Edsart Krijger sprak met Comenius-alumna Carrie over haar leiderschap in de complexiteit van een NGO en over haar leven tot nu toe.

Exploring wise leadership together

About Comenius

Comenius Leadership’ programmes wish to contribute to wise and fair governance in both the public and private sector. The focus is on the executives because as central actors they can make the difference. By operating from the inside out Comenius and Comenians strive to develop wise leadership, which is now more important than ever.

Comenius puts man at the centre as a vital part of the social-cultural and biological ecosystem. Comenius believes in ‘ecosystemic leadership’, a balanced approach to man and nature.

Participants in Comenius’ leadership programmes are strong individuals with an open mind and an inquisitive attitude. They are freethinkers who want to learn from each other and want to inspire and stimulate each other. Together they explore the meaning of wise leadership: ‘Exploring wise leadership together’.

Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

Comenius is actively contributing to the goals of sustainable development as laid down in the United Nations’ 2030 Agenda which was published in 2015. Comenius focuses on two goals specifically: Quality Education (SDG 4) and Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions (SDG 16).

Fulbright scholarship

A major part of ecosystemic leadership is the exchange between generations. For this purpose Comenius actively invites young persons to participate in the leadership programmes. Each year Comenius offers them several Fulbright scholarships.

Organisation and team

Comenius’ organisation offers optimum support to the participants (Comenians) in the leadership programmes. The learning process starts with a personal interview in the Comenius home in De Bilt (central Netherlands), in which a participant and a leadership consultant explore the participant’s motivations and goals.

Together with an international group of experts, including researchers, artists, politicians and writers, the Comenius programme designer develops learning contexts with a variety of accents. In the process reflection and self-reflection are key.

Participants are assisted by experienced moderators from management, policy-making and business. Mentors for extra coaching are available on request. The entire process is supported by the Service & Begeleiding team in de Bilt and the hosts on location. After finishing the programme the participants are welcomed into the alumni network by our alumni officer.

Clara Smits

Advisor

Denne Rabbie

Program coördinator

Cristel van de Gevel

Manager Operations

Claudia Klerkx

Community Manager

Jan Amos Comenius

Comenius’ leadership programmes are inspired by the work of the great European thinker Jan Amos Komenský (1592-1670), who is better known under the name of Comenius. He stressed the need for inspired leadership, particularly in times of chaos and disorder. In his book Labyrinth of the World and Paradise of the Heart (1623) Comenius encourages leaders to look at issues in their context and to strive collectively for solutions through oversight and vision.

Comenius believed progress originates from doubt, not from consent. He also believed that man with the gift of his senses and mind can attain anything. His ideas had a powerful impact on pedagogy and inspired Rudolf Steiner and Maria Montessori, among others.

National Comenius award

Comenius’ leadership programmes support the Dutch Nationale Comenius award, which is granted in Naarden each year to a person or an organisation that contributes to society in line with Comenius’ thinking and work.

For more information see www.comeniusmuseum.nl

Kim Putters, winner Comenius award 2024