Missed GROW24? Don’t be left behind! Learn from experts who shared powerful strategies to turn employees into top talents, performers and brand ambassadors. All to drive growth and success.
During GROW24, Keephub and TinQwise offers participants the opportunity to delve into three crucial topics: the Challenge of Talent, Excellence and Ambassadors. Swapfiets, Heineken, Jumbo, AFM and others share key takeaways during insightful sessions. These sessions highlight the impact of employee engagement and dynamic leadership on organisational growth.
From spilling milk to introducing headsets
Antony Brown, Product Manager at Co-op UK, kicks off the event with an engaging keynote. He shares his personal journey from a 17-year-old delivery worker to leading Co-op’s transformation. Antony starts with a light-hearted story about spilling milk on his first day. He then explains how those early challenges spark his drive for efficiency and innovation
Fast forward 20 years and Anthony now leads Co-op’s digital transformation, introducing headsets to streamline communication. No more endless laps around the supermarket. Colleagues can now connect instantly. He proves that even small changes can deliver huge improvements.
Antony’s key takeaway? Change management is king. He walks us through Co-op’s use of the ADKAR model. This model shows how buy-in, employee empowerment, and embracing technology can streamline workflows. His practical insights and fun anecdotes leave the audience inspired. Everyone’s ready to tackle operational challenges with the same spirit of innovation and teamwork.
How folding jeans drives customer success
"Great customer service starts with storytelling, grounded in authenticity."
Dawes Dias, Talent Specialist bij PVH
Despite often hearing, "Working in retail is just temporary. One day I'll have a real job," Dawes knows better. For him, working in retail is a real job.
As the Talent Specialist of PVH, the global powerhouse behind Calvin Klein and Tommy Hilfiger, Dawes deeply understands employee engagement. Reflecting on his own retail journey, he speaks about how leaders showed him retail's true potential.
Now, he passes this lesson on to his team, teaching that authentic connections are the foundation of success. He shows them that working in retail is much more than just folding jeans. Most importantly, Dawes stresses the importance of having fun. His enthusiasm reminds everyone that when employees are invested and enjoying their work, customers can feel it too.
Challenge of Talent:
Empowering growth and retention
Speakers: Daniëlle van Alewijn (Swapfiets) & Robert Dollevoet (Jumbo)
The "Challenge of Talent" sessions showcase how employee growth is the key to scaling up and keeping top talent onboard. Daniëlle van Alewijn, CPO at Swapfiets, famous for their blue tyres, shares how they empower people. She explains this through internal training and development. By linking pay growth to skills growth, they boost satisfaction and simplify processes to help avoid costly mistakes.
Jumbo takes things to the next level, showing how over 100,000 colleagues take charge of their own development. With just five clicks on their easy-to-use tool, employees can map out their career paths and have meaningful conversations with managers. According to Robert Dollevoet, manager of the Jumbo Academy, a dedicated intern can implement this tool in three months.
Key takeaways:
- From startup to scaleup: Your organisation can only grow if your people grow alongside it. So, empower your people to grow in their roles, driving personal development and boosting retention across your organisation.
- Create learning experiences that support step-by-step growth, with continuous tweaks to keep progress on track.
Challenge of Excellence:
Simplifying success
Speakers: Veerle Crijns (Picnic) & Simone Out and Niels Maaswinkel (Heineken)
The "Challenge of Excellence" sessions, led by Picnic and Heineken, offer a clear path to simplifying processes and nailing operational excellence. Veerle Crijns, L&D Lead at Picnic, takes us through their leadership journey. This shows how targeted communication and embracing multicultural diversity drive success for their 16,000-strong team across multiple countries. With storytelling and knowledge sharing at the heart of their L&D, they make learning fun, personal and accessible.
Simone Out, manager of Learning & People Development, and Niels Maaswinkel, L&D Business Partner at Heineken, stress the need for clear skill definitions and strong knowledge standards. Their learning culture doesn’t just boost efficiency. It ensures every employee knows how their work impacts the bigger picture, creating a powerful, engaged workforce.
Key takeaways
- Simplify processes and tailor training to ensure smooth operational flow and minimal errors.
- Leadership and storytelling are powerful tools to inspire and guide employees toward excellence. By focusing on small, consistent behaviours, everyone can create a lasting, big impact.
Challenge of Ambassadors:
Fueling passion and brand loyalty
Speakers: Marlies Martens (Vitam) & Femke Brosens and Christina Niezing (AFM)
The "Challenge of Ambassadors" sessions explore how to transform employees into true brand ambassadors. Marlies Marten, CEO at Vitam, shows how they treat their HR policy as a dynamic journey, constantly evolving to match their sustainability-driven mission. With a strong culture that empowers employees to live this mission, their workforce becomes passionate ambassadors for both the brand and its values.
At AFM, shifting the focus from compensation to personal growth was game-changing. Femke Brosens and Christina Niezing, both HR policy advisors, tell us how they built a motivated, engaged team by ditching traditional evaluations and prioritising development. This approach encourages a collaborative culture where employees feel heard, supported and excited to champion positive change.
Key takeaways
- Treat your HR policy as a dynamic journey, adapting it to evolve with your organisation’s needs. A strong HR policy stimulates a strong company culture - one where employees feel empowered to grow, be themselves, and ultimately become excellent ambassadors for your organisation.
- Shifting the focus from compensation to personal growth sparks deeper engagement and lasting impact. To achieve this, keep an ongoing dialogue with your stakeholders. Listen carefully to truly understand concerns and resistance.
True growth happens only when people are at the heart of everything
GROW24 shows that for organisations to truly thrive, people need to be at the heart of the journey. Whether it's unlocking personal growth, improving operations, or turning employees into passionate brand ambassadors, one thing’s clear. Investing in your people is the smartest way to secure long-term success. These insights will help organisations build environments where employees can grow, excel, and proudly champion their brands.
Ready to unlock your organisation's potential? Invest in your customer facing employees and build a thriving team.
Sign up for a demo! See how we can transform your people, boost operational excellence and create brand ambassadors.
GROW24 | Highlights in pictures
Thanks to photographer Yannick van der Schot
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