e27 has been dedicated to nurturing a supportive ecosystem for entrepreneurs since its inception. Our Contributor Programme offers a platform for sharing unique insights.
As part of our newly introduced ‘Contributor Spotlight’, we shine a weekly spotlight on an outstanding contributor and dive into the vastness of their knowledge and expertise.
In our first episode, we feature Daan van Rossum, CEO of FlexOS and the creator of Future Work, a weekly newsletter and podcast about the future of work for an audience of over 15,000 business and people leaders.
A valued contributor, Rossum joined us in Q2 with his debut article. Since then, his work has amassed over 3,000 views. His motivation as an e27 contributor stems from his desire to impart knowledge and experience to the startup community.
Rossum shares his personal and professional journey in our debut episode of Contributor Spotlight.
The driving force
Rossum is passionate about helping startups create environments where their employees flourish in happiness and productivity. “Startups can potentially change the world, and I want to help them achieve their goals,” he said candidly.
How it all began
Rossum embarked on his journey at 15 when he chose to leave school and delve into the internet, enticed by its transformative possibilities. With experiences at Ogilvy spanning multiple global cities, he ventured to establish his own company, committed to aiding individuals in discovering happiness and realising their aspirations.
This journey evolved further as he took on the CEO role at Dreamplex, a co-working network in Vietnam. He later introduced FlexOS, a platform that empowers people-centric managers in hybrid and remote work settings.
Also Read: Myths vs reality: Remote and hybrid managers report high productivity and trust
The future is happy
Rossum specialises in employee experience, employee engagement, remote and hybrid work models, and fostering happiness in the workplace.
Regarding employee experience trends, he said, “There’s a noticeable shift towards emphasizing its importance in boosting engagement, retention, and productivity. Furthermore, we’ve seen the rapid rise of remote and hybrid work models, accelerated by the COVID-19 pandemic. This has pushed companies to rethink and enhance the experience for remote and hybrid workers.”
He highlighted the growing focus on workplace happiness, emphasizing that companies now understand its role in driving productivity and innovation. They actively strive to create supportive, valued, and appreciated workplaces.
Advice for budding thought leaders
To all aspiring thought leaders and regular contributors seeking to enhance their skills as articulate and efficient communicators, here are some of his top tips:
- Develop a deep understanding of your field. This will give you the credibility and authority to speak on relevant topics.
- Maybe, more importantly, understand who you’re writing for. If you don’t know what your audience cares about, it’s hard to provide real value.
- Be able to communicate your ideas clearly and concisely.
- Writing is thinking, but the final product should convey your message. I highly recommend the University of Michigan’s Good With Words course.
- Read a lot. The more you read, the more you’ll get into the flow of writing well yourself.
- Be responsive to your audience. Engage with them on social media and answer their questions. Writing can’t be a one-way street. Let your readers inspire your next piece and help you develop your thinking and writing.
Juggling too many things?
“Understanding your priorities is crucial,” Rossum emphasised. “Once you’ve identified them, it’s time to evaluate your schedule. Chances are, your current time allocation doesn’t align with your priorities. In that case, it’s time for a schedule reset.”
He further suggested allocating time to prioritise significant aspects of life, such as family and career, emphasizing deliberate scheduling and hyper-effective time management. He recommended eliminating non-contributory meetings and dedicating substantial blocks for meaningful, productive work.
“In my case, I rely on tools like Clockwise to automate this process, even reshuffling meetings. Balancing work, contributing, and personal life can be challenging, but setting boundaries and consciously structuring your time is essential. It’s equally important to include moments for relaxation and rejuvenation. When you follow these principles, you’ll find ample time to enjoy life”, he added.
Also Read: Examining global hybrid and remote work trends beyond the West
Staying in the loop
To stay informed, Rossum relies heavily on LinkedIn, where he follows industry leaders and influencers. “I’ve found that when crucial news surfaces, it’s often shared by one of these individuals on their profiles”, he said.
Podcasts are another invaluable resource, he feels. He’s an avid listener, regularly tuning into shows like This Week in Startups, Josh Bersin, WorkLife with Adam Grant, Acquired, My First Million, and HBR Ideacast.
He mentioned that he stays informed by subscribing to email newsletters like People Geekly and Dror Poleg, focusing on developments in employee experience, employee engagement, remote and hybrid work models, and happiness at work. These sources provide valuable updates and trends in his areas of expertise.
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