de Baak Indiawww.debaak.com/india

de Baak, associated with the VNO-NCWEmail: email@debaak.nlInternet: www.debaak.comInformation number: +31 343 55 63 69

Driebergen, the NetherlandsP.O. Box 88, 3970 AB DriebergenDe Horst 1, 3971 KR Driebergen, the Netherlands

Noordwijk, the NetherlandsP.O. Box 69, 2200 AB NoordwijkKoningin Astridboulevard 232202 BJ Noordwijk, the Netherlands

Amsterdam, the NetherlandsIJsbaanpad 3B,1076 CV Amsterdam, the Netherlands

Antwerp, BelgiumBeukenlaan 122020 Antwerp, Belgium

The Hague, the NetherlandsMalietorenBezuidenhoutseweg 122509 AA The Hague, the Netherlands

Shanghai, Chinawww.debaak.com/china

Europewww.debaak.com/europe

Indiawww.debaak.com/india

U.S.www.debaak.com/us

De Baak IndiaIndia is a country that appeals to all the senses. A visit to India provokes a strong reaction in most people: they either love it or sometimes they hate it. You can’t take India for granted; an encounter with India changes you as a person and the way you perceive things.

De Baak has a special relation with India because, like no other country, India appeals to the part of de Baak related to the ‘human side’ of business. India has a long history of seeking wisdom and enlightenment and even the most devote rationalists are touched by the country’s spiritual forces. For Indians, personal and spiritual development is a normal part of daily life and religion is not regarded as holy or secret, as it is by most Dutch people. They have hundreds of happy and angry gods with human characteristics, including both good and bad elements, which people pray to on all different occasions.But Indians accept that there are things in life beyond their control and beyond matter; not rational, mystical, but of great influence. On the other hand, discipline is key to making the most of life and we have an obligation to develop and display our own good selves.

So the traditions of de Baak and India connect perfectly with our quest to become people who actively and consciously seek to further our development in order to make personal and sustainable contributions to this world. India also has an entrepreneurial spirit that de Baak recognizes, with all the classic similarities and differences.

“SO FAR AS I AM ABLE TO JUDGE, NOTHING HAS BEEN LEFT UNDONE EITHER BY MAN OR NATURE, TO MAKE INDIA THE MOST EXTRAORDINARY COUNTRY THAT THE SUN VISITS ON HIS ROUNDS. NOTHING SEEMS TO HAVE BEEN FORGOTTEN, NOTHING OVERLOOKED.”

MARK TWAIN , AMERICAN WRITER AND ESSAYIST (1835 - 1910)

The following story is an Indian manager’s own experience of the Dutch:

An Indian manager, who is on a working visit in the Netherlands for a couple of days, calls a businessacquaintance to make an appointment; this is a good opportunity, seeing that he is in the country. To his great astonishment, he hears that he cannot be received during this time because all of the managers are busy with the new crisis plan.

The Indian manager is surprised (and disappointed), because when he visited the Netherlands in the past, he was told that they were too busy with the expansion of personnel. Due to turbulent growth, an appointment was impossible on such short notice. He would have liked to have consulted with the Dutch, because they could have helped him market his new product. He has always had good experiences with the Dutch: their ability to think out of the box, heart-on-the-sleeve mentality and pleasant and reliable way of doing business has always been enriching for him and helped him to get ahead. But flexible with time, and risk takers? Not really. There is definitely room for improvement here.

The connection with a fast-growing economy in a country with deep spiritual wisdom creates an inspiring and ideal learning place for leaders in a global world. Interaction with this eastern wisdom, mutual learning and the creation of a common language facilitates and enhances our mutual leadership. De Baak believes that business is essentially a human affair, which is why de Baak’s fundamental focus is on developing individuals.

Therefore, our mission and drive involve connecting leaders and reflecting on the way they feel, think and act; because the tighter our social networks become, the more we influence one another. In other words, what is each individual’s source of success, motivation to perform and mission to accomplish? And how can people learn from one another in this ‘flattening’ world?

Activities in India1. de Baak organizes learning journeysDe Baak’s Learning Journeys literally take people out on tour – for instance, Dutch leaders go to India and vice versa – visiting companies and meeting local leaders and entrepreneurs. An arguably even more important aspect of these journeys is the close examination of society’s unwritten rules, customs and beliefs. Visits to hospitals, temples, markets, ritual ceremonies and so on, all serve to challenge mindsets and broaden visions. These journeys are about ‘making sense’ and reflecting on the lives we live.

2. De Baak runs leadership programsLeadership Programs are courses that enable participants to step outside their comfort zones, by sharing and comparing approaches to leadership. The participantsinvest in themselves as individuals (discovering their tal-ents and finding new confidence and skills) and, in doing so, benefit the organizations for which they work by contributing strength and resilience. Confident and open-minded individuals in organizations contribute to the

formation of healthier societies. The Leadership Programs are either tailor-made or offered as open programs for international leaders.

3. De Baak organizes leadership courses for personal and spiritual development De Baak specializes in personal and spiritual development and, as stated above, India in particular has a long history of seeking wisdom and enlightenment. At the moment, we are offering a guided retreat in Delhi and a program that focuses on life’s quest.

4. De Baak is involved in sustainable programsDe Baak sees involvement in sustainable programs as a social responsibility. Participants in de Baak programs share their skills, knowledge and spirit with local businesses in order to ensure long-term positive effects for both individuals and communities. ‘An Echo for Each Child in Mysore’ is an example of such a program.

De Baak’s International ActivitiesIn addition to its activities in India, de Baak supports its partners throughout Europe, China and the US. Over the last few years, de Baak has organized many Learning Events in the Netherlands that focus on these countries and issues concerning global business and identity. De Baak will continue to be an initiator in organizing such international Learning Events and strive to deepen individuals’ understanding of other cultures, societies and business practices. De Baak also publishes an annual international magazine, The Human Side of Enterprise, in which we introduce our readers to leading figures in business and society who have interesting perspectives on how Dutch leadership plays a role in global business.

For more information, please visit www.debaak.com