Harderwijk, Gelderland, Netherlands
Koen van den Biggelaar is a seasoned executive with over 20 years of experience in technical leadership roles across consulting, cloud, AI, and the non-profit sector. He has held key positions at organizations such as Accenture, Microsoft, and Amazon, where he built and led teams of over 200 people, consistently driving customer success and value creation through innovative Cloud and AI solutions. Koen is widely recognized for his ability to create and scale high-performing teams, foster sustainable relationships, and guide organizations through complex transformations. He is also a respected public speaker on topics including Artificial Intelligence, Customer Success, and Enterprise Architecture. What sets Koen apart is his deep commitment to integrating mindfulness into leadership. As the founder of Buddha in the Boardroom ( www.buddha-in-the-boardroom.com ) , he champions the fusion of human wisdom and technological advancement, especially in this era of rapid AI evolution. His work includes founding a Buddhist mindfulness foundation and contributing to academic research on mindfulness in professional settings. Empathetic, inclusive, and passionate about developing future leaders, Koen continues to support others in their personal and professional growth. He is dedicated to helping individuals and organizations thrive by aligning purpose, presence, and performance.
Buddha in the Boardroom is an initiative focused on developing human clarity, empathy, and wisdom in a time increasingly shaped by artificial intelligence. At Buddha in the Boardroom, we believe that qualities such as empathy, clarity, self-awareness, and the ability to connect meaningfully with others are essential to cultivate — not only for personal well-being but also for navigating the evolving landscape of work and technology. As AI continues to advance, it becomes even more important to strengthen the human capacities that AI cannot replicate. By fostering these qualities, not only do we contribute to a more compassionate and sustainable world, but we also empower organizations to achieve stronger performance, innovation, and long-term profitability in an era where human insight and wise decision making is a true competitive advantage. We don’t claim to have all the answers. But we do believe that peace of mind, empathy and mental clarity are foundational elements of a meaningful future. Neuroscience increasingly supports this view: studies show that during moments of quiet wakefulness, such as daydreaming, the brain engages in generative activity that helps reshape how we perceive and respond to the world. This capacity for inner reflection and adaptation — a form of generative wisdom — is uniquely human and essential as we move forward alongside AI. To launch this initiative, we are happy to announce we will be starting with two inaugural retreats in October 2025, open for registration. These immersive retreats are designed to provide participants with the opportunity to deepen their clarity, empathy, and wisdom in a supportive environment, laying the groundwork for personal growth and transformative leadership in the age of AI. More at www.buddha-in-the-boardroom.com
Lead Faculty for the AI in HR Master's course - Developing the course AI in HR, where we will be diving into topics such as * what is intelligence (human or artificial) * impact of AI on work (including meaning of, leadership and job market overall) * impact on HR function, Leadership and Org Structure Looking forward to working closely with the students and use innovative teaching methodologies and invite multiple guest speakers.
From strategy to execution, we help enterprise leaders improve business outcomes through safe and scalable AI adoption. We partner with enterprises to design and deliver trusted, enterprise-grade AI agents that drive measurable outcomes in mission-critical industries. Our boutique approach ensures we work closely with your team, aligning every deployment to strategic goals and meaningful business results. Whether the mission is to optimize efficiency and reduce costs or to unlock new revenue and growth opportunities, metricsIQ is your partner in success.
As General Manager of the Customer Success Unit and a member of the Microsoft Netherlands Senior Leadership Team, Koen van den Biggelaar led a 150+ person organization of solution architects and customer success account managers. His team supported enterprise customers in maximizing the value of Microsoft’s cloud technologies, with a strong focus on adoption, business outcomes, and long-term success. Koen played a key role in accelerating responsible Generative AI adoption and led the Unified Enablement & Support strategy, aligning technical and customer-facing teams to deliver seamless customer experiences. He also served as executive sponsor for strategic customers and initiatives, including Giving Back Nederland and student career development programs. Known for his strategic clarity and human-centered leadership, Koen is an empathic leader who has supported many young and seasoned professionals in their growth. He consistently kept his technical skills current to stay close to innovation and better guide his teams and customers.
From 2020 to 2025, I had the opportunity to serve as founder and chairman of the Suttavāda Foundation, a non-profit initiative dedicated to making early Buddhist teachings more accessible through physical and online retreats, talks, and publications. The foundation was created to offer a platform for sharing wisdom in a way that was freely available to all, supported entirely by donations. We were fortunate to have Delson Armstrong as our guiding teacher during this time. His generosity in sharing the Dhamma through online retreats, talks, and writings formed the heart of our activities. The foundation helped facilitate these offerings, including the publication of A Mind Without Craving, and supported a growing international community of practitioners and volunteers. Over 250 Dhamma talks are available on our YouTube channel: www.youtube.com/@SuttavadaFoundation. While the foundation formally concluded its work in 2025, I remain grateful to Delson Armstrong and to the many people who contributed their time, energy, and support to help make the teachings available to others.