Speaker on collaborationWiebe Wakker2026-02-23T12:21:22+02:00

Wiebe Wakker

Speaker on collaboration

Through true stories, I show what collaboration truly requires and what becomes possible when you are open to it.

🤝 Collaborating under uncertainty and pressure

🔍 Five concrete conditions for successful collaboration

🌍 Real cases from 33 countries and 350 collaborations

🗣️ Interactive keynote with humor and recognition

⭐ Highly rated by organizers and audiences

📺 Known from global media

Wiebe Wakker giving a keynote at World Travel Market, London.

4,9 out of 5 stars

4,9 uit 5 sterren

Speaker on collaboration

My name is Wiebe Wakker. During a record-breaking trip around the world, I worked with more than 350 people for over three years, without contracts, without guarantees and often without a shared plan. From local communities to companies, from universities to complete strangers whom I had to ask for help.

My presentation on collaboration shows what happens when collaboration is not optional, but essential to moving forward. When you depend on others for food, shelter, energy and solutions, the real conditions for collaboration become apparent.

In my presentation, I take the audience through specific situations in which collaboration succeeded, and moments when it almost failed. Always linked to five clear and simple conditions.

This presentation is not a theoretical story, but a practical lesson in human collaboration under pressure. For teams that want to collaborate better, for organisations undergoing change and for people who want to understand what collaboration really requires.

Speaker Collaboration Wiebe Wakker on stage at an event where he is giving a lecture on collaboration.

Not theory, but real collaborative dilemmas
Concrete lessons from 33 countries and 350 collaborations
Vulnerability, trust and equality in practice

Inspiring, confronting and told with humour
Directly applicable within teams and organisations
Show what collaboration makes possible and what it requires

“He gives striking examples that make you realize that you always judge, even though this is often incorrect. By trusting in the goodness of people, beautiful collaborations arise spontaneously.”

Move Beyond Profile

Rob Hoefnagel

CEO

Inspiring speaker on collaboration

In 2016, I decided to do something that virtually everyone thought was impossible: drive an electric car to the other side of the world without any money. Not because I wanted to be alone, but precisely because I knew I couldn’t do it alone.

To reach Sydney, I had to collaborate with people I had never met before. Through my website, they could sign up to “plug me in” with a meal, a place to sleep or electricity for the car. They determined my route. I brought the story, they brought the possibilities. The result was a journey that was anything but straightforward, and that is precisely where the lesson lies.

Because real collaboration doesn’t happen when everything is set in stone. It happens when you depend on each other, when plans change and when trust becomes more important than control. Along the way, I learned to collaborate with locals, online communities, companies and complete strangers, without a contract, but always with mutual respect.

Yes, I eventually reached Sydney. But more importantly, I discovered what collaboration really requires. Showing vulnerability. Being transparent. Remaining flexible. Treating each other as equals. And accepting that you never know exactly where a collaboration will lead.

After 1,119 days, 33 countries and 95,000 kilometres, my journey became a living case study in collaboration.

Today, I use those experiences to show teams and organisations how collaboration works when it is not theoretical, but necessary.

Wiebe Wakker works with an energy company in Indonesia.

Seen on

My five conditions for collaboration

Good collaboration rarely happens by itself. Certainly not when there is no roadmap, interests differ or the pressure is high.

During my trip around the world, I discovered that successful collaboration, anywhere in the world, always comes down to five essential conditions.

In my presentation, I show how these simple principles helped me reach Sydney, and how they can help your team achieve their goals without having to travel halfway around the world.

Wiebe Wakker is working with mechanics at a garage in Surabaya, Indonesia, to repair his electric car, which had been damaged.

1. Transparency & trust

Collaboration begins with being honest about what you want, what you need, and what you don’t know.

When I knocked on the doors of complete strangers in Scandinavia with the message ‘I’m on my way to Australia,’ I didn’t make the story nicer than it was. It was precisely that openness that created trust, and earned me a meal, a bed, and a place to charge my car.

People don’t turn away from honesty, but from vagueness.

Wiebe Wakker shows vulnerability by asking for donations. An example of collaboration that he mentions in his lecture on collaboration.

2. Showing vulnerability

True collaboration only begins when you dare to admit that you cannot make it on your own.

After water damage in Indonesia, I had to publicly request thousands of euros to fly in mechanics. That felt uncomfortable, but that vulnerability made it possible for others to step in and solve the problem together.

Vulnerability is not a weakness, but an invitation to get involved.

Wiebe Wakker shakes hands with a sheikh in the Emirates. Both are standing in front of the Blue Bandit electric car, which Wakker used to travel around the world from the Netherlands to Australia.

3. Equality & respect

Collaboration only works if no one is above or below the other.
In Iran, I learned that respect sometimes means letting go of your own standards. In Indonesia, a local VW garage made their workshop available “for as long as necessary”, not out of pity, but because they recognised the mission and treated me as someone who belonged.

True collaboration arises between people who see each other as equals, despite differences in culture, background or position.

Wiebe Wakker is teaming up with Indians to get the car out of the truck.

4. Flexibility & trust in the process

Not every collaboration goes as planned, and that is precisely the intention.

At the border of Bangladesh, I discovered that I needed a bank guarantee for three times the new price of my car. Impossible. So the credo was: if you can’t get through it, you have to go around it. A new plan, a detour and renewed confidence.

Stick to the goal, let go of the route.

Wiebe Wakker is teaming up with Indians to get the car out of the truck.

5. Reciprocity (even if not direct)

Collaboration is rarely a perfect one-to-one exchange.

In India, an entire community helped me move my car by literally building a bridge out of sandbags. I couldn’t give them anything material in return, but I could give them attention, appreciation and a place in the story.

Value isn’t just about money or resources, but also about meaning, recognition and energy.

Want to know more? Schedule a video call with me, no strings attached.

These companies have already gone on an adventure

With me as a speaker on collaboration

Hear what others say about me as a speaker on collaboration

Esther Jansen Duighuizen

Internal Communications Manager

Esther Jansen Duighuizen

Internal Communications Manager

Mark Wijsman

Presenter & moderator

Hear what others say about me as a speaker on collaboration

Wiebe Wakker is on stage giving a keynote presentation on the topic of collaboration.

Tom Groot

Senior Advisor Zero Emission Mobility

“Wiebe recently shared his incredible story with the Amsterdam City Council’s Spatial Planning and Sustainability department.

It’s a boys’ book full of adventure and seemingly insurmountable challenges. The photos alone would captivate the audience, but during your presentation, you discuss topics like sustainability, collaboration, and coping with setbacks.

My colleagues left the meeting feeling inspired. Highly recommended!”

Benjamin Neeteson

Co-owner

“Wiebe was our keynote speaker at our event for members of Verhurend Nederland (Dutch Renting Association). A diverse group of people, from different companies and with very different backgrounds and interests.

Who could give an engaging, humorous, and inspiring presentation that all the guests would appreciate? Exactly. Wiebe!

With beautiful photos and videos, and compelling stories, Wiebe takes you on his world trip in an electric VW Golf and convinces you and your guests how you can achieve incredible things with minimal resources through collaboration and optimism.”

Robert de Jonge

President

“Wiebe truly captivated our Lions Club members with his story of what electric mobility can achieve.

He took us on his journey with his own wonderful sense of humor and shared his experiences of coping with change and setbacks.

His journey is a wonderful example of what you can achieve by working together, making connections, and maintaining a positive outlook, and it inspires everyone to pursue their dreams!”

Rogier Scheltema

Traffic Manager

“Wiebe took us on his extraordinary journey from the Netherlands to Australia in an electric car and without any money.

His story is a true source of inspiration and shows how courage, collaboration, and an open mindset can take you further than you ever imagined. With his Plug Me In project, he has traveled through countless countries and proven that seemingly impossible challenges are indeed achievable.

His adventure broke through rigid thinking patterns and motivated us to think bigger and simply do it.

Wiebe’s journey is not only an impressive adventure, but above all a powerful example of how trust in others and collaboration can help you achieve incredible goals.

An inspiring story that will stay with you for a long time!”

Move Beyond Profile

Rob Hoefnagel

CEO

“What an inspiring story!

During our first in-person meeting in a long time, we asked Wiebe to take us on his journey. Wiebe was on stage as himself.

Open and honest, with humor and plenty of visuals, he makes you think. Wiebe taught us that you don’t have to be afraid of the unknown. A little courage to take the leap helps.

He gives compelling examples that make you realize again that you always judge, even when this is often wrong.

By trusting in the goodness of people, beautiful collaborations arise spontaneously.”

See all my reviews

Wiebe Wakker seen from the back, facing the audience while he is giving a presentation as inspiring speaker.

Wiebe Wakker speaking on stage at the Nordic EV Summit

Close up of Wiebe Wakker who is giving a presentation at an event

WIebe Wakker seen from the back on a stage, speaking to a large audience

Wiebe Wakker on stage in a theatre, giving a presentation.

Wiebe Wakker speaking at Radio Kootwijk with an audience in front of him

Wiebe Wakker standing on a stage giving a keynote presentation

Wiebe Wakker as inspiring keynote speaker at an event.

Ready to go on an adventure?

Platform 9¾? No, just an inspiring speaker on collaboration with real stories.

Plan a free introductory call

Your ticket to an adventure

STATUS

SEAT

GROUP

NOW BOARDING

61

FIRST CLASS

QR Code

Request a presentation without obligation. I'll contact you as soon as possible to discuss the details. Your booking is only finalized when we both say "All aboard."

Date: 5 March 2026

Passenger info

Request a presentation without obligation

Client & audience reviews

Your ticket to an adventure

STATUS

SEAT

GROUP

AWAITING CONFIRMATION

61

FIRST CLASS

QR Code

Request a presentation without obligation. I’ll get back to you soon to discuss the details. Your booking is only confirmed once we both say ‘All aboard!'

Date: March 5, 2026

Fellow traveller info