Willem van der Schoot

Willem van der Schoot is a prominent figure in the marketing and creative industries, known for his role as the founder of BarnSessions. Prior to establishing BarnSessions, he served as the CEO of Havas Lemz, a notable advertising agency he co-founded 14 years ago. Under his leadership, Havas Lemz became recognized as one of the first "do good" advertising agencies in the Netherlands and achieved B Corp certification, reflecting its commitment to social and environmental responsibility.12

Career Overview

• Havas Lemz: Van der Schoot played a pivotal role in building Havas Lemz into a successful agency focused on positive impact. He announced his departure from the agency in early January 2023, transitioning leadership to Judith Peters while expressing gratitude for his experiences and collaborations over the years.23

• BarnSessions: Following his exit from Havas Lemz, Van der Schoot launched BarnSessions, which focuses on facilitating sessions with executives and management teams. The goal is to help organizations develop new perspectives and strategies in a relaxed environment, emphasizing the importance of thoughtful dialogue for innovation and growth.123

Philosophy and Approach

Van der Schoot's approach at BarnSessions centers on creating an atmosphere that allows leaders to reflect and engage deeply with one another. He believes that taking time to converse meaningfully can lead to significant breakthroughs in organizational thinking.12 His commitment to fostering creativity and sustainability continues to shape his professional endeavors.

For more insights into his work and philosophy, you can find him on LinkedIn under the username willemvanderschoot.