Since its inception in 2010 Corporate Casting has taken a dramatically different course from that of traditional headhunting companies. The origin story for headhunting takes its name from the rather bloody practice of severing the head of an enemy as a trophy of war or conquest. The modern practice of corporate headhunting disdains the bloody part, but nonetheless still searches for the right trophy to crown an organization.
At Corporate Casting we’ve abandoned the less savory connection with headhunting and prefer to find our inspiration from the world of cinema and theatre: We seek and find the actor or actress who perfectly fits the role, script and other players, using a unique ‘trilogy’ method The Script© to differentiate and expediate. Delivering ‘on point’ selections of actors or ensembles within 12 weeks from a client’s ‘call to cast’.
In this way, Corporate Casting gradually rewrites the script of 'old school' executive search and headhunting. A good example of this is the active role Corporate Casting plays in the development, placement and supervision of female executives. Diversity and inclusion are key in the never ending war on talent – even more so in the near future as the role of Artificial Intelligence is there to stay. The question is who are the new leaders, innovative board-members and managers with the right skill-set. We adapt, adopt and improve!
Corporate Casting serves both business and the public domain. We focus on the interpretation of key positions, members of the Executive Board, Supervisory Board and Supervisory Board. Our main focus will always be on talented and ambitious people. Our products include casting, consulting, coaching, creation and capital.
Active internationally, we are guided by our values of mutual integrity and trust, cultural transformation, diversity and inclusion.
CORPORATE
CASTING
"How to Catch a Thief"
THE WISE ALTERNATIVE TO TRADITIONAL HEADHUNTING
THE AGENCY
Corporate Casting is owned by former investment banker and commodity trader Astrid Van Heumen, partnered by globally schooled Dennis Heijn, author & leadership consultant.
The partners are assisted by consummate all-rounder, executive assistant Marie-Louise van Beek, who runs the daily operations and is the critical link with clients and candidates. In addition, she manages the Kenau women association and all her activities. Consultant Marita de Beer with 25 years’ experience in more than 20 countries including Africa, Asia and the Middle East, advises on growth, development and profiling of diverse, top talent.
Our unique platform of ‘casting agency’ and trilogy method, The Script© differentiate and expediate in times of increasingly algorithm-driven choices. Delivering ‘on point’ selections of actors or ensembles within 12 weeks from a client’s ‘call to cast’.
Corporate
Casting
No script, no casting.
First, we ask our client to tell us their story, in their own words, then we help them polish that story into a cogent script. Through honest and revealing dialogue with the company’s key players we define the critical needs of the organization. Essential to this process is our well-honed practice of the art of listening. By the time we start the casting, we understand the company, we have a well-developed storyline and a refined sense of the characters necessary for fulfilling the requested role for the organization to thrive.
Corporate Casting has its own distinctive method for creating a new script to find the story behind the story if requested. We like to think of ourselves as critical sparring partners in this process. It requires a new, different way of thinking’, using lateral reasoning and breaking with traditional patterns. We might break some rules. We service our clients better, tighten their scripts for the future and give the right players – our candidates - the roles that suits them best.
Our unique method for screening possible candidates is highly dependent on what is the ‘real’ character of that candidate. Who are they, what do they stand for? Resumes provide all the relevant facts about knowledge and experience, but the critical factors are defined by elements of a person’s character.
It is this definition of a candidate’s character, more than experience and qualifications, that will tell us how well he or she will fit within the story, the team, the identity and the culture of the organization.
In this way Corporate Casting challenges both the client and candidate to step outside their traditional corporate comfort zones and take a calculated risk. We use our intuition to suggest a match that may not always seem logical, using the old rules, but a logic that fits the right character to the right role. This takes confidence, and guts, from both sides.
In recent years we have placed a considerable number of top players within a diverse range of companies and organizations at home and abroad.
At Corporate Casting our own roles are defined by integrity, motivation, creativity, expertise, and most importantly, hard-won experience. Corporate Casting represents, as a true casting agent, a portfolio of unique candidates.
Each of our candidates are, ultimately, a perfect match for a role. Where and when we find real talent it always is a combination of character, knowledge, ambition and the desire to succeed. And this brings the candidate and our client the recognition, success and the applause.
Corporate Casting challenges client and candidate alike to step out of their comfort zones and when the moment arrives, dare take a calculated risk.
All the world's a stage and all the men and women merely players - Shakespeare as you like it (1600).
Corporate
Consulting
Corporate Casting advises on the future script incorporating the Companies cast, major transformations & change implementation. We also devise tailormade leadership development programmes focusing responsibility & ownership.
At Corporate Casting we are committed and confident to sharing knowledge and skills. We are up to the challenge of shaking up the corporate boardroom if necessary, and as a critical sparring partner we do what it takes to re-write the script and refine the process to insure the right selection is made.
At Corporate Casting we are lateral thinkers. We are your trusted advisor.
Corporate
Coaching
At Corporate Casting our relationships are the backbone of our organization. We have developed an extensive network of these relationships in our own idiosyncratic way. We maintain close ties to all of our clients, stakeholders and candidates. ‘We keep in touch’.
The company offers constantly evolving trainings for teams and individuals, focusing skill enhancement & extension. Coaching to the Top is a firm favourite among our candidates and includes intense profiling sessions. We also stage specific inspirational sessions for companies and management. We work with certified coaches.
Corporate
Creation
Corporate Casting, Casting Corporates. With Corporate Creations we help our clients foster new business relationships, build networks and partnerships with other casts. We share our collective knowledge, our experience and our own extensive network to open doors for our clients, helping them realize their dreams and ambitions. In addition to finding the right actor for the role we use our network to connect people and businesses.
True to their credo of building networks and partnerships with other casts – sharing collective knowledge - Astrid and partner Dennis recently co-founded the innovative platform People Centred Economy, The Future of Work together with investor, non-executive board-member and freelance photographer Guido van Nispen. See article in The Latest & Greatest.
Corporate
Capital
Ceres a Women Capital Fund, created by Corporate Casting, is an equity investment Fund dedicated to support Female Entrepreneurs directly.
This Investment Fund is inspired on the powers of Ceres, the Roman Goddess, of agriculture as well as fertility in general. According to the myth it was Ceres herself who showed humans how to grow the wheat. As well in agriculture as in investments, we all know that we reap what we sow.
Corporate Capital is actively involved in the positioning of Women on key-positions, executive board and non-executive board roles. With the creation of Ceres a Women Capital Fund, we are able to support and grow a stronger field of Female Entrepreneurs.
Corporate
Clients
Corporate Casting is comfortable to play in all fields – whether public, semi-public or private equity firms.
Our unique approach and method, combined with the particular experience and skillset of the management team, enables a broad casting spectrum - from the creative arts and culture, to finance, health, marketing, sales and science.
Through a near global network of connections we serve the needs of expanding multinationals, family firms & offices, management consultants, financials & banking concerns, entrepreneurial and new technology scale-ups.
Whether they be Dutch owned, vested or not, the focus is on clients who are driven by sustainable growth, diversity and equality. Partners who are open to role, rather than sector - availing for innovative 'cross-overs’, for example from health care to venture capital.
A summary of our sector coverage and services rendered:
- Artificial Intelligence & Cyber Security
- Business & Professional Services
- Culture & Arts
- Energy
- Fast Moving Consumer Goods
- Finance
- Media & Communication
- Private Equity
- Property
- Scale-Ups
- Sport & Entertainment
- Consulting and key-positions
- Board & CEO Services
- Assessment & Succession
- Executive Search
- Culture & Enculturation
- Family Firm Advisory
- Interim & Project Management Support
- Onboarding Management after M & A
- Project management and stakeholder support
- Talent Strategy & Execution; Workforce Design
- Transformation & Change
Corporate
Candidates
Corporate Casting’s candidates range from executive & non-executive level to senior management and the highly specialized. A diverse, inclusive cast of both young, bright graduates & internationally experienced, exceptionally skilled 50-plussers - all burning with the same ambition as ours.
Our pool of multi-disciplinary, multi core-skilled professionals are perfectly placed for the challenges of the fourth industrial revolution. Talents that share the ability to play various roles or fulfill specialist functions - and either perfectly match or easily acclimatize to company culture. Whether full time, interim or on project basis.
Carefully selected after a stringent auditioning process that intensely tests the ability and agility of candidates – including the writing of an own ‘life script’ and precise motivation for a new role.
Together with the CEO’s personally crafted ‘appetizers’ and tightly edited CV’s, these elements make for our distinct The Script© method of finding, screening & presenting our candidates.
The success of our approach and methodology has led to the successful placement of top candidate.
Below are a few examples:
- Consultancy
- Culture
- Family Office
- Non-Executive Boards
- Non-Profit
- Private Equity
- Property
- Sport & Entertainment
- Multiple male and female partners & directors
- Diverse directors of museums & foundations
- CEO
- Multiple roles incl. presidents, female and men
- CEO
- CEO & directors
- CEO & COO
- CEO, CFO & COO
Corporate
Connections
Making connections is second nature at Corporate Casting. Acting on the saying "if you can’t share, you can’t multiply", we happily share network and contacts, and actively facilitate private events to bring people together.
Contact does not end once a role is fulfilled. We stay actively in touch with our clients and candidates, following their development with genuine interest and always there for advice and support – adjusting the script as needed, helping them answer: “What’s next after next?”
We happily share our active network and international contacts. We partner with SRI Executive with a focus on NGO and development.
Corporate
Column
Corporate Casting believes in the importance of knowledge and erudition. We listen, we learn, we reflect. Through our Corporate Column we have an opportunity to share our thoughts and experience with our contacts and clients. And it gives us the ability to share our thinking on the important issues of the day in this rapidly changing world.
Corporate Casting regularly publishes articles, gives speeches and participate in radio & podcast interviews – championing business and leadership issues, diversity, the impact of AI and new technologies.
Corporate
Confetti
…and we have the ticket to the party, but we need the invitation to dance...
Corporate Casting initiates and stages special events with elect local and international guest speakers willing to share their thoughts on the latest issues and trends.
Since the foundation of KENAU in 2012, Corporate Casting invites talented female professionals for "lunch pensent". From a handful of attendees at the start, the regular private lunch now attracts a near 100 women. Membership is by invitation only. In a unique twist, Corporate Casting will include males for a first time debate at the Kenau & Krijgers (warriors) event in Amsterdam, annually February 13th.
Followed late March by a highly exclusive ‘People Centred Economy and The Future of Work’ session, organised and hosted by Astrid van Heumen, Dennis Heijn and Guido van Nispen, co-founders of the People Centred Economy initiative (PCE-NL).
Contact
Office
FreedomLab
62 Plantage Middenlaan
1018 DH Amsterdam
+31 (0)20 422 07 09
info@corporatecasting.com
