Dries Elsen has more than 20 years of experience as a personnel and organizational development expert.
He has a master's degree in ergonomics and work science, a degree in work organization and health and a degree in physical education (psychomotor therapy) and has completed various courses in solution-focussed coaching, open process facilitation, organizational development, anthropology and (Buddhist) psychology. He has been practicing meditation and mindfulness intensively since 2008 ( in the tradition of Thich Nhat Hanh & Plum Village) & studies the link between Buddhist and Western psychology as an action researcher.
After 2 years of doctoral research at the Center for Sustainable Entrepreneurship (EHSAL-KULEUVEN ) it was clear that his calling did not lie in the rational academic world at all, but in lived experiential learning and the insides of sustainability.
He stood together with Françoise Ligot, already in 2008 at the cradle of the IN VIVO /VITRUVIUS leadership program (https://bosa.belgium.be/nl/vivo) for top and middle managers in the Federal Government. In collaboration with, among others, Hilda Poleunus, Edel Maex and Sven Deweerdt integrated them as one of the first pioneers in Europemindfulnessin an organizational context in the domains ofexperiential learning, leadership development, coaching, group guidance, mediation, career guidance and sustainable development.
He guided various management committees and organizations during the transition towards a more humane conscious leadership culture and more sustainability. He coached and guided more than 1000 managers, internal coaches & supervisors and employees divided into more than 100 learning groups (of 12 people) during countless retreats in the beautiful nature of Vaalbeek and the reflection center of Averbode, where his wonder, trust and love for nature grew (water the good seeds & trust the process). He has also been a member of the food forest pioneers and natural farmers of Avansa for several years.
As a supervisor he always works co-creatively with the needs and experiences of the participants and tries to find a balance between the warrior (committed and sometimes a bit stubborn and intense), the artist (creative freshness and lightness) & the meditator (inner peace & tranquility).
As an entrepreneur, he and his wife Kathleen Claes try to do sustainable business behind the scenes of Hippe Schoentjes and De Steyger.
In his spare time dries enjoys his family, gardening, nature walks and playing music with his childhood friends and very occasionally 'just doing nothing'.