Who and why

MARTIJN DE LIEFDE

Martijn is the founder of The Kgotla® Company. A flexible thinker, his experience covers a broad range of work, including branding and real estate.

He began his career at ABN AMRO Real Estate, before moving on to serve as the Corporate Real Estate Director for Europe & Emerging Markets for VNU Acnielsen; the Marketing Director of a WPP-owned branding company called KSDP Design Amsterdam; and as Sales and Marketing Director for Allen International a design firm specializing in retail banking.

He has traveled extensively around the world and accumulated a great understanding of cultures and diversity.

LAURENS HOEKSTRA

Laurens’ career is characterized by a dedication to talent development and innovation. At E-ID Group, he leads initiatives in digital learning, community engagement, and innovation advocacy. At the Brilliant Future Kids Foundation, he has developed specialized programs integrating professional coaching with creative fields such as animation and game development.

For The Kgotla® Company he is a lead facilitator in leadership development, focusing on dialogue-driven cultural improvement in organisations. His expertise extends to shaping educational practices, facilitating decision-making processes, and promoting collaborative environments.

ABLE SUN

Able Sun is a Hong Kong-born professional with an international background spanning law, real estate and waterfront development. Having lived and worked in Hong Kong, New York and Greece, he brings a global perspective on maritime governance, marina development and the economic impact of recreational boating. His experience in Greece exposed him to the world's largest yacht charter industry, while his work in New York strengthened his understanding of waterfront regeneration and marina infrastructure.

As Co-Initiator of Hong Kong Yachting Matters, he helps advance the vision of positioning Hong Kong as the International Gateway to the Greater Bay Area by Sea.

SAMSON SETUMO

Samson Setumo is a BQA-accredited trainer specializing in Applied Drama & Theatre Skills, Strategic Management, Business Coaching and Leadership Development.

As Co-founder of Firebrand Group Botswana, Samson has partnered with Kgotla on large-scale organisational transformation programmes, facilitating major interventions alongside Martijn de Liefde for organisations including Rio Tinto, Debswana and PRASA (Passenger Rail Agency of South Africa), integrating Playback Theatre into large-group dialogue.

Samson represents the Kgotla® Company in Botswana and contributes to the Kgotla® Institute, promoting Botswana's indigenous leadership principles internationally.

WILLEM DE LIEFDE

Willem H.J. de Liefde was born in 1941 in Coevorden. He began his career as a navigator in the Merchant Navy with the Royal Rotterdam Lloyd and concluded his nautical career as an officer in the Royal Navy.

Willem then studied economics and held various management and executive positions in Europe, the United States, and Africa for multinationals such as Ericsson, Xerox, Rockwool, and Draeger. His expertise lies in change management, employee inspiration, and team building.

KLAUS ELLE

Artist and philosopher Klaus Elle was born in Leipzig, East Germany. He has worked as a professional artist for over 30 years. He plays a key role in our Kgotla® Process, helping to facilitate all kinds of dialogues thanks to his unconventional views and contagious imaginative skills. His input enables people to see how they may adopt a holistic approach.

Using art he helps participants of our Kgotla® sessions access the wisdom they hold inside themselves by helping them become aware of the role their conscious and unconscious, and rational and emotional, processes play in their approach to decision-making, change or their lives and work in general.