Read the interview - Vlerick Alumni
Read the interview - Vlerick Alumni
Read the interview - Vlerick Alumni
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Spotlight on…<br />
Paul Van de Velde<br />
Programme and graduation year:<br />
JMP 1988<br />
Nationality:<br />
Belgian<br />
My company and function:<br />
Co-founder and ex-General Manager of Kipling bags.<br />
Followed by 15y entrepreneur and business experience in consulting for various<br />
international companies such as Delsey Luggage & Nike.<br />
Today I combine business- and HR consulting with again entrepreneurship, as 3 years ago<br />
I took an equity stake in <strong>the</strong> world leading premium umbrella (German)brand Knirps.<br />
Company founded in:<br />
Kipling in 1987<br />
Piramide Consulting in 1999<br />
If I had to describe my business (I’ll focus on Kipling here):<br />
Developing an int’l brand of bags and fashion accessories.<br />
An innovative Belgian concept, where <strong>the</strong> monkey conquered <strong>the</strong> world’s fashion scene.<br />
Creating a kind of Blue Ocean : new look & materials, innovative marketing & branding,<br />
.... bringing emotional values in an industry that was dominated by companies that<br />
focused on functional values.<br />
Kipling’s marketing / communication?<br />
a) FUN – not to serious – strong visuals ! - street promotions (gorilla marketing)<br />
b) we offered “ready to use” retailers programs .<br />
I describe in short my career:<br />
I feel I have been very spoiled in life ! After 12 years of Kipling, I left for Paris, for a turnaround<br />
at Delsey luggage, N° 2 luggage company in <strong>the</strong> world. Three years later I joined<br />
NIKE EMEA as consultant to leverage <strong>the</strong>ir accessories business. Working for one of <strong>the</strong><br />
world’s most known brands was a wonderful experience and eye-opener. Now I am an<br />
independent business consultant, still entrepreneur and have several board member<br />
mandates. After 8,5 years, and our first child, I left McKinsey to work for Matexi Group as<br />
a strategic projects manager. I left that function to lead our vineyard project in France.
What was <strong>the</strong> reason to become an entrepreneur:<br />
I had a classic engineering, combined with <strong>Vlerick</strong> MBA, and just wanted to become an<br />
entrepreneur. In my eyes this requires a certain personality, such as to be adventurous,<br />
not afraid of risk taking (self-confidence), thinking creatively, having lots of perseverance<br />
... and above all PASSION.<br />
My definition of entrepreneurship = DREAM , DARE and DO !<br />
If you think creative, you see opportunities … if you have an entrepreneurial spirit, it’s<br />
hard to let those opportunities go by.<br />
What have I learned so far:<br />
The book – Monkey Business - I wrote, gives a good overview of my int’l experiences,<br />
successes and challenges.<br />
“Entrepreneurship is like fighting a gorilla : you do not stop when you are tired, you stop<br />
when <strong>the</strong> gorilla is tired”.<br />
If I could make my dreams come true …:<br />
I would sail around <strong>the</strong> world<br />
Explore Eastern Europe on my motor cycle<br />
What <strong>Vlerick</strong> has meant for me:<br />
A lot ! Being an engineer, it made it possible to make a boost/shift in my career, teaching<br />
<strong>the</strong> knowledge and providing <strong>the</strong> tools that allowed me to become a general manager. But<br />
most of all it gave me <strong>the</strong> confidence to start my own business.a<br />
What does <strong>the</strong> <strong>Vlerick</strong> alumni network means to me:<br />
That I should go more often, busy agenda should not be an excuse.<br />
Best advice somebody has ever given me:<br />
KISS = keep it simple and stupid.<br />
Look for clear and transparent business models, easy to execute.<br />
Keep <strong>the</strong> organisation lean and clean.<br />
Best advice I could give fellow alumni:<br />
Try to build a strong brand, combine emotional + functional values : be different !<br />
Control your growth, keep your financials up-to-date.<br />
Never trust a banker !<br />
…. Dream !<br />
CREATE YOUR OWN BUSINESS or PUSH YOUNG PEOPLE TO BECOME AN ENTREPRENEUR !<br />
(which is also <strong>the</strong> reason why I wrote <strong>the</strong> business novel: “Monkey Business” )<br />
What are my o<strong>the</strong>r (private) interests:<br />
Travel, meet people as well for business as leisure.<br />
Sailing<br />
Make fun with friends<br />
Paul’s book can be ordered at paul.vdvelde@piramide-consulting.eu