Peter Hinssen

Peter Hinssen is an entrepreneur, bestselling author, LinkedIn Top Voice and internationally renowned expert on innovation strategy, technology and leadership. A serial entrepreneur, startup investor and experienced board member, Peter has spent decades examining how organisations can adapt to radical technological and societal change. He is the Co-Founder and Partner of nexxworks and has delivered more than 1,500 keynote presentations for organisations around the world. Describing himself as a pathological optimist, Peter believes organisations can use uncertainty as an opportunity to build a better Day After Tomorrow, an idea developed further in his 2025 book, The Uncertainty Principle.

After graduating from Ghent University with a Master’s in Computer Science and Electronics in 1993, Peter began his career as a Research Engineer at Alcatel. He founded e-COM in 1995, which was subsequently acquired by Alcatel-Lucent, before becoming involved with Streamcase, later acquired by Belgacom. Peter also chaired Porthus, which was listed on the stock exchange in 2006 before being acquired by Descartes. His entrepreneurial experience led to a position as Entrepreneur in Residence at McKinsey & Company, while he later founded Across and became Co-Founder and Partner of nexxworks.

Today, Peter combines entrepreneurship with investment, education and advisory work. He is Managing Partner of Newton Engineering, an Industry Fellow at MIT, a member of Apheon Capital’s Senior Advisory Committee and Co-Founder of Wintercircus Ghent. Peter has also held board positions with organisations including Belfius and Mediahuis and has taught at institutions including London Business School. Through nexxworks, his investment activity and international speaking, he works with organisations navigating artificial intelligence, technological disruption, innovation and rapidly changing business environments.

Peter is the author of six bestselling business books. His publications include Business/IT Fusion, The New Normal, The Network Always Wins, The Day After Tomorrow, The Phoenix and the Unicorn and The Uncertainty Principle. His latest book examines how leaders can turn uncertainty into opportunity through strategy, foresight, organisational design, culture and innovation. Across his writing and wider work, Peter has developed a reputation for challenging leaders to look beyond immediate disruption and consider how their organisations can remain relevant in what he describes as the Never Normal.

Peter is hired for his ability to connect emerging technology with practical business strategy. Having delivered more than 1,500 keynotes internationally, he has spoken for organisations including Google, Apple, Microsoft, Amazon, LVMH, BMW, HSBC, Sanofi, SWIFT and the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation. His keynotes explore AI, innovation, leadership and how organisations can thrive through continuous disruption.

Peter has also delivered the TEDxKULeuven talk Re-thinking Education for the Never Normal, exploring how education must evolve for a constantly changing world. In 2025, his Amsterdam Business Forum presentation achieved a 9.2 average rating, which his official website describes as the highest speaker rating in the event’s history.

Here are some of the key milestones that define Peter Hinssen’s remarkable career:

  • 2025 – Published The Uncertainty Principle, his sixth bestselling business book, exploring how leaders can transform uncertainty into opportunity.
  • 2025 – Achieved a 9.2 average speaker rating at Amsterdam Business Forum, described by his official website as the highest in the event’s history.
  • 2022 – Co-founded Wintercircus Ghent, contributing to the development of an entrepreneurial and technology-focused ecosystem.
  • 2020 – Published The Phoenix and the Unicorn, examining how established organisations can repeatedly reinvent themselves.
  • 2017 – Published The Day After Tomorrow, exploring long-term thinking and radical innovation.
  • 2016 – Became an Industry Fellow at MIT, extending his involvement with technology and innovation research.
  • 2014 – Co-founded nexxworks, helping organisations understand technological disruption and develop future-focused strategies.
  • 2014 – Published The Network Always Wins, examining how organisations must adapt to an increasingly connected world.
  • 2010 – Published The New Normal, exploring how organisations should respond as digital technology becomes embedded in everyday life.
  • 1995 – Founded e-COM, beginning more than 15 years of building and developing technology companies.