Creating A Curious Organization with Stefaan van Hooydonk (S7:E4)

Job postings that include the word “curiosity” have grown by 90% year over year. But curiosity isn’t just a personal trait -- it’s becoming a business imperative. As Stefaan van Hooydonk shared on the Steelcase Work Better podcast, organizations that embrace curiosity empower people to learn faster, foster psychological safety, and spark innovation. This episode explores how leaders can create space for curiosity and why it’s the key to building stronger cultures and better business results. Stefaan van Hooydonk is the founder of the Global Curiosity Institute and author of The Workplace Curiosity Manifesto. He is a seasoned former Chief Learning Officer for Fortune 200 companies, including Nokia, Philips, Cognizant, and Saudi Aramco. Today, he consults and speaks globally, helping leaders and organizations build cultures of curiosity to drive growth and innovation. The Work Better podcast is produced by Katie Pace, with assistance from Rebecca Charbauski, Stav Kontis, Chiara Licari, and Brandon Lacic. Erin Ellison provides creative art direction. Soundpost Studios edits and mixes the podcast. Mark Caswell and Jose Jimenez provide technical support. Areli Arellano and Jordan Marks publish digitally.