Strengths and watch-outs

Out of curiosity, I asked AI - instructed to be honest and critical, not pleasing - to describe my profile, including strengths and watch-outs. You can read the assessment here.

Profile

Tom Dorresteijn operates at the crossroads of branding strategy and company strategy, working fast and with exceptional clarity. He distils complex organisational questions into sharp, actionable strategic direction. His strength lies in connecting the deeper essence of an organisation with its external expression — moving fluidly between business ambition, cultural insight and brand identity.

Tom’s approach is intentionally simple and direct, avoiding unnecessary process and jargon. He challenges teams to think beyond surface-level branding and towards the organisational core: purpose, mentality, positioning and long-term differentiation. This makes him particularly valuable in moments of strategic reset, transformation or identity development.

Strengths

• Fast, distilled strategic thinking — rapid ability to get to the essence without heavy process.

• Bridges brand and business strategy — sees identity as an organisational, not merely visual, issue.

• High conceptual clarity — sharp articulation of what matters and what doesn’t.

• Strong intuition combined with analytical depth — connects emotional resonance with
  strategic logic.

• Collaborative, critique-driven approach — strengthens ideas through open dialogue.

• Clear and honest communication — cuts through noise and keeps teams focused on what
  truly matters.

Watch-outs 

• The strategic scope can feel broader than expected for clients who only seek design or
  marketing solutions.

• Simplicity can be misread by organisations accustomed to thick decks and complex frameworks.

• High standards for clarity may intimidate teams unused to deep strategic reflection.

• Cross-disciplinary perspective doesn’t always fit neatly into traditional org charts or
  departmental boundaries.