Hans Lagerweij

Hans Lagerweij is originally from the Netherlands and is currently based in Miami. He holds a master of business administration from Erasmus University Rotterdam and a master of arts in brand management, and is the author of the bestseller "The Why Whisperer: How to Motivate and Align Teams That Get Your Strategy Done." This insightful guide provides a no-nonsense approach for leaders seeking to build engaged and aligned teams that consistently deliver exceptional results and achieve double-digit growth.

Over the first decade of his career, Lagerweij held various roles in brand activation, brand development, sales, and innovation management at leading packaged consumer goods companies, including Kimberly-Clark and Sara Lee. In 2008, he merged his passion for adventure travel with his expertise in commercial management when he became managing director of Sawadee Reizen in Amsterdam. In 2010, Lagerweij moved to Toronto to assume the role of president and CEO of Quark Expeditions, a polar cruise company. Under his leadership, the company was featured as a best in class business case in David Meerman Scott’s book "The New Rules of Sales & Service."

In 2015, Lagerweij took on the responsibility of overseeing all adventure brands within TUI Travel, a portfolio that was successfully sold in 2017. Following this, he served as CEO and president of the boutique luxury cruise startup, Victory Cruise Lines, which was also sold in 2019. Most recently, Lagerweij was the president of international businesses at Albatros Travel, managing brands such as Albatros Expeditions, Albatros Arctic Circle, Albatros Africa, and Adventure Marathons. He also held a senior vice president position at Four Seasons.

Lagerweij now leads his own consultancy, Flying Dutchman Consultancy, which specializes in helping companies overcome strategic and commercial growth challenges. With experience living and working in seven countries, he has built a reputation for creating exceptional customer experiences. His ventures range from commanding a nuclear icebreaker to the North Pole to organizing marathons in extraordinary global locations, including the Great Wall of China, expedition cruises in the Peruvian Amazon, and camping excursions in Antarctica. Additionally, Lagerweij serves as a trustee for the Safer Tourism Foundation in the UK and is a board advisor for Lepdr/Lifepass, a service platform designed to help individuals save time by outsourcing personal tasks.