Reflections After Our First Oeuvre Dinner
Some moments arrive quietly and then linger, the way a meaningful conversation does long after the table has been cleared.
Our first Oeuvre dinner at Restaurant De Kas was one of those moments. As we continue building a practice rooted in human-first, purpose-driven thinking, this evening reminded us of a simple truth: meaning is created between people.
Presence Without Performance
Early in the night, something subtle but important happened. Everyone slipped their phones into our pouches. The gesture was small, almost ceremonial, and it shifted the atmosphere instantly. Without screens to retreat to, the table became its own world. People listened more closely. They spoke more thoughtfully. They allowed themselves to be seen.
What followed was vulnerability, the real kind. Guests arrived as they were, without the protective layer of distraction. There was no expectation to impress and no pressure to perform. The conversation unfolded with curiosity, honesty, and a willingness to sit in the not-knowing. What happens at the table stays at the table, and perhaps that is why it felt so rare.
A Common Thread Across Industries
One of the insights that surfaced throughout the evening was that purpose-driven thinking is not confined to a single field. Around the table sat people from tech, venture capital, the arts, sustainability, and cultural institutions. Although their work lives in very different ecosystems, they share a conviction that human value belongs at the center of how we build, lead, and grow.
This belief is the foundation of Oeuvre. Hearing it voiced from so many perspectives created a sense of collective direction, a recognition that the shift toward more human-centric ways of working is not only necessary but already taking shape.
A Growing Circle of Support
We are grateful to everyone who joined us and to the organizations that have supported us from the start: FemTech Lab, ZDHC Roadmap to Zero Programme, Understory, FUTURES Photography, and MAST. Our gratitude also goes to our brilliant BD and partnerships lead, Costanza Profumo.
A special thank you to Karina Vazirova, Karthik Mahadevan, Lars Daniel Blom Rasmussen, Lauren Zahringer, Razvan Oltean, Menno Liauw, and Matteo Renna, whose presence shaped the texture of the evening.
Why Gathering Matters
In a time defined by digital acceleration, nights like this remind us that nothing replaces the energy of coming together in person. Connection is a physical experience. It lives in the pauses, the shared laughter, the glance across the table that says I understand you. This is what anchors our work and what will continue to guide it.
We are excited for what comes next. Our Body Of Work event on February 6 at the Vondelkerk in Amsterdam will continue this exploration of what it means to create with intention and to build in a way that honors our humanity.
Onward.
