We are Kgotla®

Martijn is the founder of Kgotla. A flexible thinker, his experience covers a broad range of work, including branding and real estate. He began his career at ABN AMRO Real Estate, before moving on to serve as the Corporate Real Estate Director for Europe & Emerging Markets for VNU Acnielsen; the Marketing Director of a WPP-owned branding company called KSDP Design Amsterdam; and as Sales and Marketing Director for Allen International a design firm specializing in retail banking. He has traveled extensively around the world and accumulated a great understanding of cultures and diversity.

Robert Willem Jan de Liefde, currently a tax consultant based in Istanbul, is a global tax expert with over 30 years of experience in international taxation, structuring, and investment consulting. His diverse career includes roles at PwC in the Netherlands and Venezuela, LG-Philips Displays, and as head of tax at Japan Tobacco International. Holding an LLM from Leiden University, Robert has lived in locations such as Geneva, Miami, Caracas, and Turkey. He advises on EU exports, asset protection, and fiscal representation, bridging trade between Europe and Asia through his firm, Taxconn.

Laurens’ career is characterized by a dedication to talent development and innovation. At E-ID Group, he leads initiatives in digital learning, community engagement, and innovation advocacy. At the Brilliant Future Kids Foundation, he has developed specialized programs integrating professional coaching with creative fields such as animation and game development. For Kgotla he is a lead facilitator in leadership development, focusing on dialogue-driven cultural improvement in organizations. His expertise extends to shaping educational practices, facilitating decision-making processes, and promoting collaborative environments.

Artist and philosopher Klaus Elle was born in Leipzig, East Germany. He has worked as a professional artist for over 30 years. He plays a key role in our Lekgotla processes, helping to facilitate all kinds of dialogues thanks to his unconventional views and contagious imaginative skills. His input enables people to see how they may adopt a holistic approach. Using art he helps participants of our kgotla sessions access the wisdom they hold inside themselves by helping them become aware of the role their conscious and unconscious, and rational and emotional, processes play in their approach to decision-making, change or their lives and work in general.

Samson Setumo is a BQA accredited trainer for Applied Drama & Theatre Skills, Strategic Management, Business Coaching and Training. He is also Co of Firebrand group Botswana and epresenting the Kgotla Company locally. He is strongly involved in the development of the Kgotla Institute, to futher develop and promote the indigenous Knowledge of the Chieftaincy in Botswana for international groups on behalf of the Kgotla Company.

Willem H.J. de Liefde was born in 1941 in Coevorden. He began his career as a navigator in the Merchant Navy with the Royal Rotterdam Lloyd and concluded his nautical career as an officer in the Royal Navy. He then studied economics and held various management and executive positions in Europe, the United States, and Africa for multinationals such as Ericsson, Xerox, Rockwool, and Draeger. His expertise lies in change management, employee inspiration, and team building.

Martijn de Liefde was inspired to set up The Kgotla Company in February 2003 because of his experience with Kgotlas in Botswana. He realised leaders take decisions much more easily if they harness the expertise of everyone that decision will affect. Leaders and their workers inspire each other and decisions are supported by the entire community.

It’s surprising what people are prepared to invest in a relationship if they truly feel that others really care about them, and go the extra mile.

Humanity and dignity are allies. A leader is able to take a vulnerable position. In this way he appeals to people’s human dignity.

Give selflessly and be able to listen without prejudice. Listen with empathy and shared intimacy. Where there is trust, there is no place for fear.

It’s surprising what people are prepared to invest in a relationship if they truly feel that others really care about them, and go the extra mile.

Respect is founded on a deeply felt desire to engage people actively. Respect makes it possible for people to identify things that have gone wrong and create conditions to speak openly with one another.

Entrepreneurs look beyond themselves, and will add value to the community and society. It appeals to everyone’s sense of responsibly based on the conviction that one is capable of making improvements themselves.