Erik Vermeulen

Behavioural Economics Strategist Erik Vermeulen uses his engaging style and unique insights into behaviour and decision-making to illustrate and explore the biases that skew our perception of the world around us. He has a 21 year consulting track record and sits on the Faculty of the Johannesburg Business School as lecturer in the Executive Education track on Behavioural Economics. We all think of ourselves as rational human beings making reasonable decisions in our daily lives. But social scientists assert that this is seldom the case – that our decisions (with our time, our money, our attention, our relationships) are indeed truly rational. Rather, we make emotional decisions and then try to rationalise them after the fact. When we’re faced with complex decisions, our brains are wired to take shortcuts and our feelings get in the way. Tailor-made for each audience, Erik looks at the Cognitive and Emotional biases that affect our seemingly rational decision-making and shape our behaviour. He examines these from the viewpoints of both consumer and producer of information and applies these principles to Marketing, Customer Engagement, Customer Experience as well as Sales and even Employee Engagement. Understanding the power of Behavioural Economics in shaping behaviour and results is more important than ever in providing insights into your company’s approach to marketing, sales, customer experience and internal culture.

The biggest challenge facing leaders in a post pandemic economy is not to manage balance sheets, but to manage their people and their attitudes. Uncertainty is the very essence of adventure, and at the essence of leadership is the mitigation of uncertainty and creating certainty within the context of the business environment. This makes leadership a most compelling adventure. In this presentation, Erik Vermeulen addresses the essential skills and dashboards that modern leaders need to be concerned with in order to create an environment in which people can thrive while meeting business objectives. His insights and audience take aways are a careful blend of research, behavioural science and personal experience blended from business and adventure leadership. In this presentation he guides the audience through the challenges they face and how to meet them head on with practical examples, vivid stories from his own experience and poignant behavioural strategies for leaders to build teams, drive performance and lead in turbulent times.

We all know that in today’s world change is the only constant and in this keynote presentation, Erik drives home the message that business needs to be comfortable with being uncomfortable while navigating the “Change Curve”. Using 4 adventures as the backbone for the journey, Erik will take the audience from the Empty Quarter to Antarctica and from Kilimanjaro to the summit of Aconcagua to discover the four key themes driving success in leading change, managing disruption, and future-proofing your organisation. From embracing disruption and building resilience to fostering collaboration and leading with purpose, Erik unveils actionable insights and proven solutions tailored for today’s dynamic marketplace. What sets Erik’s presentation apart? His unparalleled expertise, honed through years of advising global leaders and organisations, brings unparalleled value to every session. Erik’s captivating style and engaging delivery ensure an immersive experience that resonates long after the event ends. Participants walk away empowered with practical tools and a renewed sense of purpose to thrive amidst change.

In today’s fast-paced and interconnected world, the ability to harness the power of teamwork is more critical than ever. Erik Vermeulen, a seasoned behavioural strategist and adventurer, offers profound insights into unlocking the potential of collaborative intelligence. With a wealth of experience and a deep understanding of human dynamics, Vermeulen’s keynote speech is a transformative journey into the heart of effective teamwork. He emphasises the paramount importance of teamwork in driving organizational success through highlighting his experiences in both the corporate world and the world of adventure. He introduces concepts such as the Partnership Model, The Trust Equation and how teams can achieve results through finding Purpose in Process. Throughout his presentation, Vermeulen delves into the dynamics of effective teams. Building a culture of collaboration is not just a lofty aspiration but a tangible goal within reach. Vermeulen provides practical strategies for fostering psychological safety, encouraging openness and transparency, and aligning goals and objectives to unite teams towards a common purpose.

Erik Vermeulen’s keynote presentation on the concept of “Cordialism” sheds light on how companies often lose their distinctive flavour as they grow, merge, or undergo acquisitions, primarily due to neglecting their corporate culture. Drawing from his extensive experience as a business consultant and expedition leader, Vermeulen emphasizes the crucial role of culture in sustaining a company’s identity and success. At the heart of Vermeulen’s presentation is the notion that as companies expand and integrate with others, there’s a risk of diluting or eroding the unique cultural elements that once defined them. This loss of flavour, or “Cordialism,” as Vermeulen terms it, can lead to decreased employee morale, disengagement, and ultimately, diminished performance.