Jean-Luc Van Vyve

• Recognized 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

Unique Jean-Luc

Jean-Luc loves riding his bike, hiking, 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. He was flanked by two mentors high up in the organizational food chain as a young professional. 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 person doesn't see their potential yet."

His son is his mentor now while they run their company as two captains on a ship. The son advises the father to be more daring and challenges his added value, a prime example of 'reverse mentoring.' Jean-Luc learned from his son how to pitch himself, something he never had to do in his corporate career.