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Guy Cozijns
There's a whole life above and below sea level.
I pay attention to where things get stuck.
In organisations.
In systems.
In people
What’s beneath the surface is where real change begins.
Perspective
Seeing what keeps things in place
I'm drawn to what lives beneath the surface. What interests me is not complexity itself, but what keeps it in place.
Trained as an economist, I learned to look beyond models and indicators, toward the dynamics that shape behaviour and decision-making. The unspoken agreements. The power that is present… or absent. The moments where everything looks fine, yet nothing moves.
When those dynamics become visible, something shifts.
Way of Seeing
Patterns of power are always present
Even when nobody names them. They shape conversations. They influence decisions.
They determine whether things move … or quietly stall.
A reflective lens
I work with a simple reflective structure. One that helps people notice what is usually left unspoken: power, difference, agreement, and silence.
A human lens
What felt complex often turns out to be human. What felt blocked starts to move again.
A relational lens
This work is less about control, and more about restoring alignment, without losing what matters.
Sometimes clarity is not added – it is uncovered.

Over time, these recurring patterns took shape in what I now refer to as the PD Matrix: a simple way of seeing what is already there. The PD Matrix is currently being developed through real-world exploration and reflection.
FRAMEWORK
Four recurring patterns of power
Power dynamics tend to repeat themselves. Across teams, organisations and systems. Similar patterns return, shaping behaviour, conversations and outcomes. The structure below offers four lenses to notice how power and agreement interact, and what that means for movement, trust and direction.
1
Harmonious leadership
Power + Agreement
When power and agreement reinforce each other, direction feels shared and movement comes naturally. Decisions are easier, energy flows, and people experience progress as something collective… not imposed.
2
Clashing forces
Power + Disagreement
Here, disagreement is visible and power is present. Different positions collide, sometimes loudly. These clashes can stall progress… but they can also surface what truly matters, if the tension is held rather than avoided.
3
Friction on the sidelines
No Power + Disagreement
Resistance often appears quietly. Voices go unheard. Concerns remain unspoken. People disengage at the margins. Over time, this friction erodes trust and weakens initiatives… not through conflict, but through absence.
4
Silent agreement
No Power + Agreement
Everything seems calm. Consensus comes easily. Norms go unquestioned. Yet beneath the surface, imbalance may grow. Silence keeps things stable… but can also prevent renewal, learning, and change.
Recognising these patterns often brings relief: "So this is what's been happening."
PUBLICATIONS
Writing as a way of seeing
Writing is where my thinking slows down. It's where observation turns into language, and where complex dynamics become shareable.
Each book captures a different facet of that journey: from economics as a living system, to power, perspective and collective movement.
1
Economics Powered by Life (2025)
An exploration of economics through the lens of living systems. Not as an abstract discipline, but through four characters shaping energy, connection and human development. At its core, the book asks: what does an economy mean without life at its heart?
2
The PD Matrix™ (in progress)
An in-progress book exploring power and difference beneath the surface, where what is felt often matters more than what is said.
3
Sports & Team Spirit titles
From We worden wereldkampioen (2018, Belgian Red Devils) to OctoPaul Predictor – Oranje & Rode Duivels hand in hand (EURO 2024), these works explore the power of team spirit and collective achievement, drawing lessons that reach far beyond the pitch.
Writing is how I return to the questions that matter, again and again.
SPEAKING
Speaking where perspective meets presence
Speaking is not about delivering answers. It's about creating a shared moment where people begin to see differently: themselves, each other, and the system they are part of.
In my talks, analysis meets imagination. Not to persuade, but to open space for reflection, courage and movement.
2022: "Imagination & Power from a Child's Perspective"
A keynote on how imagination can shift power. By looking through the eyes of a child, the talk invited participants to rediscover curiosity, and to question assumptions that quietly shape authority and inclusion.
(Re)Connected in a Disconnected World (2021)
Delivered during the pandemic, this talk explored disconnection as a systemic issue. Using the metaphor of the living cell, it reflected on resilience, trust, and diversity as conditions for renewal… in organisations and beyond.
Sustainability and the SIDS Context (2009)
A reflection questioning GDP as a measure of progress in the aftermath of the financial crisis. Using small island states as a lens, it explored alternative indicators of development, including sustainability, well-being, and quality of life.
Speaking creates a shared way of seeing.
APPLIED WORK
Where thinking meets reality
Some of my work unfolds in direct collaboration with institutions, teams and communities. Not as abstract design, but in contexts where decisions have consequences, and where trust, timing and alignment matter.
Each project differs in scale and setting, yet they share a common thread: restoring clarity and movement in complex, real-world situations.
COVID-19 Emergency Fund, Curaçao
Developed in a context of urgency and uncertainty, where economic pressure and social stability had to be weighed against institutional responsibility. The work focused on navigating those tensions in a time when trust was fragile.
National Recovery Framework
Worked within a post-crisis context marked by fragmentation and competing priorities. The challenge lay in holding a longer-term perspective while institutions were under pressure to respond quickly and visibly.
Investment Climate Improvement
Engaged in settings where administrative complexity and procedural delays shaped investor behaviour. Attention went to how systemic frictions accumulated, often quietly, and how they influenced confidence long before decisions were formally taken.
Sustainable Logistics Strategy
Worked in a context where logistical development, sustainability ambitions, and long-term resilience intersect. Using systemic and clustered thinking to make dependencies visible and explore how economic activity could align with longer-term coherence.
This is where systems thinking becomes lived experience.
CONTEXTs
Working in island contexts
Working on islands sharpens perspective. Scale is smaller. Relationships are closer. Consequences are immediate. What remains abstract elsewhere becomes tangible here.
Power, agreement and responsibility are lived, not theorised.
Curacao – System Level Complexity
Worked within complex institutional settings where economic pressure, social dynamics and political reality intersect.
Saba – Policy Design and Public Presence
Worked with public officials and community leaders on policy thinking, writing and public presence. The focus was not only on skills, but on confidence, clarity and ownership in a small-island governance context.
Bonaire – Long-Term Institutional Capacity
Over several years, this work focused on developing local talent in project management, financial stewardship and policy design. Rather than importing solutions, the emphasis lay on strengthening what was already there.
Sint Maarten – Market Dynamics
Conducted a feasibility study to support strategic decision-making in the insurance sector. The work translated analysis into action, helping bridge the gap between insight and economic reality.
On islands, systems thinking quickly becomes personal.
Start a conversation
An invitation to continue the conversation
Approach
I don’t work from predefined solutions. If something in this way of looking resonates a conversation can be a natural next step.
Sensing
  • I begin by listening.
  • By understanding context.
  • By noticing what is present
  • What remains unspoken
Exploring
Not to apply a model,
but to explore what is already at play,
in a situation, a team, or a system.
If that feels relevant, you're welcome to reach out.
Seeing more clearly
Thank you for taking the time to explore an approach to seeing systems, power, and possibility.
Further Reading
The PD Matrix
A reflective lens on power and agreement
Whether you're navigating institutional complexity, seeking to restore movement in your organisation, or simply curious about what lies beneath the surface, the conversation continues from here.