Joost Rigter

Leading in the Dark: Transforming Change Through  Human Leadership  

Keynote Speaker on Change, Perspective and Human Leadership

Joost Rigter is one of Europe’s most impactful keynote speakers on change, perspective  and human leadership. Diagnosed with the progressive eye disease Retinitis Pigmentosa  (RP), Joost is slowly going blind, a reality that has forced him to redefine control,  vulnerability, resilience and trust. Instead of resisting this profound life change, he  transformed it into an unforgettable keynote experience that has already inspired tens of  thousands of people worldwide.

Joost’s signature keynote takes place in complete darkness. Participants are guided into  an environment where vision, the sense they rely on most, is temporarily removed. In this  powerful setting, Joost shares the four attitudes that allowed him to navigate irreversible  

change: Acceptance, Vulnerability, Courage to Act and Positivity. These principles are  brought to life through interactive exercises, personal storytelling and deeply relatable  insights that resonate long after the session ends. 

Far from being a ‘motivational talk’, Joost’s keynote is a professionally designed human  transformation experience that challenges assumptions, expands perspective and  strengthens personal leadership. It helps individuals and teams understand how to  embrace uncertainty, collaborate with greater trust, step outside their comfort zones, and  approach challenges with renewed energy. 

Joost’s mission is to help people thrive in moments of change, whether at work or in life.  His keynote has become a highly sought-after element in leadership programmes,  organisational transformations, culture journeys and global corporate events. Audiences  praise the session as “one of the most impactful experiences I’ve ever had at a company  event” and “a keynote that stays with you for years.” 

Joost delivers his keynotes across Europe and internationally for organisations ranging  from scale-ups to Fortune 500 companies. His unique blend of experiential learning,  storytelling and human insight creates a lasting shift that participants feel, not just  understand. 

 Why Joost’s Keynote Works for Virtually Any Organization

Joost Rigter’s keynote resonates across industries, cultures and organisational levels  because it addresses something universal: how people deal with change, uncertainty,  expectations and the limits of their comfort zone. Whether the audience consists of  business leaders, operational teams, innovators, healthcare professionals or corporate  executives, the message is immediately relevant and the experience unforgettable.

Applicable Across All Types of Organizations

Joost’s keynote adds value wherever humans work together. It strengthens:

• Leadership & People Management:
  Leaders learn how acceptance, openness and vulnerability build trust, psychological  safety and authentic leadership.
• Change & Transformation Programmes:
  Teams experience in real time how it feels to lose control and how quickly new solutions,  connection and resilience can emerge.
• Culture, Team Development & Collaboration:
  The darkness places everyone at the same level. Hierarchies disappear, communication  sharpens and teamwork becomes instinctive.
• Innovation & Growth Mindset:
  Participants discover their own “water and milk”: the difference between the comfort zone  and the ambitions they haven’t dared to pursue yet.
• Employee Wellbeing & Engagement:
  The keynote invites reflection, slows the mind, increases self-awareness and helps people  reconnect with personal purpose and positive mindset.

Why it works so well in corporate environments?

• It bypasses the ‘business-as-usual’ mindset. 
• It creates a shared emotional experience that bonds participants.   
•  It shifts perspective immediately, not through theory, but through direct sensation.   
• It brings humanity back to the forefront of work. 
• It is highly inclusive: everyone, regardless of background or role, has the same  experience. 
• The lessons are simple, accessible and immediately applicable. 

This makes Joost’s keynote not just a talk, but a transformative element in any  organisational journey, especially valuable in Scandinavia, where authentic leadership,  trust and human-centric transformation are core business values.