The Pioneers Podcast by Lyreco’s Innovation Team brings you conversations with the thinkers, builders, and leaders redefining how we work. Each episode dives into the trends, ideas, and real-world transformations shaping the workplace of tomorrow, cutting through buzzwords to focus on what truly matters – a great working day delivered.
Hosted by Marc Curtis, Lyreco Group Head of Innovation, the Pioneers Podcast explores the future of work through candid, practical conversations with pioneers across industries.
With over 20 years of experience in digital and innovation, Marc brings a unique perspective combining creativity, experimentation, and business impact. From launching unconventional campaigns to leading innovation at Lyreco, he connects bold ideas with real-world execution.
Each episode is designed to leave you with:
- Fresh perspectives on work and technology
- Practical ideas you can apply immediately
- A clearer view of what’s changing, and what isn’t
Latest episodes
Season 3
Episode 7: Are we building tools or outsourcing thinking?
Guest: Vincent Ginis
Professor Vincent Ginis, researcher at VUB Brussels and visiting professor at Harvard, explores how AI is reshaping both education and the workplace, and why the biggest challenge is not the technology itself, but the behaviours it amplifies. Drawing on his experience in academia and innovation, he discusses the opportunities of personalised AI learning, the risks of shallow adoption, and the growing tension between experimentation and governance inside organisations. From AI literacy and workplace culture to “shadow AI” and smarter ways of measuring performance, this episode offers a practical and thoughtful perspective on how to use AI to genuinely learn, create, and innovate rather than simply automate.
Episode 6: Fake it till you make it fails in hardware
Guest: Colin DeBlonde
Colin DeBlonde, co-founder of Brussels-based startup Dripl, shares the realities of building a hardware company focused on sustainable workplace hydration in an era dominated by software and AI startups. From early prototype failures to scaling refillable drink machines across workplaces, he explores the operational, commercial, and behavioural challenges behind creating products people rely on every day. The conversation dives into why health often resonates more than sustainability, how IoT data is shaping consumer insights, and what it takes to grow a practical, profitable European startup without losing focus on product quality and trust.
Episode 5: AI will not fix your business until you rethink work
Guest: Marion Devine
Marion Devine, Principal Researcher in Human Capital at The Conference Board, brings a research-driven perspective to the realities of AI adoption inside large organisations. Drawing on interviews with executives and employees across industries, she explores why companies are investing heavily in AI despite uncertain returns, where the real transformation challenges lie, and how generative AI is reshaping work, leadership, and workforce expectations. From skills gaps and psychological safety to governance, culture, and the future of entry-level careers, this episode offers a grounded and practical look at what responsible AI transformation actually requires.
Episode 4: How MAD turns everyday drinks into measurable good
Guest: Ambroise Leclercq
Ambroise Leclercq, co-founder of Swiss beverage startup MAD (“Make a Difference”), shares the realities of building a sustainable consumer brand in one of the world’s most competitive industries. From launching the company in just four months to linking every product to a sustainability initiative, he explores the balance between impact and commercial reality, why taste matters more than storytelling in consumer products, and how startups navigate growth, distribution, and persistence while staying true to their mission.
Episode 3: How AI flattens customer journeys and what to do instead
Guest: Steven Van Belleghem
What happens when AI makes “great customer service” cheap and invisible? Steven Van Belleghem, a globally recognised authority on customer experience and author of multiple bestselling books on the topic, explores how large language models are reshaping the relationship between brands and customers, often in ways companies are not prepared for. From the risk of losing real human connection to the rise of commoditised experiences, this episode challenges leaders to move beyond efficiency and rethink what truly creates loyalty, introducing practical frameworks around relevance, belonging, and human-centred value in an AI-driven world.
Episode 2: Reluctant futurism & real agency
Guest: Henry Coutinho-Mason
Prediction might feel safe, but it’s the wrong strategy. In this episode, we sit down with Henry Coutinho-Mason, a leading voice helping global organisations turn emerging trends into competitive advantage, to explore a more powerful approach: building the muscle to sense change, test ideas, and act fast. From “AI-native organisations” to the rise of smaller, high-impact teams, the conversation challenges leaders to move beyond efficiency and instead create real value customers will pay for by combining AI abundance with distinctly human strengths like empathy, taste, and trust.
Episode 1: From Google to Brussels Chamber of Commerce
Guest: Thierry Geerts
With Thierry Geerts, former Google Country Director and now CEO of the Brussels Chamber of Commerce, bringing both global tech experience and hands-on insight into SME transformation, we unpack what it really takes to drive meaningful digital change. From training every employee to starting with low-risk wins, this episode explores how organisations can adopt AI pragmatically focusing on customer value, building internal capabilities, and staying human at the core.
Season 2
Episode 8: Designing a future where workwear works for everyone
Guests: Lena Bay Højland and Martyna Kujawska
Workwear should enable people to perform at their best, yet for many women, it still doesn’t. In this episode, Lena Bay Højland, Product Director at Fristads and a leader in sustainable workwear innovation, joins Martyna Kujawska, Lyreco UK and Ireland Innovation Ambassador and Pioneers programme winner, to explore how design, procurement, and awareness intersect to shape inclusive workplaces. Together, they reveal how something as overlooked as PPE can drive real impact in safety, equality, and performance.
Episode 7: The psychology of workplace change
Guest: Anton Maes
Why does change feel so uncomfortable, and how can leaders manage it better? Organisational psychologist Anton Maes, founder of BrainMove and expert in workplace behaviour, shares practical strategies to help organisations navigate transformation while maintaining engagement and productivity. From hybrid work to leadership evolution, this episode explores how understanding human psychology is key to making change stick.
Episode 6: Beyond carbon footprints - what electronics sustainability really means
Guest: Arjan Steenbergen
Sustainability in electronics is far more complex than it seems. Arjan Steenbergen, ESG Manager at Trust International with nearly 30 years of experience in the company, brings a rare combination of technical depth and sustainability leadership to unpack what truly drives environmental impact. From lifecycle assessments to future EU regulations, this episode challenges simplistic metrics and reveals what meaningful progress really looks like.
Episode 5: Unleashing improv in the workplace
Guest: Pep Rosenfield
What if comedy could make you a better leader? Pep Rosenfeld, co-founder of Boom Chicago and a pioneer in applying improvisation to business, shares how humour can unlock better communication, stronger teams, and more resilient organisations. Blending decades of performance experience with corporate insight, he reveals why laughter is more than entertainment, but a powerful business tool.
Episode 4: Reinventing corporations in the digital age the phoenix way
Guest: Peter Hinssen
What does it take for established companies to reinvent themselves in a world of constant disruption? Peter Hinssen, globally recognised innovation expert and author of The Phoenix and The Unicorn, draws on years of advising top executives to explain how legacy organisations can continuously transform. From Microsoft to Hermès, this episode explores why reinvention is no longer optional—and how to build companies that rise again and again.
Episode 3: Fristads and the Apple approach to workwear
Guest: Lena Bay Højland
How do you reinvent a 100-year-old workwear brand for the future? Lena Bay Højland, Product Director at Fristads and a driving force behind its innovation and sustainability strategy, shares how the company has evolved from focusing purely on durability to designing workwear that combines functionality, comfort, and user-centric design. Drawing on Fristads’ commitment to 100% user-driven development, she explores how sustainability has long been embedded in the brand’s DNA, the persistent challenges around women’s workwear, and why the future lies in circular design, smarter materials, and modular product thinking.
Episode 2: How cheeky panda disrupted a mature market
Guest: Chris Forbes
Chris Forbes, co-founder of Cheeky Panda, shares how he built a fast-growing sustainable brand by rethinking something as everyday as toilet paper. By replacing tree-based products with bamboo, an innovative, rapidly renewable resource, he challenges industry norms while tapping into the rise of value-driven consumer behaviour. This episode explores how sustainability, smart positioning, and bold product decisions can transform even the most established markets.
Episode 1: The future of workplaces - resilience, culture, and meaningful change
Guest: Bruce Daisley
Bruce Daisley, one of the most influential voices on workplace culture, former VP of Twitter EMEA, and bestselling author of The Joy of Work, challenges the myths behind “great” company cultures. Drawing on his experience inside major tech companies, he reveals how many celebrated workplace environments were designed more for attraction than reality, and what organisations should focus on instead. From meeting-free days to rethinking how offices are used, this episode offers practical ways to build more human, resilient workplaces, with a powerful reminder that true resilience comes not from individuals, but from strong, connected teams.
Season 1
Episode 3: Adeline Barras, social enterprise pioneer
Guest: Adeline Barras
Adeline Barras, entrepreneur, restaurateur, and co-founder of Entropy Restaurant, shares how she combines fine dining with social impact by reinvesting profits into initiatives like The Hearth Project. With a background spanning entrepreneurship and mentorship, she offers a compelling perspective on how businesses can create value not just economically, but socially redefining success in the process.
Episode 2: Rasmus Vincentz, biodiversity pioneer
Guest: Rasmus Vincentz
How can businesses turn biodiversity from a complex concept into a practical strategy? Rasmus Vincentz, a leading expert helping organisations integrate biodiversity into their operations, breaks down the challenges and opportunities in this emerging field. From measuring impact to identifying where companies can take action, this conversation offers a clear, accessible entry point into a topic that is rapidly becoming central to both environmental and business agendas.
Episode 1: Axel Kuborn, co-working pioneer
Guest: Axel Kuborn
Axel Kuborn, co-founder of Silversquare and Sparks, and a pioneer in the co-working movement, shares his vision for creating environments that foster creativity, community, and entrepreneurship. Drawing on his experience building some of Belgium’s most distinctive workspaces, he explores how the design of physical spaces can shape collaboration, culture, and the future of work itself.