Steward Ownership – Built to Last

How can companies stay true to their social mission, even as economic interests change? Geopolitical developments are among the factors driving growing interest in alternative ownership models such as steward ownership. Under this model, decision-making power and rights to profits are separated, helping to safeguard a company’s mission and long-term continuity.

Following the publication of the book Toekomstbedrijven. Hoe steward-ownership ons gidst uit het tijdperk van de aandeelhouder, there was growing demand to make this knowledge more accessible to education and international audiences. The International Steward Ownership Conference in Berlin in 2025 also highlighted strong interest in audiovisual teaching materials.

This led to the project Steward Ownership – Built to Last. In the summer of 2026, Nina de Korte and cinematographer Liam McClain began developing and filming a documentary in which entrepreneurs and academics show what steward ownership means in practice. Designed as a teaching resource for higher education and professional education, the film offers students, lecturers and professionals a fresh perspective on ownership and the economy.

“Many higher and professional education programmes still take a conventional view of economics, in which profit maximisation and the role of shareholders go unquestioned. Innovative ownership models such as steward ownership show that another path is possible, one that supports broad-based prosperity and strategic autonomy. This documentary helps bring that perspective into education.”

Aim

The aim is to produce a film suitable for use as teaching material in programmes such as economics, business administration, law and international business. The documentary should also be suitable for professional education, meeting the need for high-quality teaching resources on the ‘new economy’.

Target audience

Students, lecturers, researchers, entrepreneurs, policymakers, executives and investors.

Method

Desk research and semi-structured interviews form the basis of this project. Filming locations were selected to represent a cross-section of companies. Experts from economics, technology and society were approached to contribute their perspectives. To support effective dissemination, an advisory group of film and education experts will be established.

Results

Three versions of the film are being produced:

Version 1
The first is a five-minute film created specifically for the 2026 Steward Ownership Festival Amsterdam, where it will feature in the main programme and be screened in a venue with a capacity of 600 people.

Documentary - STEWARD OWNERSHIP – BUILT TO LAST | 5 minutes

This film takes viewers on a journey through companies of all sizes and across different sectors, united by one thing: a distinctive group of shareholders. Directors, founders and stewards from TBI, CrowdBuilding, BioSphere Solar and Voys explain why the conventional shareholder model falls short and what led them to choose steward ownership. Academics provide context on what this emerging model means for our economy and society.

Version 2
The second is a 20-minute version designed specifically for higher education, accompanied by co-created teaching materials. Six universities of applied sciences have already committed to using these materials.

Version 3
A third version, subject to additional funding, will be a feature-length documentary suitable for screening at film festivals.

Impact

The film will help raise awareness of steward ownership as an emerging approach. It gives a voice to entrepreneurs who are actively contributing to a resilient and balanced economy. By using an audiovisual format rather than written materials, the project brings its message directly to its target audiences, encouraging uptake of the teaching resources.

Duration

1 June 2026 to 1 June 2027

Collaboration

• Timebend Pictures
• Stichting We Are Stewards

Team

The Hague University of Applied Sciences – New Finance Research Group:

•  Nina de Korte – Researcher
• Martijn van der Linden – Professor 

Contact

For more information about this documentary and/or steward ownership, please contact Nina de Korte at [email protected].

Read more

Premiere at the Steward Ownership Festival Amsterdam (SOFA), from minute 33: