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Business Developer | Entrepreneur | Financier | Restructurer | Speaker

As a serial entrepreneur, JJ (Hans) VAN DER LAAN has acquired, divested, franchised, restructured and started businesses in e.g. the learning & development sector.
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JJ (Hans) VAN DER LAAN | Business Developer | Entrepreneur | Financier | Restructurer | Speaker
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Speaking & Workshops

JJ (Hans) VAN DER LAAN | 范漢斯, an accomplished entrepreneur, dynamic speaker, and renowned workshop leader with extensive global experience in both private and public education. In addition to his entrepreneurial background, he brings valuable insights from his experience as a sports coach and his certification as a Dale Carnegie Training facilitator.

JJ (Hans) VAN DER LAAN | Speaking & Workshops | National Taipei University NTPU

Nat. Taipei University

Highly engaging, interactive workshops and presentations, delivered with a unique blend of entrepreneurial insight and international perspective.

JJ (Hans) VAN DER LAAN | Speaking & Workshops | Commuter Dad

Commuter Dad

Weekly redeye flights were a small price to pay for the rewarding experience of being a Dale Carnegie Training country manager, franchise owner, and instructor.

JJ (Hans) VAN DER LAAN | Speaking & Workshops | ELSA Speak AI

Feat. ELSA Speak AI

Empowering students with a hands-on workshop focused on career success, featuring the award-winning ELSA Speak AI.

Extensive ecosystem of clients & partners

Regularly featured in the press, I take pride in collaborating with associates, clients, and often exclusive partners. Having worked with hundreds of clients, the logos below represent just a small selection of available references.

Bio

About Me

Children
Most importantly, I am an immensely proud father of three wonderful children. Like me, they share a love for travelling and experiencing new cultures and languages. Between them, they’ve visited five continents and currently reside in Australia (Perth & Sydney) and the UK (London).

I feel truly blessed that they’ve grown into kind, generous individuals who are doing well for themselves. What more could a father wish for?

Work

Over the years, I’ve acquired, divested, franchised, grown, restructured, and launched businesses. I’ve been fortunate to participate in projects across Europe, Africa, Asia, and the Americas. Working with people from diverse backgrounds and perspectives has been an incredibly enriching experience. Some of the companies I have worked with include:

  • Access2Europe | Founder & CEO of Taiwan-Netherlands based company
  • ABN AMRO Bank | Corporate Finance in the Netherlands, Ireland & France for a Top 20 bank
  • Dale Carnegie Training | Country Manager & Owner in Belgium, Netherlands & Luxembourg for one of the largest franchise-based training organisations in the world
  • Finance4Learning | Founder & CEO and working with inter alia a worldwide top 10 bank
  • Netherlands Army | NCO Infantry in the Netherlands & Germany
  • NewLanguage Training | CEO of a spin-off of one of the largest language training institutes in the Benelux
  • THIM Applied University | Principal & Co-Owner during a hair-raising time

More extensive information can be found on my LinkedIn profile

 

Digital Nomad

Without a doubt, we’re confronted with significant challenges these days—powerful regimes threatening their neighbours’ sovereignty, the world’s food supply at risk, climate change with its potentially dire consequences, and democracies being undermined, partly due to the spread of misinformation, even among the youngest minds.

Yet, despite these challenges, one of the great advantages of living in the 2020s is the widespread acceptance of remote working. It enables me to collaborate with clients across different countries while living in the Benelux, Ireland, and Taiwan. I guess that makes me a 'Digital Older Nomad'—or 'Don Hans,' if you like. 😀

Hans always takes the personal approach, really getting to know you and your business before drawing upon his extensive experience and knowledge to offer applicable professional insights and advice. Great to work with!

- Rob LAYCOCK | Group Financial Controller at GrowthTribe

I have known Hans since our student days. He is an entrepreneur par excellence. His great strength is seeing opportunities and seizing them. Always optimistic and with a keen eye for the people around him.

- Inge LIGTHART | CEO at Dawn | CSO at Springbok

Hans is a successful entrepreneur in L&D with extensive practical knowledge, experience and market insights. In my opinion .. he is extremely qualified to work with educators on business development, certification, marketing, raising finance, restructuring, etc.

- Paul ESVELD | CEO at CEDEO

Hans' professionalism has contributed substantially to the success of our projects. His vast experience and ethical responsibility are his strengths and he is a man of great integrity. I have no hesitation in recommending him!

- Paul SCHELLEKENS | Netherlands Ambassador Ireland 

JJ is a committed entrepreneur and full of creative ideas. Frequently challenges the status quo in a constructive manner, thereby helping others to see things in a new and more effective way. I would highly recommend him as a creative and challenging sparring partner in any business venture.

- Thor OLAFSSON | CEO at Strategic Leadership

Hans is an inspiring professional. He and I go back almost two decades. His creativity and eagerness to take on new challenges never cease to amaze. He is a delight to work with!

- Han DE JONG | Chief Economist at ABN AMRO Bank

An inspirational speaker who makes his audience feel at ease and yet gets them on their feet (literally!). It's impressive to see how Hans' style, experience and creativity allow him to connect to a wide range of people, get them out of their comfort zone, ensure they bond with the people around them, and think outside of the box. 

- Thijs VELEMA | Dean Office of International Affairs at National Taipei University

Let's Get In Touch

FAQs

You’ve mentioned Belgium, Ireland, the Netherlands, and Taiwan. How does your international experience benefit your work with educational institutions?

Absolutely. My work and personal life have taken me across Belgium, Ireland, the Netherlands, and Taiwan, where I currently split my time. These international experiences have shaped my global perspective and understanding of diverse markets and educational environments. I’ve also lived in France and have worked in many other countries worldwide.

This international exposure means I can bring a truly global outlook to the workshops I lead, which is especially valuable for students preparing to work in an increasingly interconnected world. I’ve had the privilege of working in regions such as:

  • Americas | Canada, Haiti, Jamaica, other Caribbean nations, Panama, Suriname, USA
  • Australasia | China, Papua New Guinea, Taiwan, Singapore
  • MEA | Congo, DRC, Israel, Gabon, Sierra Leone
  • Europe | Belgium, Denmark, France, Germany, Ireland, Luxembourg, Netherlands, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, UK

I’m excited to share these experiences and insights with your students and faculty.

How do you use your media presence and international connections to support your work with academic institutions in Taiwan and abroad?

Over the years, I’ve been featured in a variety of media, including magazines, newspapers, radio, TV, and YouTube, sharing insights on business, economic trends, and education. My experience as a Country Manager for Dale Carnegie Training and my work with global organisations has made me a sought-after voice in these discussions.

For example, while working closely with the Netherlands Embassy in Ireland, I had the privilege of engaging with Prime Minister Mark RUTTE (now NATO Secretary General) and Their Royal Highnesses, the King and Queen of the Netherlands. During this time, I was often called upon by the embassy for commentary, providing international perspectives on topics ranging from economic issues to cultural trends.

Given my current focus on Taiwan and its dynamic educational landscape, I am readily available for media engagements, particularly to provide insights on developments in Taiwan’s education sector, learning and development trends, and global business.

Thinking of speaking & workshops, what kind of topics would you be able to handle?

As the Country Manager of Dale Carnegie Training in the Benelux, I became a certified trainer in:

  • Leadership
  • Personal Effectiveness
  • Presentation Skills
  • Sales & Sales Management

In addition to these core areas, my extensive experience in founding, growing, and restructuring businesses allows me to offer workshops on topics that are particularly relevant for students and staff at academic institutions, such as:

  • Business Development
  • Intercultural Business
  • Learning & Development
  • Career Development (selling yourself)
  • Mergers & Acquisitions
  • People Engagement
  • Innovation & Restructuring

I’m confident we can tailor these topics to meet the needs of your students and faculty, preparing them for success in both local and global contexts. Just thrown down a challenge and we'll see what can be done!

What types of partnerships do you offer when working with higher education institutions and other organisations?

My approach to collaboration is highly flexible and designed to meet the unique needs of each institution. Whether partnering with universities, businesses, or governments, I tailor my services to ensure that both educational and organisational objectives are achieved. These collaborations can range from one-off workshops to ongoing consultancy and long-term programmes that align with academic goals.

When working with higher education institutions, I focus on creating sustainable partnerships that add real value to students and faculty, while delivering impactful outcomes. My compensation models are adaptable and may include:

  • Project-based fees
  • Retainers
  • Fixed + variable models

I am committed to fostering mutually beneficial partnerships that support the success of both the institution and its students.

Are you available to meet with university deans, faculty, and students to discuss potential collaboration?

Absolutely! I’m a big believer in serendipity—the idea that chance meetings can lead to great opportunities. I’m always open to meeting new people, whether they’re students, faculty, business professionals, or members of the press.

If you’d like to discuss how my workshops or insights could benefit your students or organisation, feel free to book a meeting with me. We’ve got nothing to lose and plenty to gain!

How do your exclusive partnerships with leading organisations enhance the workshops and services you offer to academic institutions?

I’m proud to partner with leading organisations like:

  • Business | Crystal Clear Economics, Marktlink, ...
  • Finance | ABN AMRO, BNP, Santander, ...
  • L&D | CEDEO, ELSA Speak, Elycio, ...
  • Tech | Chargebee, HubSpot, Quotanda, ...

These partnerships enable me to incorporate cutting-edge industry insights into my workshops, particularly in areas like AI-as-a-Service, Finance-as-a-Service, and Learning & Development. By drawing on these collaborations, I can tailor workshops that help universities prepare their students for the evolving demands of the workforce, equipping them with practical knowledge in finance, technology, and professional development.