Leon Veenhuijzen

The World in a Nutshell

From a young age, I was certain: I wanted to become a pilot in the Air Force—a dream I’m sure many other boys my age shared. And I almost made it, missing the mark by just 1.5 centimeters (feel free to ask me about that story). So instead, I joined the Royal Navy. And while it was technically my second choice, I have never regretted it. The world suddenly became much bigger, and every mission felt like an expedition. At the same time, the world also became smaller, as I saw firsthand how differences between countries and people are, in the end, minor and easy to bridge. Well, except during the Gulf War (Desert Storm)—that was a different story. But it did teach me exactly who I am and what I stand for.

People often ask me, "It must be very different now compared to your time at sea?" My answer: "Not really—except that the office sways a lot less!" Operating with clear objectives, taking a project-based approach, working with a team of specialists, and considering stakeholders? I could have stayed on a Navy ship and done the same things!

Of course, there are differences

Back then, poor preparation, a bad strategy, or weak teamwork could literally mean sinking the ship! I don’t see that happening to any of our clients' offices anytime soon, but that doesn’t mean a project is any less important. Approaching every challenge, project, or dilemma with the mindset that failure is not an option—but success is the goal—is a lesson I carried from my first career into every step that followed.

That approach served me well during my time as a manager at a health insurance company, in my career at several major consultancy firms, and throughout the many dozens of projects I worked on. In recent years, I’ve found a rewarding and inspiring environment at First Day—a conscious choice to work on projects with a meaningful impact on people and society while also enjoying collaboration with great colleagues and clients.

In short