Articles by Nienke Bloem

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What if CX leadership was more about heart than KPIs?

Five leadership lessons from Ted Lasso Some evenings, when my brain is full of frameworks, KPIs and CX strategies, I love to switch off and watch a good TV show. Lately, I've been back to one of my all-time favorites: Ted Lasso. If you haven't seen it yet, here's the short version. Ted is a [...]

8 Reasons you need a CX Strategy (served black, please)

It's National Coffee Day, and I'll keep things simple. When I order coffee, I don't need ten pages of options. Just give me a cappuccino or a strong black coffee. Simple. Clear. Energizing. Your CX strategy should be the same. Too many CX teams rely on 40 slide decks filled with projects, actions, and buzzwords. [...]

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The five life trends 2025 - A conversation with Bart Verouden, CCXP

The world of customer experience does not stand still. Expectations shift, technology evolves, and trust is always being tested. As CX leaders, it is our job to look beyond the day-to-day and spot the signals of what is coming. That is exactly why I invited Bart Verouden, CCXP, Senior Manager Innovation & Business Development at [...]

Push the Button: Finding flow in CX Leadership

Every summer I meet my business friend Mia in Gothenburg. We've made it our tradition to spend a few days together: reflecting on where we want to go, what we want to let go of, and which actions need to be taken. And of course, we always mix business with pleasure with plenty of fika [...]

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CX Leadership this summer: The power of ONE

Summer is here. Or almost. And with that, things tend to slow down. Calendars are lighter, inboxes quieter, and if we're lucky, there's a little more room to breathe. It's a perfect moment for reflection. And for taking a different kind of CX leadership action. Not by launching new programs or crafting complex roadmaps. But [...]

Is your CX strategy the plan of a winner?

The 112th edition of the Tour de France kicks off on July 5 in Lille. The riders are trained, the jerseys are clean, the teams are ready. Everyone's eyes are on the yellow jersey. And me? I found my own cycling inspiration this week. Right in the heart of Amsterdam. No bike in sight. Just [...]

Why warmth might be your most powerful leadership skill (even in CX)

Let's start with something every customer experience leader needs to know. Not just a "nice-to-know" insight, but the kind of truth that reshapes how you lead. According to research by Drs. Susan Fiske and Nicolas Kervyn from Princeton University, people judge others - yes, including us CX professionals - based on two qualities: warmth and [...]

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Bringing customers back: The power of memorable moments in CX

As a passionate advocate for customer experience, I continually seek ways to make CX not just effective, but extraordinary. That's why, in my latest episode of CX Leadership Talks, I introduced a new framework close to my heart: the CX Boomerang. This isn't just about ticking boxes - it's about creating business value by crafting [...]