KennedyFitch is proud to share that Joan Beets, our Managing Partner, has been elected to the Board of Directors of the Velocity Network Foundation.
Joan’s contribution to the Velocity Network Foundation connects directly to a theme we see every day in executive search and transformation: trust is still too hard to move. People repeat the same proof, credentials sit in silos, and mobility across borders, platforms, and career paths creates unnecessary friction. Velocity Network Foundation is building the governance for a digital public good that makes verified career and education credentials portable and interoperable, so individuals can share trusted data with confidence and organizations can make decisions faster, safer, and fairer.
Why Velocity Network Foundation matters now
For decades, the “data layer” of careers has been fragmented: credentials live in disconnected systems, are difficult to verify at speed, and often create friction for individuals and employers alike. The Velocity Network is designed as a public utility that enables individuals to collect, hold, and choose which verified career credentials they share, spanning jobs, gigs, education, skills, and more. In practical terms, it is built as a public service on top of a permissioned blockchain network, shared across a decentralized set of nodes, with participation governed through membership and permissioning to support trust, security, and compliance.
The Foundation’s role is explicit and substantial: it stewards the Network, continuously builds and evolves the rulebook to ensure operational consistency and legal clarity, and guides the development of the decentralized protocols. Governance is led by a Board of Directors elected by the membership, with members also influencing the roadmap and playbook through workgroups and steering committees. In short: as verifiable credentials become the currency of opportunity, governance becomes the guardrail.
What Joan brings to the Board
Joan brings a combination of global HR experience, systems thinking, and a strong orientation toward human outcomes.
In a corporate career spanning 15 years, she has built a track record across industries in both business-facing HR roles and centers of expertise. In 2019, she joined KennedyFitch to pursue greater diversity and autonomy, working as a Partner in People Advisory and Leadership and Transformation. Three years ago, she played a key role in KennedyFitch’s founder-owner transition and took on responsibilities as Managing Partner and shareholder.
Joan’s perspective is grounded in a long-standing curiosity about people and what drives human behavior, shaped by the many moves she has made between Europe, Asia, and the Middle East. Her work focuses on helping organizations create the conditions where people can perform, grow, and contribute at their best, especially in moments of change.
Her education and continuous development reflect that same commitment: an MBA at IMD, a coaching degree at HEC Paris, and ongoing study in consulting and change. She also serves as a Board Member of the IMD Alumni Association.
Joan Beets on joining the Foundation
Reflecting on her election, Joan shared:
“As a person of privilege, it is important to me to pay it forward and find ways to make access to education and work more equitable. That is why I am energized by the opportunity to join the Board of Directors of the Velocity Network Foundation and to support them in their mission to empower individuals, business and institutions through verifiable credentials. I am inspired by their vision and look forward to work with the Foundation to making the world of work more transparent and fairer.”
Looking ahead
At KennedyFitch, we see the future of work being shaped by two forces at once: accelerating technology and rising expectations for fairness, transparency, and mobility. Verifiable credentials sit right at the intersection.
Joan’s election to the Velocity Network Foundation Board strengthens our ability to stay close to the real infrastructure shifts happening underneath the headlines, and to help clients navigate what those shifts mean for talent strategy, workforce transformation, and human opportunity at scale.
