Hello!
Imagine a subtropical island in the Pacific Ocean without cars, no traffic jams, and devoid of concrete skyscrapers. A place with lush green vegetation and remote sandy beaches. This sun-blushed peninsula is Lamma Island, a tranquil oasis that is a mere 20-minute ferry ride from the bustling city life on Hong Kong island. Lamma Island is the place that I have called my home for many years…
I must admit, I didn’t succeed as expected. Often labelled a contrarian, I don’t conform to the typical mould. My office attire consists of flip flops, a t-shirt, and shorts. Yet, surprisingly, this unconventional style is why many businesses struggling to adapt and innovate recruit me.
I'm not a contrarian for the sake of being difficult; my viewpoint stems from the belief that to disrupt the status quo and develop breakthrough solutions, we must see things differently and take actions that others often overlook. This is why I embrace risks, uncertainty, and take the accountability that others shy away from, which leads to new market opportunities.
As a practical thinker, my 25-year journey in corporate and startup design have left me with the marks that are clear indicators of real-world learning. This hard-earned wisdom, drawn from firsthand experience has shaped my approach as a business designer and venture builder. I've launched multiple businesses, invested in, and mentored many others, navigating the highs and lows of leadership. Each experience—successes and setbacks alike—has contributed to my growth and understanding of today’s business environment. My recent EdTech initiatives are:
EQ Lab is a high-impact, collaborative leadership praxis. Together with organisational behaviourist Richard Claydon (PhD), we designed a future-fit methodology to unlock the cognitive potential of individuals, teams, and institutions.
Oomou bridges education with employment, fast tracking career changers into Web3, Blockchain, FinTech, and AI. We’re reshaping career progression and the hiring process by using self-paced learning and real-world networking.
Besides my role at DOHE, a global EdTech coaching accelerator, I work as the Lead Instructor for General Assembly, facilitating, reskilling and upskilling 1000’s of employees for the digital economy across the APAC region. Additionally, I am a visiting lecturer at the Sino-German Faculty of Zhejiang Wanli University in China, teaching design, brand and transmedia storytelling using artificial intelligence (AI) and generative tools.
I write about art, creativity, and innovation on my ‘insights’ blog, and produce The Last Supper, a weekly podcast dedicated to emerging and established artists, curators, gallerists and collectors in Asia. Ranked in the top 10, my podcast is supported by Christie's auction house and the Hong Kong Art Gallery Association (HKAGA).
Oscar B. W. Venhuis