Hello 2024, Goodbye 2023!

Cheers to a brand new year! Let's make it a good one.

As we dive into the new year, we keep focusing on health and happiness and business as a force for good. Did you know that the Netherlands, despite the ups and downs of life, is still one of the happiest countries in the world? The happiness index remains high, reflecting a positive trend in our wellbeing. According to the World Happiness Report 2023, the Netherlands ranked fifth. The high quality of life and a strong emphasis on a healthy work-life balance contributed to this.


Source: Statistica 2023

It's not all sunshine and roses

At the start of 2024, however, it's hard to ignore the challenges we faced in 2023. From climate change, rising cost of living, the lack of available housing and concerns about immigration, to energy supply and healthcare, concerns are rising fast. The fight for democracy around the world is ongoing, with conflicts, coups and autocratic leaders attacking democratic institutions. Media freedom and freedom of expression are under pressure in many countries, including the Netherlands, where Geert Wilders, in our view an anti-democratic leader, won the recent political elections.

As progressive leaders, social democrats and changemakers, it is our responsibility to stay positive and work together to create a better and more regenerative system for everyone. This is no easy task, and it is all too tempting to lose hope. Yet we must remain committed and resilient. Let's be aware that we have much to be grateful for. So here is my positive, happy, cheerful, uplifting, joyful look back at 2023, with some hopeful, bright, promising prospects for 2024.

A big shoutout to our team

First of all, I want to thank our amazing team for everything they are, everything they do, and everything they stand for. Especially because the past year, during which I dealt with a personal loss, with surgery (twice!), and with (dare I say it?) becoming a 50-year-old woman, oh help! was not always easy for me. I know not every worker is surrounded by people who care about them, who work hard for their convictions, and who are just so much fun to have around.

Thank you Alice, Anne, Ayu, Alexander, Carmen, Elles, Frederik, Daniel, Ivo, Jessica, Kiki, and Michael!

Helping organisations thrive in harmony with people and the planet

It is our clients who make our mission a reality. Together we work towards our shared ambition to make the world a better, happier and more exciting place. In 2023 we engaged leaders and employees from various NGOs, B Corps, corporates and startups, all working on their strategies, their cultures and their brands. We are grateful to have been involved in their journeys towards a sustainable future. And, fortunately for us, we will continue to support some of them in 2024 as well!

I am very pleased that we returned to our longtime love of health, with our work on workplace happiness, the mental health and resilience of children, skincare and wellness, nuclear medicine, and systems change in hospital care.

Thank you Arbomaatschap, Care Cosmetics, Carte d'Or, Kinderpostzegels, Kyden (formerly known as Kirkman, Yse and Dialogue), mProve, NRG Pallas, Publyon (formerly known as Dröge & van Drimmelen and Dr2 Consultants), and Santeon for your trust and for the fun you bring.

Radical collaboration is the way

Beyond our clients who gave us inspiration and motivation, we also had the privilege of collaborating with our friends at Misteli Creative Agency, Blyde, Greenjobs.nl, and B Lab Benelux on a joint initiative to advance JEDI (justice, equity, diversity and inclusion) through serious gaming. During the B for Good Leaders Summit 2023, we launched Let's Play Equal, the world's most unfair game, a business game to boost awareness and understanding of these sensitive topics in the workplace.

I can honestly say that it is thanks to the focus and determination of the young people in our teams that this board game came to life as a real, tangible product. In its short existence it has already proven itself as a valuable conversation starter and eye-opening tool for teams to become aware and start to understand how different people have different starting points, perspectives and opportunities in life.

Thank you, Veronique, Nynke, Lorette, Annemieke, Tessa, Daan, and many others!

Growing the B movement

Being part of the B Corp community is always a highlight. We have been very actively involved in its activities, promoting the message of using business as a force for good. We contributed to B Corp Month campaigns and stayed engaged with the Interdependence Coalition to lobby for broad sustainability issues at the heart of every EU company, in the B Corp Way Consultants network, and in the B for Good Leaders community. Although we are a small player, we believe it all contributes to the growth of the movement. Especially since we have once again been able to inspire other companies to become B Corp, and we have a pipeline of soon-to-Bs who will shortly be supported in their sustainability journey and certification.

To be continued…

In 2023 we made bold decisions that will unfold in 2024. After 17 years of building, improving and sharing the 23plusone method that Alexander and I invented, we decided it was time to change the ownership structure of the company. The 23plusone Collective is on the horizon, a cooperative association with the users of the method as members. We are excited to make this happen! Plus, get ready for a strategic collaboration with like-minded agencies to become better equipped to serve our clients and make a bigger impact. Coming soon!

We are excited to embrace all the new things the coming year will bring, and look forward to taking on all the meaningful and fun things heading our way. We will recertify as B Corp and help others become B Corps too. We remain committed to continuing our work to accelerate the impact of our clients by aligning transformative strategies with a positive culture and compelling branding.

In short: let's go!

Kim Cramer

Alexander Koene

Co-founders BR-ND People