BRUSSELS – In a rapidly changing economic landscape, Brussels-based consultancy SoWhatCommunications Powered by Square Circle is switching gears. With the arrival of Sofie Bockaert as its eighth partner, the agency is further strengthening its expertise in strategic and crisis communication, complex mergers and change processes. Bockaert brings more than 20 years of experience and will support organisations through a unique mix of strategic advice, coaching and training.
Where many consultancy firms stop at delivering a thick report, the strength of the match between SoWhatCommunications Powered by Square Circle and Sofie lies in the implementation. They use a hybrid approach where in addition to advising leadership teams in the boardroom, the partners roll up their sleeves to also help implement the change on the ground as allies of the organisation.
The human factor in the gearbox
“Transformation is not just about processes, but above all about people,” says Sofie Bockaert. “Whether I’m acting as a consultant, interim manager, team coach or giving training on communicating during change, the objective remains the same. I want to give organisations the tools to remain agile and humane even in difficult times. Under the wings of SoWhatCommunications Powered by Square Circle, I can now deploy that broad expertise together with a team of like-minded senior experts.”
Experience in the firing line
Sofie’s background is diverse. In recent years, she has held management positions at Voka KvK Vlaams-Brabant and Limburg. She has supervised the communication in major projects such as the acquisition of Essent by Luminus and Base Company by Telenet, but has also held senior roles at Bpost and in government. She has learned the ropes in the firing line of the Belgian business world. As a certified Prosci Change Manager, ICF and Deep Democracy coach, she also brings the necessary methodology to not only announce change, but also to implement it.
A partnership with impact
Katrien Decroos, partner at SoWhatCommunications Powered by Square Circle: “I have known Sofie for many years and am delighted that she is joining our team. With Sofie, we are bringing in a real ‘multi-tool’. Her ability to switch seamlessly between strategic advice and a pragmatic approach is exactly what our clients need today. She is the eighth gear that makes our team even more complete.”
About SoWhatCommunications, Powered by Square Circle
SoWhatCommunications Powered by Square Circle is a leading Belgian consultancy firm in strategic communication and public & regulatory affairs. It supports companies, governments and organisations in major transformations, restructurings, crisis situations and reputation issues. The joint service offering includes strategic communication, crisis communication, change communication, public & regulatory affairs, EU policy, internal communication, communication training, media training, stakeholder management and interim management.
They bring together a complementary team of senior experts: Olivier Hinnekens (Public Affairs and Crisis Communication), Katrien Decroos (Crisis, Internal and Change Communication), Olivier Trop (Crisis, Internal and Change Communication, Media Relations), Wim Hautekiet (Financial and Change Communication), Stefanie Pollet (Public Affairs and Change Communication) and Pierre Deraedt (Public Affairs and Change Communication), Eda Aygen (EU Public Affairs and Corporate Communication) and Sofie Bockaert (Corporate Communication, Crisis, Internal and Change Communication).
More information: www.sowhatcoms.com x www.squarecircle.be