Global leaders took the stage at Amsterdam Business Forum

On 18 September, thousands of professionals, entrepreneurs and changemakers came together at TAETS Art and Event Park for Amsterdam Business Forum: a leading one-day conference centred around leadership, entrepreneurship, innovation and personal growth.

Against the industrial backdrop of the Hembrugterrein, an international line-up of influential speakers shared their experiences, ideas and perspectives with an engaged audience.

A stage for influential voices

The programme brought together leaders from the worlds of politics, business, marketing and technology.

Entrepreneur and The Diary of a CEO host Steven Bartlett offered his perspective on business, ambition and the realities behind success.

"Failure is feedback, feedback is knowledge, knowledge is power. so logically, failure is power” - Steven Bartlett 

Former Prime Minister of New Zealand Jacinda Ardern spoke about leadership in times of change and the importance of leading with empathy.

"As a leader, you don’t have to put your feelings aside. You just have to remember where they sit in the priority.” - Jacina Ardern 

Former Mayor of Rotterdam Ahmed Aboutaleb shared lessons drawn from his extensive career in public leadership.

"Trying to force things by power is usually a mistake. You can better use authority.” - Ahmed Aboutaleb

Marketing pioneer and bestselling author Seth Godin challenged the audience to think differently about creativity, meaningful work and creating change. 

“All of us would like to change the world, yet we are waiting for someone else to tell us what our job within that change should be.” - Seth Godin 

They were joined by innovation expert Diana Kander, tech investor Eva de Mol and host Ikenna Azuike, each bringing their own expertise and energy to the stage.

Where ideas and people connect

Amsterdam Business Forum was about more than the presentations alone. Throughout the day, guests exchanged ideas, expanded their networks and connected with professionals from a wide range of industries.

The combination of inspiring talks and valuable encounters created an atmosphere focused on learning, reflection and progress. From established leaders to a new generation of entrepreneurs, the event brought together people who are actively shaping the future of business and society.