additional costs, and damaged reputations (NOS). On the other hand, investors who anticipated these regulatory changes and swiftly adapted their operations and strategies not only avoided losses but also positioned themselves as industry leaders in sustainable practices.
The integration of intelligence, communications, and risk
These examples clearly illustrate the interconnectedness of intelligence gathering, effective communication, and proactive risk management. Robust intelligence fuels precise communication; clear communication, in turn, mitigates risk, and effective risk management enhances intelligence capabilities. Investors who embrace this integrated approach significantly increase their potential ROI.
In the dynamic and often unpredictable business environment of the Netherlands, intelligent investing goes beyond traditional financial metrics. It demands a comprehensive, strategic, and proactive approach that blends insight, communication clarity, and risk agility.
What can you do?
Regularly perform sentiment analysis and stakeholder research to identify potential issues early and manage them proactively.
Develop and implement comprehensive communications plans for all significant business decisions, ensuring transparency and timely engagement with stakeholders.
Regularly assess emerging regulatory, environmental, and political risks. Integrate risk management into strategic planning to proactively adapt to new realities.
How can we help?
We offer expertise in intelligence analysis, communications strategy, and comprehensive risk management to help you navigate complex challenges and protect and enhance your investments.