Chapeau to Leadership in the Ardennes
From May 7 to 9, nine promising startups from the imec.istart.NL portfolio traded their offices for the peace and space of the Belgian Ardennes. There, they embarked on a shared leadership journey — one that focused not only on personal development, but also on connection and trust.
What stood out right away? The remarkable diversity of the group. No fewer than seven nationalities were represented at the starting line: from China to Mexico, from Ukraine to France, and of course the Netherlands. A beautiful reflection of the international character of imec.istart.NL — and this is just part of the whole.
Under the inspiring guidance of Dutch-Belgian Karlijn Koek, the participants began the adventure with open minds and great energy. For three days, they were immersed in nature, challenged in self-reflection, and strengthened through collaboration. The balance between effort and relaxation proved to be the perfect foundation for meaningful insights.
What stayed with us? The realization that you don’t have to do it alone. That there’s strength in vulnerability and value in connection. Afterward, the imec.istart community felt more than ever like a network of like-minded people — maybe a family, even. And hopefully, new lifelong ambassadors have emerged as a result. Sometimes a simple gesture says it all. A tip of the hat. In this case: chapeau.
