Our philosophy is both a way of thinking and a way of working that shapes every aspect of how we engage with clients and support change.
Who
We are social architects, inspired by one of nature’s most enduring and efficient systems: the honeycomb. Just as bees assess external conditions, identify risks, and take decisive action to strengthen their hive, we help our clients understand their human rights landscape and build structures that protect the organization and people alike, creating long-term value. The honeycomb metaphor isn’t decorative, to Henekom it’s foundational. It embodies our approach: adaptive, resilient, and built for perpetuity. That’s why we named ourselves Henekom. Like the bees, we believe that safeguarding shared value begins with intentional design, teamwork, and continuous attention to where cracks may form.
What
We help our clients actualize their human rights commitments by translating policy into action. We do this by connecting global human rights frameworks with the operational realities and strategic priorities of our clients, whether in sport, government, business or the nonprofit sector. Our work begins with attentive engagement, listening carefully to stakeholders and rightsholders. We identify risks drawing on established standards while grounding our approach in contextual understanding and local realities. From there, we co-design mitigation strategies and practical implementation plans that ensure compliance with international standards while generating measurable impact.
How
We build social architecture that is not only efficient but also enduring, ethical, and inclusive. Our methodology centers the voices of rightsholders and those most affected, fostering trust among stakeholders while reducing social and environmental risks. We embed reflective governance principles such as transparency, accountability, and continuous oversight across all levels of decision-making. These principles create integrity, trust, and long-term value. We tailor strategies to specific places and cultures, translating international frameworks into meaningful, locally grounded action.
Why
We strive to preserve and increase client value by mitigating social risks while leveraging influence for the greater good. We’re passionate about keeping the magic of sports and entertainment alive, and we work to restore trust in institutions through transparent practices, ethical leadership, and responsible governance.
Our work is grounded in four interconnected principles that shape how we think, design, and support change. These principles reflect our commitment to creating systems that are not only effective and ethical, but also resilient and responsive to the world around them.
Our Principles
Social Architecture
We build custom-designed systems that translate values into strategy and standards into processes. Like the honeycomb, our namesake, these systems are built for strength, efficiency, and adaptability. Through social architecture we are enabling clients to move confidently from ambiguity to clarity. We stand out from others by our emphasis on implementation – we turn policy on paper into impact in action.
Reflective Governance
Transparency, accountability, and continuous oversight are embedded across every level of decision-making. Our governance-driven approach supports thoughtful decision-making that not only fulfills regulatory requirements, but strengthens institutional trust through principled action.
Rightsholder-Centered Thinking
We center the voices and lived experiences of those most affected. Their perspectives are not an afterthought, but a foundation for building outcomes that are legitimate, grounded, and capable of driving sustained impact.
Contextual Intelligence
No two contexts are the same. We tailor global standards to local realities by accounting for legal, political, and cultural differences so solutions resonate in each client’s unique environment.
Our philosophy shapes how we work.
To see what this looks like in practice, explore our digital resume.