Business as Unusual: Leading When Predictability Disappears with Dennis Akkerman

What happens to leadership when business is no longer predictable?

In this episode of The Black Belt in Leadership, Aslak de Silva sits down with transformational leadership expert, keynote speaker, and author Dennis Akkerman to explore what leadership looks like in a world where change is constant and traditional success models are quickly becoming outdated.

Drawing from his book Business as UNusual, Dennis shares why many organizations still operate with leadership habits designed for a more stable past and why leaders today must shift from control toward resilience, awareness, and behavioral leadership.

The conversation explores how leaders can navigate uncertainty without exhausting their teams, why purpose and direction matter more than ever, and how leadership ultimately becomes a mirror reflecting the leader’s own mindset and behavior.

Together, Aslak and Dennis connect global leadership experience, business transformation, and lessons from martial arts to examine how leaders can remain effective when predictability disappears.

About the Guest

Dennis Akkerman is the Founder & Managing Director of Orbis Business School. He is one of the Top 25 Global Thought Leader in Transformational Leadership (Thinkers360) and a bestselling author.