ADM On the Spot: September 2026

Business leaders and thought leaders take the floor 'in the spotlight' for a short and powerful story. Get ready for valuable new insights, innovative research, and inspiring ideas, presented in an accessible and engaging manner. The goal is not only to inform, but also to inspire, provoke thought, get people thinking, and perhaps even encourage them to act differently.

And to make our anniversary edition extra interesting, you get an exclusive visit to The Wave: the inspiring meeting place where innovation becomes tangible.

Program

Why Data Wins

Joachim De Vos || Author & Keynoter

Why do some organizations succeed in building a lead with data, while others drown in dashboards and reports? Data is not an IT issue; it is a leadership challenge.

In this keynote, Joachim De Vos reveals the key insights from his new book "Why Data Wins" and demonstrates how leaders can leverage data and AI to make better decisions and realize impact faster. Do not expect a technical exposition, but rather an inspiring session full of practical examples, surprising insights, and immediately applicable ideas. Anyone who wants to understand the future cannot miss this keynote.

Why is digital resilience more important than ever?

Marc Vael || Chief Digital Trust Officer Esko

Digital resilience is more important than ever today because our society, economy, and organizations have become fully dependent on digital technology. When systems fail due to cyberattacks, technical malfunctions, or human error, not only is an organization's continuity jeopardized, but also the trust of customers, citizens, and partners. Recent cyber crises demonstrate that every organization is vulnerable to digital disruptions. At the same time, a significant portion of the workforce continues to struggle with digital skills, further amplifying the impact of digital cyber crises.

Digital resilience therefore goes beyond cybersecurity alone. It is the ability to withstand digital shocks, recover quickly, and come back stronger. In this presentation, Marc will demonstrate that the strongest organization does not win, but rather the one that can adapt, recover, and continue functioning the fastest.

Surfing the waves of innovation

Ingrid Creten || Department Head Surf Studio & Surf Studio Labs KBC

You can't stop the waves… but you can learn to surf.
Ingrid, Manager of the KBC Surf Studio, the Tech Innovation hub, takes you on a journey into “Surfing the waves of innovation” and shows how, as an organization, you don’t miss the next wave, but effectively catch it.

Surf Studio is KBC's innovation hub where new technologies are researched and tested. Among other things, the technical building blocks for Kate, KBC's digital assistant, were laid in the Surf Studio.

The Innovation Renaissance. A new European paradigm in which smart companies win.

Jo Caudron || Transformation strategist, author & keynote speaker

We are experiencing a Worldshock: deglobalization, AI, social changes, climate pressure, and the withdrawal of America from its global leadership—all at once. Europe’s place in the world order is being rewritten, and the old rules no longer apply.

In this keynote, Jo Caudron introduces a new innovation paradigm for Europe—a framework to rebuild and reinvent our position. Drawing on his latest book, *Fuck The System and Other Bad Ideas for the Future*, he replaces the worn-out playbook with a new logic of sovereignty, transition, and smart strategic positioning. He shows where the real opportunities of the coming decade lie: in the sectors that must transform anyway—energy, mobility, food, housing, defense—and in reclaiming the strategic domains that Europe ceded to the US and China. The paradigm is already shifting. The only question is whether your company finds a place in it.