Mark Simoons is a presenter, brand strategist and social entrepreneur who shows how a good idea can grow into a movement. With Oma Coby’s Oliebollenbar, he built an initiative from a family recipe that works to combat loneliness among older people and now sells thousands of oliebollen. As a speaker, he shares the lessons behind that success: entrepreneurship, storytelling, creativity and getting people on board. With his energy, humor and experience as a presenter, Mark knows how to not only tell a story well, but also create a genuine connection with it.
From idea to impact
Mark shows that you don’t always need a big budget or fully developed plan to get something moving. His own Oma Coby’s Oliebollenbar started from a personal motivation during the coronavirus pandemic and grew into a social initiative with volunteers, companies and partners. In 2025, 17,450 oliebollen were sold.
Storytelling that gets people on board
As a brand strategist, Mark knows how important a good story is. But according to him, storytelling doesn’t start with a great campaign, but with something people can genuinely connect with. In his talks, he shows how a strong story can get employees, customers and partners excited to take part.
This makes him an interesting speaker for organizations that want to grow an idea, create social impact or find new ways to connect people. His examples come directly from practice, including the obstacles that arise along the way.
Entrepreneurship, creativity and connection
Mark combines his experience as an entrepreneur with his work as a presenter. He presents for, among others, the VriendenLoterij and is active as a radio presenter. This combination allows him to easily switch between content, interaction and entertainment.
Themes for a keynote or lecture:
• entrepreneurship and creativity
• storytelling and brand development
• social impact
• connecting and mobilizing people
• turning ideas into action
