The document describes THNK, an executive leadership program that aims to develop creative leadership skills. It does this through four unique elements: Forum, Challenge, Quest, and Accelerator. The Forum involves dialogues with experts on important topics. The Challenge involves team projects tackling real-world problems. The Quest focuses on personal development through coaching. The Accelerator supports participants as they work on a major project or transformation during the last 12 months of the program. The goal is to help participants develop ideas and solutions that can change organizations and the world.

2. GENERATING
IDEAS LEARN BY DOING
THEN MAKE IT HAPPEN
The next generation of leaders must be creative. And have the curiosity, experts, challenge projects on the most important topics in life,
courage and power needed to develop new ideas and solutions. Only personal coaching (including well-being) and an accelerator. This
then can they turn our world’s challenges and crises into opportunities, all happens far from the traditional classroom setting. And includes a
creating a more meaningful and sustainable way of life. series of short but intense Amsterdam sessions, as well as a challenge
back on the job.
Though some of the qualities of creative leadership are simply part of
one’s personality – courage, willingness to take risks – other skills can By working with an amazingly diverse group of participants and faculty
be learned. That’s where THNK steps in. members, we believe participants can achieve lasting transformations,
as they learn to envision a better future, orchestrate creative teams and
Our program is designed to help future-makers boost their own drive breakthrough results that can change their organization – and the
creative leadership talents by thinking, feeling, doing, experiencing and world.
sharing. There are no lectures. Instead, THNK offers dialogues with
2 3

3. COMBINING FOUR UNIQUE ELEMENTS
FOR A DEEP LEARNING EXPERIENCE
THNK aims to accelerate the development of creative leaders, so they During the first 6 months, the program alternates between short inten-
can disrupt the world’s status quo and discover new opportunities. The sive weeks spent on campus in Amsterdam and assignments completed at
four unique elements of our program – Forum, Challenge, Quest and Ac- home and on the job. With the full support of the faculty, participants put
celerator – are designed to embolden our participants, so they can achieve their new skills to work during the 12-month Accelerator, as they embark
truly lofty goals. on their personal challenge.
The THNK Creative Leadership Program is a part-time executive pro- Our creative leadership program will transform the way leaders think.
gram lasting 18 months. That’s long enough to realize a deep learning And work. So they have the creativity to stay flexible, keep an open mind,
experience – while offering enough freedom so the program can become and create and feel the future around them.
part of the participants’ daily lives and responsibilities.
CREATIVE
LEADERSHIP
4 PROGRAM 5

4. FORUM CHALLENGE
Breaking with the limitations of traditional education, participants Participants work on real-life projects as teams under the guidance of
are exposed to and explore major global transformations, and engage THNK’s master practitioners, who are deeply versed in leading the cre-
in challenging dialogues with our experts. To create new perspectives, ation flow to meaningful solutions. Each challenge is based on a real-life
sense opportunities and collect new associations, we will work with and inspiring topic of social and economic relevance. Due to their com-
topics ranging from “game-changing technology” and “new tribes and plexity, the challenges will require input from different points of view as
communities” to “global resource scarcity as an opportunity”. The well as creative problem-solving if the team is to realize a breakthrough
Forum also includes games and simulations, visits with experts and solution with the potential to make a large-scale impact.
other experiences organized by THNK curators.
CREATIVE
LEADERSHIP
6 PROGRAM 7

5. QUEST ACCELERATOR
A program of personal development and intensive coaching that takes Six months into the program, participants embark on their personal
place throughout the entire program. We strongly believe this process is Challenge – achieving a major transformation or a new business within
necessary to realize real and lasting results. their corporation, starting a new enterprise, or realizing an important
transformation in public or social realms. The accelerator makes THNK
During the Quest, THNK’s personal coaches help participants collect more than a personal investment – it’s also an investment in the partici-
360-feedback, prepare their personal mission, and track and discuss pant’s next endeavor.
progress. Participants learn the key skills that define creative leaders,
including how to orchestrate creative teams, and become an effective During the 12 months of the Accelerator, THNK supports participants
storyteller and a superior change agent. They will practice creative as they further develop their idea, prototype it – and make it happen.
leadership skills during team projects. Significant attention will also be Support is individualized, and may include advice, coaching, monitor-
CREATIVE
focused on physical and mental wellbeing. ing, and access to networks and financing.
LEADERSHIP
8 PROGRAM 9

6. AMAZING ORGANIZATIONS AND
INTERNATIONAL PIONEERS
Among our founding team and advisory board, we are proud to have and Rajiv Ball, partner at McKinsey & Company. All faculty members
amazing organizations and an international group of pioneering have international experience and an independent, deeply curious and
creative leaders, including people from Stanford d.school, Droog De- challenging mindset.
sign, Indian School of Business, Free University Amsterdam, University
of Amsterdam and Philips Design, as well as designer Marcel Wanders. Serving on THNK’s international advisory board are, among others,
George Kembel, executive director of Stanford d.school, and Esther
FACULTY
Our founding dean is Stefano Marzano, former Chief Design Officer of Wojcicki, educational maverick, journalism and English teacher at Palo
Royal Philips Electronics. He hand-picked THNK’s core faculty, inclu- Alto High School and vice chair of Creative Commons. Find out more
ding Ben van Berkel, co-founder and principal architect of UNStudio about the people behind THNK at thnk.org.
AND
ADVISORY
10 BOARD 11

7. AT HOME IN
AMSTERDAM CREATIVITY, TOLERANCE, DIVERSITY,
COLLABORATION AND TRADE
Although our focus is international, THNK is firmly rooted in Amster- Thanks to its highly diverse culture – with more than 175 nationalities
dam. We’ve made the Westergasfabriek our home. This 19th-century – and an inventive and tolerant mentality, Amsterdam has grown into
former gas factory has been transformed into one of the city’s most an important international hub for creative thought and industry. The
exciting cultural centers, with old industrial buildings now housing city’s unique DNA of creativity, tolerance, diversity, collaboration and
trendsetting cafes, cinema, festivals and other events. Not to mention trade is reflected in THNK’s highly pragmatic and open culture.
the surrounding city parks – with everything from hidden waterways
to bike paths reaching from the countryside to the heart of Amsterdam.
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8. PEOPLE ON THE VERGE
OF BREAKTHROUGH
We are looking for participants who are already leaders – with real expe- THNK recruits from the corporate, social, public and creative worlds.
rience heading up teams. These are smart individuals individuals with a Our future participants should have an affinity with technology, busi-
passion for ideas. People on the verge of breakthrough – inspirational in ness and society and culture, and expertise in at least one of these fields.
their focus, with goals that can change the world. They’ve had some suc-
cesses, a few failures, faced confrontations with confidence and made Most importantly, they need to be individuals with a truly explorative
mistakes that teach humility. They love the team, and the team loves mind and an entrepreneurial spirit – driven by a strong personal mis-
them. Because they’re simply fun to be with. sion. In the program, we will help them become even better at visioning
a better future, orchestrating creative teams and driving breakthrough
Their world is international, their mindset eager to explore. Now they results with meaningful impact. For more details, or to apply, contact
are ready to step up to bat and face major league challenges. Now they info@thnk.org or call + 31 20 684 25 06.
are ready for THNK.
WHO SHOULD
14 APPLY? 15

9. THNK.ORG