Entrepreneurial journey of Jonas
The entrepreneurial track is a program that helps entrepreneurs develop their business skills and achieve their business goals. Jonas Vandenheede, a member of our Codana subcompany, has had a new role within the company since this year. He participated in the entrepreneurial program to prepare himself for these new responsibilities, and to gain the knowledge and skills needed for his strategic tasks and projects. Personal growth is central to The Digitals.
What does entrepreneurship mean to you?
Entrepreneurship for me means a journey of personal and professional growth. It is not just about coordinating a team or building a business, but also about developing myself as a person and as a leader. Through this journey, I have learned both soft skills and hard skills, and have been able to develop my own vision, set clear goals, fail and start over. Self-development is central to this, as well as learning to deal with the uncertainties that have inevitably come my way and will certainly come in the future.
How did the entrepreneurial journey help you do that?
The entrepreneurial journey has helped me tremendously on this journey. The coaching sessions have given me the opportunity to get to know myself anew and assess myself better. Through the learning sessions from outside coaches and speakers, I gained valuable insights that helped me grow both personally and professionally.
What attracted you to start the entrepreneurial journey?
What attracted me to start the entrepreneurial program was the unique opportunity to further develop myself in a professional environment. The sessions with the best external coaches in Belgium, supported by my employer, offered an opportunity I could not pass up. The prospect of coordinating a team or even starting my own company gave me the motivation to take up this challenge.
How did you experience the entrepreneurial journey?
My experience with the entrepreneurial program was intense but incredibly educational. In the beginning, I often felt insecure and sometimes even uncomfortable, but over time everything became clearer. My goals and vision became sharper and sharper, which gave me the confidence to persevere.
What was your most enjoyable experience of the past year?
There are a lot of them, but concretely, I find it fantastic to gradually try to apply the learnings of the past year in the daily operation of my team and see the results. In addition, it is fantastic to see some of my dreams and/or ideas transformed into reality.
What was your biggest challenge in entrepreneurship?
The biggest challenge in entrepreneurship for me is maintaining mental resilience. It is a constant balance between dealing with 101 things at once and making sure I am present in a positive way for my colleagues. Supporting my team and striving daily to be the best version of myself are a constant effort. In addition, I try to get the best out of my team every day by motivating and coaching them. All this requires not only a lot of energy, but also strong mental resilience.
What was the biggest entrepreneurial lesson you learned?
The most important entrepreneurial lessons I learned were the importance of listening and asking through, not filling in for someone else, never stopping learning and dealing with failure. These lessons have helped me continue to grow and pursue my goals regardless of the obstacles I faced.
Do you have any tips for new entrepreneurs who are also eager to get started?
For potential entrepreneurs who hesitate to follow this path, I have one simple piece of advice: DO. The coming year will be full of challenges, opportunities and possibilities to develop yourself further. Under the guidance of great coaches and working with like-minded people in a dynamic group, you will find that entrepreneurship is an adventure that can change your life in many positive ways.
