Originally trained as a designer, Jan has always been driven by a desire to improve what’s already there, whether it’s a product, a team, or a leadership transition.

 

For more than 25 years, he worked as a creative director, helping organizations clarify their message, sharpen their strategy, and strengthen their communication. In 2011, a quote by Simon Sinek hit him like a lightning bolt: “The part of the brain responsible for decision-making has no capacity for language.” That insight in how the brain shifts between emotions an ratio, sparked a major shift in his focus, from design to behavior, from message to meaning, and ultimately: to trust.

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Since then, Jan has dedicated his work to understanding and visualizing trust. He noticed that although trust is central to every relationship, it is often invisible, vague, or misinterpreted. He researched dozens of psychological models, behavioral theories and leadership frameworks, and combined their most essential principles into one integrated system: the 360º Trust Model.

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Jan is not a scientist or psychologist, he is a problem solver with a designer’s mindset. He brings structure to complexity and turns human dynamics into something you can actually work with. His mission? Helping people build better relationships at work and beyond, one trust decision at a time.

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Networks & collaborations

While Grip on Trust is a personal initiative, Jan is not working alone. He is part of two powerful expert communities:

• The House of Growth - a Dutch network of certified coaches, trainers, organizational psychologists and other professionals who support leadership development and organizational growth.

• TrustXnetwork - an international professional association of experts, thoughtleaders and researchers dedicated to all aspects of trust, including leadership, governance, culture and systemic change.

 

​This means that while Jan is your first point of contact, every coaching or training program can be extended and enriched with trusted specialists. Whether you need deep expertise in healthcare, technology, the public sector or change management, there’s always a partner ready to join the mission.