Harry Piekema gained national recognition unexpectedly when he became the lead character in the successful Albert Heijn TV campaign. Humor is a constant thread in his work and worldview. His versatility in communication is less known but comes through strongly in his lectures. As a speaker, Harry engages his audience and shares practical insights on purpose, communication, and (personal) leadership.
Education
Harry explored all facets of performing arts—music theater, text theater, youth theater, dance theater—before starting a three-year study at the Institute for Applied Integral Psychology in 1993. There, he deepened his understanding of the drivers, motivations, and barriers of human behavior. These insights not only enhanced his acting but also opened a new field: communication training. Harry worked as a training actor and later as a communication trainer across various sectors, including gender diversity programs for banks, law firms, and universities (in collaboration with Asccher/van Iren), and leadership programs at DSM for Rotterdam School of Management (with Paul Kerr and Barbara Banda), alongside numerous corporate projects. The “Regiemodel” often connected theater and training in his work.
After completing his drama studies at HKU Utrecht in 1981, Harry immediately began working on a production. Within five years, the duo Hamm & Hoppa (with Genio de Groot) became known for a form of theater not previously seen in the Netherlands: adult clowning. From 1986, he worked in diverse productions that blended multiple theater disciplines.
Combining Different Worlds
Since 1996, Harry has consistently combined the worlds of theater, film, TV, and training, allowing them to inspire one another. After ending the successful Albert Heijn campaign in 2014 to pursue other projects, he performed solo theater shows, took film roles, and played an extreme-right politician at the Noord-Nederlands Toneel (Borgen marathon, 9 hours). Lectures and moderation followed, along with workshops for actors in the Chubbuck Technique, first abroad and later in the Netherlands, which he initiated.
Lectures
As a speaker, Harry Piekema delivers inspiring lectures on personal qualities and image, guides management teams, and offers personal coaching. He equips audiences with practical tools to create impact in any area by applying the power of effective communication and meaningful purpose. His sessions combine a healthy dose of humor with deep knowledge of applied psychology, communication, and (personal) leadership, providing actionable insights that help professionals and teams grow.