Entrepreneurship Summit 2023: Keynote speech by Bart Weetjens

Summary

In his keynote speech, ‘Presence – The Essential Leadership Skill for Sustainable Entrepreneurship,’ Bart Weetjens talks about presence, impact and perspective, linking his personal life story with the principles of social entrepreneurship. For him, the personal sustainability of entrepreneurs is central to achieving a sustainable impact in the world.

He talks about growing up in a difficult family environment, his early entrepreneurial spirit through breeding and selling rodents, and personal crises during his studies that led him to meditation and mindfulness. Based on his vision, he developed Hero Rats, African rats that detect landmines and diseases, and founded a successful organisation that is now active in 14 countries.

In the rest of his keynote speech, Weetjens highlights the psychological strain on social entrepreneurs and emphasises the need for self-care, mindfulness and conscious presence in order to remain effective and healthy in the long term.

Key insights for founders

1. Presence is a key competence:
Entrepreneurs should learn to be fully in the here and now in order to make better decisions and lead more effectively.

2. Personal sustainability is crucial:
Successful social entrepreneurs often put themselves under pressure; balancing work and self-care increases long-term impact and quality of life.

3. Creative solutions from simple resources:
Innovation does not always have to be high-tech. Bart Weetjens shows how he uses rats, a ‘natural’ resource, to detect landmines more safely and cost-effectively.

4. Leadership through compassion:
Those who pay attention to their own needs are also better able to respond to teams, promote motivation and create healthier organisational structures.

5. Self-transformation leads to greater impact:
A founder's personal development path directly influences the effectiveness of the project; those who reflect on themselves inspire others and create lasting change.

About the speaker

Bart Weetjens is a social entrepreneur and founder of the organisation that uses Hero Rats to detect landmines and identify diseases at an early stage. Growing up in Belgium, he developed entrepreneurial skills as a child by breeding and selling rodents. After a personal crisis during his product design studies, he found guidance in Zen meditation and mindfulness.

With his organisation, Weetjens revolutionised landmine clearance through innovative, cost-effective methods and led projects in over 14 countries. He is internationally recognised, including awards from Asoka, the Schwab Foundation and the World Economic Forum. Today, he is committed to the personal sustainability of entrepreneurs and initiates networks that strengthen executives in mindfulness, resilience and empathetic leadership.