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Ruben Timmerman

Ruben Timmerman

Accelerating systemic change through conscious practices and self-managing organizations

ruben-timmerman
Amsterdam, The Netherlands
Joined May 2026

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Summary

Ruben Timmerman is a passionate advocate for systemic change, driving conscious practices in individuals and organizations. His purpose is to accelerate positive impact through his work, investments, and personal philosophy. He is deeply involved in initiatives that aim to redefine success and encourage ethical contributions. ruben
As a serial entrepreneur, Ruben founded Springest, a pioneering learning marketplace that was acquired after 14 successful years. His experience extends to organizational transformation, where he championed self-management principles like Holacracy, making Springest one of the first European companies to adopt it. ruben+1
Ruben is a committed impact investor, dedicating substantial capital to sustainable and social enterprises. He actively supports funds and startups focused on climate solutions, social good, and ethical consumption, demonstrating a strong alignment between his financial decisions and personal values. ruben
He plays a crucial role in the political sphere, contributing to Volt Europa as a General Secretary for Tech & Way of Working and leading web platform development. His involvement reflects a dedication to European unity and the application of progressive organizational principles to political movements. ruben
Ruben is a prolific writer and speaker on topics of organizational development, productivity, and leadership. His Medium articles and presentations delve into practical applications of Holacracy, GTD, OKRs, and Lean Startup methodologies, sharing his insights with a broader audience. ruben+1

Work

Education

Writing

The Trusting People Paradox of self-management

January 1, 2023

Discusses whether people can be trusted in self-managing organizations, exploring altruistic versus selfish motivations.

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Startup therapy: fix a blow to your momentum by using tension as fuel

November 1, 2022

Offers advice to startup founders on overcoming slumps in growth by utilizing tension as a catalyst.

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No more Policies, Processes and Rules in self-management with Holacracy?

November 1, 2017

Explores how self-managing organizations like those using Holacracy ensure adherence to rules without traditional policies and processes.

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Springest communication Rules of Engagement in Holacracy

November 1, 2017

Presents the internal communication rules of engagement used at Springest within its Holacracy framework.

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Cultural observations on self-management and Holacracy in China

November 1, 2017

Shares insights and observations from speaking on Holacracy at a forum in Shanghai, focusing on its application in a Chinese context.

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Measuring happiness as a KPI at a self-managing organisation

October 1, 2017

Details how Springest, a self-managing organization, measures employee happiness as a key performance indicator.

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Using OKRs for Holacracy strategy and targets

August 1, 2016

Explains how Objectives and Key Results (OKRs) are integrated with Holacracy for strategic planning and goal setting.

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Why you donโ€™t understand Holacracy

March 1, 2016

Clarifies common misunderstandings about Holacracy, emphasizing its role as a framework rather than a complete solution.

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Medium drops Holacracy: how we dealt with their problems after 3 years

March 1, 2016

Reflects on Medium's decision to discontinue Holacracy and how Springest managed similar challenges over three years.

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Web analytics on โ€œtemplateโ€ and โ€œelementโ€ level

October 1, 2011

Explores a new approach to web analytics focusing on user segments, templates, and content elements rather than traditional users and pages.

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Hobbies

Actively involved in raising his 15-year-old daughter and 2-year-old son, inspired by the 'Hunt Gather Parent' philosophy. ruben

Dedicated to preventing populism and finding effective ways to scale interventions against it. ruben

Combats chronic back problems through regular swimming, Iyengar yoga, and core workouts. ruben

Supports local businesses like Supermercator, a vintage shop and coffee place in Amsterdam known for creative music nights. ruben

Actively involved in European politics as a donor and volunteer for Volt Nederland & Europa. ruben

Notes

PMPaul Musterssaid
RTRuben Timmerman ๐Ÿ”ธ
has helped a small nonprofit achieve outsized results for its size.

May 29, 2026