Jean-Luc Van Vyve

• Seasoned team leader, HR professional and sparring partner for General Management and leadership team
• Highly efficient in translating strategy into reality by giving direction and focus
• Strong communication and influencing skills, from shop floor to the management board level

Jean-Luc loves hiking, riding his bike, and traveling around Europe, South Africa, Costa Rica, Morocco, and other faraway countries with friends and family. He is not a passionate sportsman but does enjoy Tai Chi. Jean-Luc is an avid reader. Currently on his coffee table lies 'Grand Hotel Europa’ by Ilja Pfeijffer, 'De wereld is rond' by Jo Caudron en Frans van de Ven's 'Iedereen kan leiden.' Intrigued by leadership, he hails the TV series 'Casa de Papel' as a perfect showcase of crisis management and strategy.

Jean-Luc's motto is 'seeing the extraordinary in the ordinary.' Ordinary tasks and activities - if executed well - can be gratifying AND great fun.

Jean-Luc does not like heroism and is free from idolatry. He does admire business people who pay attention to people. Good leaders speak the shopfloor's language and master the lingo of money too. He respects those who don't take themselves too seriously.

Self-knowledge is the starting point for interaction with others. Being vulnerable and admitting you were wrong shows authenticity and the ability to connect with others.

Jean-Luc would advise his younger self to be less a perfectionist and less self-demanding. In other words: manage self-doubt, dare to take more risks, and jump faster. As a young professional, he was flanked by two mentors high up in the organization. They unconditionally believed in him and helped him rise above himself. "Good mentors have the power to bring the best out in someone, even if that persondoesn't see his own potential yet."

Jean-Luc finds it a real honor and and a very enriching experience (in two ways!) to be on his turn a mentor to support others in their development.

On top of that, his son is now his mentor as they run their business like two captains on a ship. The son gives him advice and can challenge the added value and business approach of his father, an excellent example of 'reverse mentoring'