CSR Academy in Rotterdam

This past week, I was invited to speak to the CSR Academy, a consultancy run by Lars Moratis in Rotterdam in the Netherlands.

A couple of things really impressed me about this group. First, most of their work is with SMEs, which I think is essential to get right if CSR is going to go to scale. Second. they invest in their 'knowledge workers', holding regular staff evening seminars (such as the one I gave). Third, they are really interested in transformational (rather than incremental) CSR. Lastly, they have a team that is not afraid to ask challenging questions (including about my CSR 2.0 concept).

Lars is also the editor of a new CSR magazine in The Netherlands called "Pepper". The inaugural issue looks great and I wish them the best of success with the publication.

As it happens, I was there in the days leading up to Saint Nicholas' Eve (December 5), and in the spirit of gift-giving (to which Christmas owes this tradition), I received the most enormous S-shaped chocolate in the world! (thanks guys!).

I really love the Sinterklaas story - makes me proud of my Dutch roots - especially the bit about children putting carrots or hay in their shoes, placed next to the chimney, for St Nicholas (or presumably his horse!), which he replaces with a small gift, such as candy.

My only regret is that it was such a fleeting trip. Rotterdam bridge by night was quite a spectacle, but I didn't really have a chance to get to know the city.