KEYNOTES 2026
Customer Experience Enthusiast / Global keynote speaker / Bestselling author / Entrepreneur
Steven Van Belleghem
Customer Experience Strategy: The Offer You Can’t Refuse
In today’s supply chain industry, great products, reliable delivery, and competitive pricing are no longer differentiators — they are the minimum entry ticket. The same is true for digital convenience. With AI automating planning, forecasting, sourcing and customer interactions, operational excellence will soon be expected by default. So what will truly set companies apart?
In this keynote, Steven Van Belleghem introduces a new growth framework for B2B leaders who want to stay relevant in an AI-driven market. The companies that will win tomorrow are not just efficient suppliers, but strategic partners in their customers’ businesses — organizations that help clients grow, reduce risk, innovate faster and perform better.
And the strongest offers go one step further: they contribute to a more resilient, sustainable and responsible supply chain ecosystem.
The Offer You Can’t Refuse brings together four powerful layers:
best-in-class products and services, frictionless digital experiences, deep partnership value, and positive impact on the broader system. Companies that master all four don’t compete on price — they become indispensable.
Steven Van Belleghem is widely regarded as one of the world’s leading thinkers in the field of customer experience. He shares his ideas through his six bestselling books, his popular social media channels, and his engaging keynote presentations. Steven has inspired world-leading companies such as Disney, Mastercard, Mercedes, Booking.com, Heineken and Salesforce with his visionary approach to customer experience.
Steven believes in combining common sense, new technologies, an empathic human touch, playing the long game and taking social responsibility to win the hearts and business of customers over and over again.
Steven finds his inspiration by visiting companies all over the world. He is the co-founder of Nexxworks, an inspiration agency that organises inspiration tours in all corners of the world to inspire executives to improve their customer experience.
Steven is also an investor in customer experience related companies.
Steven complements his entrepreneurial activities with his work as a part-time marketing professor at Vlerick Business School and guest speaker at London Business School.
Last years' executives in Conversation (2025)
Maria Pia de Caro
EVP Integrated Operations and S&R at Pernod Ricard
Maria Pia De Caro is a seasoned leader in Integrated Operations and S&R, boasting over 25 years of global experience in Supply Chain and Operations. Throughout her distinguished career, she has spearheaded multifaceted teams focused on engineering, manufacturing, M&A, and supply chain innovation across renowned FMCG enterprises. Maria Pia's journey includes pivotal roles at Procter & Gamble, Mondelez, Unilever, and Nomad Foods in diverse locations such as Italy, Belgium, Netherlands, China, and the UK, before bringing her expertise to Pernod Ricard Group in 2023.
Dr. Arne Flemming
Senior Vice President Corporate Supply Chain Management and Global Service at Robert Bosch GmbH
Transforming Global Supply Chain Operations for Operational Excellence and Cost Efficiency
Arne Flemming, a senior leader in global supply chain management, specializes in driving supply chain optimization, digital transformation, and process improvements across various industries. With extensive experience in logistics, finance, and general management, he focuses on reducing costs while increasing efficiency and transparency in global operations.
Dr. Arne Flemming is the Senior Vice President of Corporate Supply Chain Management and Global Service at Robert Bosch GmbH, where he oversees global logistics services and drives IT and digitization improvements. He has successfully led international projects, including a €1.5 billion net working capital reduction. With previous roles as Vice President of Corporate Controlling and Plant Logistics, Arne excels in integrating finance, operations, and supply chain management, focusing on process improvements and high-performance team leadership.
Robert van der Waal
Vice President Supply Chain at Sandvik
Robert van der Waal graduated in Logistics Engineering from BUAS and started his career at GWK Bank, leading the logistics behind the guilder-to-euro conversion. He then joined DHL, where he held various operational management roles, primarily in the electronics and fashion logistics industries, before managing three international gateways within DHL’s express division.
In 2009, Robert joined Samsung, taking on multiple leadership roles, from Logistics Manager to Vice President EU/CIS, overseeing European logistics. In 2021, he transitioned to Sandvik as Global Vice President Supply Chain within the aftermarket division, where he is responsible for the global spare parts supply chain, managing 50 warehouses and regional logistics teams worldwide.
Beyond his corporate roles, Robert is chairman of the external advisory committee of the Logistics faculty at BUAS and chairman of the board of TKI Dinalog, which promotes innovation in supply chain management. He has completed multiple leadership programs and was a finalist for ‘Logistics Manager of the Year’ (2012) and ‘Logistics Guru of the Year’ (2019). In 2024, he was ranked #12 in the Top 28 Supply Chain Executives Europe.
Moderator Carlos Cordon
IMD Professor of strategy and supply chain
Recordings of previous keynotes
More recordings of previous editions of inNOWvate Supply Chain Event are available on the YouTube channel of Supply Chain Movement: