Knowledge Cast by Enterprise Knowledge Daan Hannessen - Global Head of Knowledge Management at Shell
Sep 29, 2025
Daan Hannessen, Global Head of Knowledge Management at Shell, brings over 20 years of expertise in KM across multiple industries. He discusses the evolution of KM from technology to AI, emphasizing the critical need for executive support. Daan highlights Shell's divide-and-conquer approach for scaling KM globally and the importance of learning from experience. He also delves into the relationship between KM and AI, stressing the value of validated knowledge and the need for semantic layers to enhance business insights while protecting proprietary information.
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KM's Pendulum And AI's Role
- KM's pendulum swings between technology focus and people/process focus over time.
- AI has swung KM back toward tech while senior leaders now pay more attention to KM.
Embed KM In Business Units
- Place KM people inside business units so they speak the same language as the users.
- Avoid an ivory-tower central solution; use local KM leads to find gaps and needs.
Sell Semantics In Executive Terms
- Use AI as a reason to fund the semantic layer but explain it in business terms.
- Translate semantic concepts into executive language to build the business case.