Snippets

It’s with great pleasure that we present our new book Iconic, a study of the organisational practices behind centennial organisations.

The book was written by Xavier Bekaert and Gillis Jonk of Benthurst & Co, Jan Raes, managing director of the Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra, and former Bain consultant Phebo Wibbens. The preface was penned by Tom de Swaan, chairman of the Zurich Insurance Group.

“Iconic – how to create a virtuous circle of success” is a unique management book on organizations like the Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra, elBulli, the All Blacks, Princeton, Gore-Tex and Johns Hopkins Medicine.

What do the Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra, the restaurant elBulli and the All Blacks rugby team have in common which allows them to remain successful, while the renown of most other organisations comes and goes? The authors have arrived at three key features: an uncompromising approach to talent selection, teamwork which enables individual members to surpass themselves, and the desire to continue to push boundaries over time. These elements create a virtuous circle: by being crystal clear on their aspiration, these organisations exert an ever-greater power of attraction on the very best and motivated talent.

At the time of their inception, these iconic organisation where islands of meritocracy and self-fulfillment. Today, they offer practical inspiration for 21st century knowledge-driven companies.

Iconic is published by LID Publishing (New York and London) and is available from Amazon and other leading online shops. The third edition of the Dutch version Toonaangevend was released this summer. A Japanese translation is in preparation.

Date and venue of the book launches:

Lucerne – 28th of August, 2016. Venue: KKL, Lucerne
Amsterdam – 20th of October, 2016. Venue: Concertgebouw, Amsterdam
Brussels – 23rd of October, 2016. Venue: Bozar – Brussels