Read the interview - Vlerick Alumni

Spotlight on…
Paul Van de Velde
Programme and graduation year:
JMP 1988
Nationality:
Belgian
My company and function:
Co-founder and ex-General Manager of Kipling bags.
Followed by 15y entrepreneur and business experience in consulting for various
international companies such as Delsey Luggage & Nike.
Today I combine business- and HR consulting with again entrepreneurship, as 3 years ago
I took an equity stake in the world leading premium umbrella (German)brand Knirps.
Company founded in:
Kipling in 1987
Piramide Consulting in 1999
If I had to describe my business (I’ll focus on Kipling here):
Developing an int’l brand of bags and fashion accessories.
An innovative Belgian concept, where the monkey conquered the world’s fashion scene.
Creating a kind of Blue Ocean : new look & materials, innovative marketing & branding,
.... bringing emotional values in an industry that was dominated by companies that
focused on functional values.
Kipling’s marketing / communication?
a) FUN – not to serious – strong visuals ! - street promotions (gorilla marketing)
b) we offered “ready to use” retailers programs .
I describe in short my career:
I feel I have been very spoiled in life ! After 12 years of Kipling, I left for Paris, for a turnaround
at Delsey luggage, N° 2 luggage company in the world. Three years later I joined
NIKE EMEA as consultant to leverage their accessories business. Working for one of the
world’s most known brands was a wonderful experience and eye-opener. Now I am an
independent business consultant, still entrepreneur and have several board member
mandates. After 8,5 years, and our first child, I left McKinsey to work for Matexi Group as
a strategic projects manager. I left that function to lead our vineyard project in France.

What was the reason to become an entrepreneur:
I had a classic engineering, combined with Vlerick MBA, and just wanted to become an
entrepreneur. In my eyes this requires a certain personality, such as to be adventurous,
not afraid of risk taking (self-confidence), thinking creatively, having lots of perseverance
... and above all PASSION.
My definition of entrepreneurship = DREAM , DARE and DO !
If you think creative, you see opportunities … if you have an entrepreneurial spirit, it’s
hard to let those opportunities go by.
What have I learned so far:
The book – Monkey Business - I wrote, gives a good overview of my int’l experiences,
successes and challenges.
“Entrepreneurship is like fighting a gorilla : you do not stop when you are tired, you stop
when the gorilla is tired”.
If I could make my dreams come true …:
I would sail around the world
Explore Eastern Europe on my motor cycle
What Vlerick has meant for me:
A lot ! Being an engineer, it made it possible to make a boost/shift in my career, teaching
the knowledge and providing the tools that allowed me to become a general manager. But
most of all it gave me the confidence to start my own business.a
What does the Vlerick alumni network means to me:
That I should go more often, busy agenda should not be an excuse.
Best advice somebody has ever given me:
KISS = keep it simple and stupid.
Look for clear and transparent business models, easy to execute.
Keep the organisation lean and clean.
Best advice I could give fellow alumni:
Try to build a strong brand, combine emotional + functional values : be different !
Control your growth, keep your financials up-to-date.
Never trust a banker !
…. Dream !
CREATE YOUR OWN BUSINESS or PUSH YOUNG PEOPLE TO BECOME AN ENTREPRENEUR !
(which is also the reason why I wrote the business novel: “Monkey Business” )
What are my other (private) interests:
Travel, meet people as well for business as leisure.
Sailing
Make fun with friends
Paul’s book can be ordered at paul.vdvelde@piramide-consulting.eu