Laurens speaks about the future of work from a practitioner’s perspective. As Chief Evangelist at AI company 8vance, he works daily with organizations that use AI for recruitment, talent development and internal mobility.
His sessions combine technological insight with organizational reality. No futuristic speculation, but concrete examples of what already works, where organizations struggle and what decisions leaders need to make now.
Laurens is known for energetic and engaging sessions that translate complex developments into clear and practical insights, always with a strong focus on the human side of technology.
Available as keynote speaker, moderator, workshop facilitator or strategic sparring partner.
Sessions are delivered in English and Dutch.
1
Labour Shortage Is an Organisational Problem in Disguise
Labour shortages are often described as unavoidable. But in many organizations the real issue lies elsewhere: work itself is poorly organized.
Tasks are spread inefficiently across roles, talent remains invisible in HR systems, and people are hired based on job titles instead of what they are actually capable of.
Laurens explains how organizations can redesign work around tasks and skills rather than rigid roles and hierarchies. Drawing from real examples in healthcare, government and the private sector, he shows how a different way of organizing work can unlock hidden potential.
Audience: HR leaders, executives, policy makers, management teams
Format: keynote (30–60 minutes) or interactive session
2
AI in HR: What Works, What Doesn’t, and What to Do Tomorrow
AI promises a lot for HR. But many initiatives fail because of unrealistic expectations, poor data quality, cultural resistance or lack of adoption.
Laurens helps organizations understand the difference between traditional matching systems, generative AI and specialized AI trained specifically on labour market data. He explains where AI truly adds value and where leaders should remain cautious.
No hype and no fear stories. Instead: practical insights, real-world examples and the key questions every leader should ask before implementing AI.
Audience: HR professionals, recruiters, CHROs, IT leaders, executive teams
Format: keynote, masterclass or panel discussion
3
Unlocking Internal Talent Mobility
The best candidate for many roles already works inside the organization. Yet internal mobility often stagnates due to silos, outdated job descriptions and a lack of visibility into employees’ skills.
AI can help organizations uncover hidden capabilities and open up new career paths. But technology alone is not enough.
Laurens explores the organizational conditions required to make internal mobility work, how skills-based matching can accelerate it and what leadership and HR must do to make adoption successful.
Audience: large organizations, government institutions, healthcare organizations, HR business partners
Format: keynote or workshop
4
The EU AI Act and HR: What Leaders Need to Know Now
The EU AI Act is changing the rules for AI in HR. Applications used for screening, recruitment and evaluation are classified as high-risk systems.
This means organizations must meet new requirements around transparency, explainability, governance and monitoring.
Laurens translates the legislation into practical implications for HR leaders and recruitment teams. What does this mean for your hiring process, your technology vendors and the responsible use of AI?
Audience: CHROs, legal teams, compliance officers, HR directors, works councils
Format: keynote, expert panel or boardroom session
5
Healthcare Is Organising Work Wrong — and How AI Can Help Fix It
In many healthcare systems, staff shortages are seen as the core problem. But often the real issue lies in how work is organized.
Tasks are not aligned with people’s capabilities, rosters do not reflect skills, and highly trained professionals spend time on work that does not require their expertise.
Drawing from real cases in healthcare, Laurens explains how AI-driven task analysis and skills-based matching can help organizations distribute work more intelligently, reduce pressure on staff and retain valuable talent.
Audience: healthcare executives, HR leaders in healthcare, hospital managers, policymakers
Format: keynote or interactive session
Contact
Interested in bringing one of these topics to your event or organization?
Laurens is happy to discuss the audience, context and format to create a session that fits your event.